How does the latest directive from SA Police affect us in the athletics community?

To reduce the spread of COVID-19 within South Australia, a number of businesses and venues are required to remain closed to the public until further notice and this includes buildings used by social and sporting clubs, gymnasiums and indoor sporting venues, and applies also to outdoor spaces associated with these venues. 

This direction places restrictions on non-essential business and social gatherings and is now in force.  Athletics Clubs and their activities are part of these restrictions. 

In this Commissioner of Police direction, a member of the public includes the members of any club or association that owns; controls; or operates defined premises. 

South Australian Police will be conducting proactive random checks on venues and those businesses which have been captured by these restrictions that were announced early this week. 

Failure to comply with the direction is an offence with a maximum penalty of $20,000 per individual or $75,000 for a company.   

The full announcement is available here: 

Athletics SA has already postponed all events to 1 May at the earliest and a number of Clubs have closed formal trainings this week.  We are recommending that all group training sessions are cancelled to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus.  The quicker we can stop the spread as a community, the safer everyone will be and the sooner we will be able to resume our normal activities. 

For coaches and athletes who continue to train in a group setting please be aware of the significant penalties if you fail to comply with the restrictions in force.   

Please follow the latest guidelines of no groups larger than 10 people (at 25th March) if it is regarded as an essential activity (i.e. is your workplace). 

Please follow proper hygiene practices to minimise chances of infection: 

• If you are sick, STAY HOME. 

• Use social distancing to stay at least 1.5m from other individuals. 

• If you cough or sneeze, cover mouth with tissue or elbow. 

• Wash your hands frequently, for at least 20 seconds using soap and water: upon entering and leaving a workout facility or athletic training room, before eating, after using the restroom, after coughing or sneezing, or after time in a public place. Examples of 20 seconds are to say the alphabet or sing happy birthday twice. 

• Hand washing is generally more effective than just using hand sanitiser. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Cover all surfaces of your hands, including thumbs, and rub them together until they feel dry. 

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. 

• Utilise an appropriate disinfecting agent on all communal equipment and implements before and after using  

• Before a workout, sanitise all athletic equipment that you might touch; this includes things like poles, hurdles, projectiles, or anything else specific to your event. 

• Do not use shared water.  Bring everything you might need for a session with you, and keep it separate from others. 

• Place all workout equipment in an individual bag that is not shared, and that is kept separate by at least 1.5m from other athletes’ belongings. 

Further advice on the Coronavirus COVID-19 can be found from the Australian Government Department of Health (www.health.gov.au) or for general advice regarding COVID-19, call the Australian Government's Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.