We have now moved to Step 4 of our community netball roadmap, following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions from the Government. Whilst this is a positive step, it is one that the entire netball community needs to take with care so that we can enjoy a full season of netball in 2021/22.
Despite there being fewer legal restrictions in place, COVID-19 has not disappeared. It is for this reason that we have produced detailed guidance which sets out all the actions netball organisers must still take in line with the latest Government guidance as well as clear recommendations to both protect and give confidence to the Netball Family.
Step 4 of our roadmap does allow for standard rules of netball to be used on court. However, it is strongly recommended that COVID-19 rule modifications continue to be used in competitions that have already commenced, such as leagues. This is to protect the integrity of any netball competitions already taking place, to avoid mid competition rule changes and reduce the risk of transmission or people being deemed as close contacts and therefore having to self-isolate. The modified rules have resulted in relatively low transmission rates within netball, so club and league organisers may wish to continue using them.
From santisation protocols to risk assessments and self-isolating guidelines, we have pulled together a document on ‘Managing COVID-19 within netball’. This provides details on everything all netball organisers (both members and non-members of England Netball) need to do and advice on how to best reduce the risk of transmission.
