COVID-19 FAQs

What are the tops tips for clubs to consider re: COVID-19?

The key recommendations (based on Department of Health advice) is –
(1) for people who have any symptoms or have been in recent close contact with a COVID-19 case to stay away, get tested & isolate until receiving a negative result;
(2) to stay outdoors wherever possible – no more than 15 minutes indoors with others at training / matches;
(3) maintain 1.5m distance at all times; and
(4) maintain strong COVID-19 hygiene practices.

What are the current quarantine / isolation rules re: COVID-19?

N.B.: The below is a guide only based on currently available information from Dept of Health. If unsure check via 1800 675 398. The below is a summary only – full details available here

• Positive case – 7 days home isolation. You must inform ‘household contacts’, your employer, your cricket club and others you deem should know asap.
• Household contacts – No isolation if not COVID positive, however required to test for 5 of the 7 days that the COVID positive case is in isolation, wear a mask outdoors etc. N.B.: This includes people who have been at the house of a positive case for 4+ hours. Check the full details for more information.
• Other / Social contacts – No isolation if not COVID positive, however encouraged to undertake a COVID test for 5 days.

What are the current general restrictions in place for sport / exercise? 

This link provides the most up-to-date information from the State Government in respect to current COVID-19 protocols for Sport including general FAQs not covered here – https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/sport-exercise-and-physical-recreation-services-sector-guidance

What are the rules around vaccination status for community sport?

Cricket Victoria continues to strongly recommended that all eligible people get fully vaccinated asap (including their booster shots).
N.B.: The below information is based on current information available on the Victorian State Government coronavirus website:

What advice is available to people who test positive or are deemed to be household / other contacts?  

See this checklist for more information – https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklist

What penalties are there for clubs that do not abide by Covid-19 guidelines?

Penalties range from around $1,000 & up to $110,000 depending on the offence.

(a) Low levels breaches include failure to display signs such as mandating mask-wearing, density quotients and cleaning records as well as exceeding density quotients by up to 50%.

(b) Medium level breaches include individuals failing to wear masks indoors and failure to display QR code signage.

(c) High level breaches include failure to have an approved QR code system and failure to have a COVIDSafe Plan in place.

(d) Serve breaches include not adhering to vaccination requirements and exciting density quotients by more than 250%

(e) Extreme level breaches may include significant or blatant disregard for Chief Health Officer Directions and COVIDSafe practices.

More information can be found here

What financial support is available if a Cricket facility needs to complete a deep clean?

It is highly unlikely that Clubs will need to conduct a ‘Deep Clean’. Where required however, the COVIDSafe Deep Cleaning rebate is available for clubs where a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case has been on the premises when they may have been infectious. The rebate will cover up to 80 per cent of the cleaning costs at each site, capped at a grant of $10,000 (for a total cleaning cost of $12,500). More information can be found here

Do we still need to have a COVID-Safe Officer? 

Yes. Each Club must nominate at least one COVID Safety Officer who can be the lead for ensuring that the club is seeking to provide a COVID-19 safe environment (e.g. visible signage in place, compliance with QR code check-ins are happening, compliance with training & match day requirements, ensuring the club is promoting its policies widely etc.). Clubs are encouraged to have multiple people take ownership of this role and share the responsibility (e.g. at least one per team). 

Does the club need to ‘store’ any personal details about people checking in?

No. Clubs don’t have to store any data about people checking-in. The State Government has access to the information directly via the Service Vic check-in system and may make contact with people who might be impacted about a positive case and will contact the club to outline requirements.

Where can our Club / Association find an editable COVID-19 safe plan for endorsement, promotion and for showing our local council 

Along with a range of other resources, the latest Cricket Victoria editable plan can be found on the CV website via this link – https://www.cricketvictoria.com.au/clubs-support/covid-19/   

Are there any restrictions in place for people travelling from interstate?

This information is updated regularly by the State Government – with up to date information contained here – https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/interstate-travel

What type of cleaning needs to take place in change rooms and facilities before and after use? 

Cleaning procedures may differ depending on the local government authority (e.g. Council), school or other management body that run the facilities and cleaning procedures. Clubs will still have a major responsibility in making sure facilities are clean and safe. On match day, cleaning can include: 

– Taking all reasonable steps to ensure that frequently touched surfaces accessible to members of the public, including tables, bars, toilets and handrails, are cleaned regularly (including when visibly soiled) and post events or between groups by wiping the surface with a disinfectant that has anti-viral properties.
– Cleaning principles can be found via the WorkSafe Australia website which should help as a reference point to what cleaning guidelines are recommended: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/managing-coronavirus-covid-19-risks-sport-and-recreation-industries  

Are elite cricket arrangements different to community cricket? 

Yes. Elite Cricketers are required to be fully vaccinated to ensure that they reduce their risks associated with COVID-19 and also to ensure that they meet any State / Territory or overseas requirements. They are also subject to increased COVID-19 testing, have increased educational opportunities about COVID protocols and often are subject to strict quarantine / bio-security (or ‘bubble living’) arrangements as required. As such they will be often be able to train when community cricketers are in ‘lockdown’ and the match day experience may be different – such as umpires holding caps, high fives / team huddles, frequency of sanitising the ball etc.  

Does our insurance under the National Risk Protection Program through Marsh still apply? 

Yes. Participants will be covered under the Personal Accident policy and Clubs & Associations under the Public Liability and Club Management Liability policies that make up the National Club Risk Protection Program noting that there is no “infectious Diseases” (including COVID-19) exclusion on the policies. Cover under these policies remains under their current terms, conditions and exclusions. For more details CLICK HERE. 

Are we able to share equipment between players? 

Yes – however equipment sharing between players is discouraged to help reduce the spread of COVID-19
Tips to reduce the potential virus spread:
– Wear ‘inners’ inside shared batting or keeping gloves.
– Wear leg and thigh pads over clothing (not directly on skin).
– Do not share groin protectors.
– The longer the equipment is left to dry in the sun after being cleaned the better (e.g. 30 minutes).
– Avoid shared team kits – consider a season long loan for players in need of club equipment. 

Equipment sharing cleaning requirements:
– After use, remove your gloves, sanitise your hands and wipe or spray the item with a minimum 70%-alcohol (ethanol or isopropyl alcohol (IPA) based antibacterial wipe or spray.
– The person then borrowing the equipment, shall sanitise their hands before use and clean after use.

Where can we find more information about COVID-19? 

There are a number of great resources for Clubs and Associations. Below is a list of resources & websites which may assist the Association and Affiliated clubs to obtain more information and guidance to deliver quality practices: 

Cricket Victoria

 https://www.cricketvictoria.com.au/clubs-support/covid-19/  

• Editable COVID-19 plan, COVID-19 resources, posters, useful links, Grant information etc. 

 Cricket Australia  

https://www.community.cricket.com.au/CLUBS/COVID-19/  

• COVID-19 resources, posters, useful links 

 COVID-19 equipment, signage, posters etc. 

https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/signs-posters-and-templates  

https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/signage-and-posters-covid-19  

 Optional online e-training module for COVID-19 Safety Officers 

– HTTPS://WWW.COVID-19TRAINING.GOV.AU/LOGIN 

Safe Work Australia 

– HTTPS://WWW.SAFEWORKAUSTRALIA.GOV.AU/COLLECTION/COVID-19-RESOURCE-KIT 

–https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/signage-and-posters-covid-19  

PLUS 

Reach out to your local council / facility manager to discuss facility access, cleaning, signage etc. 

Will players need to wear masks at training, matches or after-match functions? 

No. 

Do people need to be fully vaccinated to attend training, matches or after-match functions?

No.

Will change rooms / social rooms be accessible during training days & matches? 

Yes – subject to any restrictions imposed by the council, school or university.

Will people need to check in for training & matches?

No.

Can the club host after-training dinners / social events?

Yes. Ideally these are held post match or several days before the next match – especially if indoor areas will be used – not in the period 48 hours before matches.

For example, if the club hosts an indoor Thursday night dinner before expecting to play on Saturday and a player then tests positive on Friday, all people who were indoors at the dinner may be deemed a “social contact” and need to get tested & isolate until getting a negative result. This may result in all teams not being able to play on the weekend as the test results may not be complete in time – especially for those without access to a Rapid Antigen Test and need to await a PCR test.

An after-match (or Monday/Tuesday) club function would more easily allow the impacted players to receive negative tests before the next weekend match.

See page 3 of this guide for answers to the below 3 questions.

1) What happens to matches if multiple players need to isolate / quarantine as a result of COVID-19? 

2) Can a match be delayed whilst players are waiting a negative test result?

3) Should a match continue if one or more players become aware they may be ‘COVID contacts” during the match?

Can sweat & saliva be used to shine the ball this season?

Saliva – No

Sweat – Yes, so long as it NOT taken from the neck / head area. Updated advice from Cricket Australia for this season is that sweat from the neck / head area is not allowed as it may contain aerosols from the mouth/nose area. Otherwise sweat is relatively safe to use.

Are clubs able to operate a canteen or bar at training & on match day? 

Yes. So long as clubs are complying with their liquor licence arrangements and ensure that people not actively participating in the match (e.g. parents / spectators) need to be fully vaccinated to access indoor spaces. People who aren’t fully vaccinated can purchase food / drinks from any areas where they do not have to go indoors.

If required, detailed guidelines of the requirements for cafes, restaurants and food and drink facilities are available on the Business Victoria website: HTTPS://BUSINESS.VIC.GOV.AU/BUSINESS-INFORMATION/COVID-19-BUSINESS-INFORMATION

Can we have communal afternoon teas/drinks that are shared by players/officials? 

Yes. Teams having afternoon tea together is ok. Strong suggestions are:

• Avoid share plates where people put their hands on the same plates of food & cordial jugs where several people push the same button on the container. Therefore bring or buy your own food or consume things that aren’t share plates (such as a plate of 1/4 sandwiches) & BYO water bottle; &
• Minimise time spent inside changerooms / social rooms to no more than 15 minutes

These are strong recommendations as opposed to a State Government or Cricket Victoria rule as it helps to minimise the chances of the virus spreading in a similar way to sanitising the ball at breaks in play, umpire not holding caps etc.

Do we still need to sanitise the ball & hands during play?

This is at the discretion of the Association. Cricket Victoria still recommend that all players, umpires and officials (including scorers, coaches etc.) should sanitise their hands at least once every 20-30 overs. At the same time the ball should be sanitised with “minimum 70%-alcohol (ethanol or isopropyl alcohol (IPA)) based antibacterial wipe or spray”. These steps may help reduce the likelihood of the COVID virus spreading from one person to another.

Can the umpire hold the hats, glasses and clothing of bowlers when they are bowling? 

Not recommended. Umpires are advised not to touch items of clothing to reduce the contact of equipment and exposed risk. This includes the items and clothing of bowlers. 

Items are to be placed by the bowler themselves at the nearest of the following three locations:
– Over the boundary at any point; or
– At a point at least 3m behind the keeper in line with the stumps; or
– At a point at least 3m behind the umpire at the bowlers end in line with the stumps (e.g. at the top of run-up). (This is our recommendation as it will reduce lost time during a match) 

N.B.: When an item is left on the field behind the stumps, they should be placed so they are no wider than the width of the stumps and if struck the ball is declared a ‘dead ball’ and re-bowled (except for helmets and fielding equipment). 

Can clubs still pay umpires with cash? 

This is up to each individual association, but CV recommend umpires are paid directly by the association and clubs are invoiced for the umpire payment.