The impact COVID-19 has been felt right across the nation and none more so than the sporting industry.
With many sporting groups shutting their doors from the start of March, the sector has laid dormant for more than two months, KickIt Touch Football included.
A monumental 8.4 million adults and 3 million kids who play or enjoy the associated benefits of health and well being have been impacted.
Friday, May 8th the Queensland Government detailed a roadmap to easing restrictions across the state with sport and community groups included.
Under the proposed roadmap, some community sport would resume from June 12th with contact sports from July 10th, provided active cases and community spread remains low-to-nil.
This could see Kickit resume its competitions following the implementation of stage three easing of restrictions.
In other words, we could kick-off at Taringa and Stafford as early as July 15th and 16th respectively.
Studies suggest that the risks involved in outdoor sport are incredibly low compared to other means of life.
With the safety of all Kickit players and staff in mind, there will be a host of education or practical measures to ensure that the risks involved with (contact) sport remain as low as possible.
Roadmap to a new standard
Our number one priority is ensuring the health and well being of our players and staff.
The landscape of Kickit is set to change with a host of new procedures to ensure proper hygiene and social distancing.
Under guidance from the Australian Institute of Sport, a number of measures outlined below will become the new standard at all Kickit Touch Football venues and events.
Measures & Strategy
The players:
– Contact tracing of all players at Kickit (sign on arriving at venue, sign out leaving venue).
– Players are encouraged to be prepared before they arrive at the venue to limit use of change rooms (when applicable).
– Players must maintain social distancing (1.5m) when not playing.
– A hand sanitise station will be readily available under the Kickit marquee at all venues.
– Players must wash hands before and after games at the hand sanitiser station or in the toilet/change room facilities.
– Teams will be spaced out before, during and after games in allotted zones (see below) to maintain an acceptable level of social distancing.
– Handshakes and high fives should be avoided.
Three cheers (via team captain), clapping, waving, namaste, smiling, a thumbs up or shaka are all legitimate alternatives.
– Players and teams are to limit to unnecessary social gatherings when not playing.
– Players and teams are strongly encouraged to leave the venue following their game.
– Players or staff who present flu-like symptoms will not be permitted at the grounds.
– Parents or other spectators may attend games however will be limited to one per person/per family and must maintain social distancing from all players at the venue.
– No sharing of drink bottles or towels.
– Players are strongly encouraged to bring their own football to warm up. We will have new Kickit branded footballs available for purchase when the Kickit Shop launches next week.
The Staff:
– Balls and other heavily used equipment will be washed at the end of each night.
– Venue specific isolation areas will be designated should a player or staff member become unwell while at the venue.
– Educational signage will be clearly visible at all venues where necessary.
– All of the above measures will be enforced and controlled by all staff members.
Current competitions & social distancing
Exisiting competitions will resume as per normal with start dates to be confirmed by mid-June.
As per the venue diagrams below, we will be spacing out teams to ensure social distancing is maintained when not playing.
> Taringa (Tuesday, July 14th) will resume from week four of the competition with all results, standings and individual statistics continuing.
We understand some players and teams may not be able to continue due to COVID-19, as a result will be outlining a host of incentives to help get teams and individuals back to sport. (see below)
Team registrations will remain open for the first two weeks when we resume at Taringa. New teams may be required to play a couple of catch up games. Discounts may be available. Express your interest here.
Roadmap: Social distancing model at Jack Cook Memorial Park.
Taringa teams will required to remain in the warm up zones until the start of their match. Playing teams will set up on the outside sidelines of their field with the middle cricket pitch area cordoned off and reserved for referees only.
> Stafford (Wednesday, July 15th) will resume and lead straight into semi finals with all results and standings continuing for the finals two weeks of the season.
The top four mens and top eight mixed teams will play the finals matches.
Stafford will start a new season immediately (without a break) following grand final week (and play 12 weeks straight).
Team registrations are open. New or incoming teams have the option to play all 12 weeks when we return.
Team fees for new teams will be amended as required. Express your interest here.
Roadmap: Social distancing model at Gibson Park.
Stafford teams will be required to stay in the warm up zones until the start of their match. Playing teams will set up on the outside sidelines of their field.
> Carseldine (Monday, July 27th) competition will re-start from week one after completing one round of fixtures prior to COVID-19. Standings and individual statistics will be voided.
Players and teams who participated in round one prior to the season being postponed, will not be charged.
Team registrations are open for Carseldine. Exisiting team captains will be notified of a start date the venue layout shortly. Express your interest here.
> Taringa (Sunday, August 9th) is scheduled for a start in late August. Team registrations are open to everyone willing to give Touch Football a go. Multi-team discounts are available. Express your interest here.
> The 2020 Representative Cup and 2020 LIVIN Charity Shield are scheduled for later in the year and will follow similar measures to ensure health and safety of all players involved.
> Toowoomba (Monday, late July).
All team captains all be contacted with a full list of measures and competition updates soon.
Roadmap: Get back to social sport!
Calling out to all past Kickit teams!
Numerous Rugby League competitions may of been cancelled, but that isn’t the end for 2020.
Play the closest social Touch Football to Rugby League and fall in love with Kickit.
Show your support and register a team – get back to touch football, get back to community sport!
We understand that everyone is doing it tough and will continue to slug it out long after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
This is why we will be putting a freeze on season fees over the winter and spring months.
Is cash an issue?
Don’t give up playing, just give up some of your time.
Roadmap: Become a referee today!
We’ll be rolling out a referee incentive scheme aimed to help players work off their player fees over the course of the season.
Players may opt to just run the sideline or become an on-field referee with even more benefits.
Best of all, each and every referee gets paid for the games they ref.
Just keen for some fitness? We welcome any new referee or current player who would like to challenge themselves with the whistle in hand. Visit our referee sign-on.
We’re all in this together
You’ve heard the words ‘we’re all in this together’ echoed across screens for the last two months and perhaps it is most true right now.
As restrictions start to ease and the lives of many start to move forward, now more than ever we need maintain diligence and common sense when it comes to the health and safety of others.
The Queensland Government’s roadmap provides sensible and gradual steps to a COVID recovery that will reconnect our community but only if we do the right thing.
To fail here, we will regress on the easing of restrictions and stage 3 will be postponed.
While many things may happen between now and July 10th, we’re excited for what the future holds.
We hope you join us on the field when we return.
Stay up to date with all the information from our roadmap via our website.
Get your Kickit Touch Football fix with hundreds of videos on our social media channels! 
