Local footy teams to return to training shortly

AFL Victoria has announced local football teams can begin training in groups of 10 from May 25.

Football clubs will return to training under modified conditions to ensure the safety of players amid COVID-19 restrictions, but the state government is yet to announce when games can go ahead.

AFL Victoria said the safety and wellbeing of participants was number one priority.

Following the Victorian government advice around the return of community sport this week, AFL Victoria will release its return to train protocols early next week and is endorsing a return to club sanctioned training from Monday, May 25.

AFL Victoria will communicate protocols with leagues and allow volunteers and clubs time to digest the protocols, go through an education period and prepare themselves ahead of returning to club sanctioned training.

In summary, the return to train protocols for community football in Victoria will enable:

– Training to resume in groups of up to 10 people. The group of 10 does not include a coach or the minimum number of support staff who are reasonably required to manage the activity.

– Two groups of 10 can utilise the same oval provided they do not operate closely together, and the oval is split into two zones.

AFL Victoria said it would continue to work with the state government to ensure alignment with their advice, and in the event of further easing of restrictions, hoped to be able to return to full training and competition later in the year, with hygiene and safety protocols firmly in place.