As advised yesterday, with the move to Alert Level 2, football is able to go ahead under the Alert Level 2 Guidelines. As a Football community we responded very well when we found ourselves here at Level 2 earlier this year and we are sure that we will again. We want to continue doing what we love for as long as we can while observing the restrictions in place and exercising personal responsibility. 

Please make sure that if your club or team is electing not to take part in football at this time you let us know as soon as possible (contact karyn.w@wabop.co.nz or catherine.c@waibop.co.nz).

Please see below further information regarding updates that will be made to the current draws.  

First Kicks

Will proceed as scheduled, however we ask you to remind all members to abide by the health and safety requirements as previously advised including but not limited to:

• Washing hands/ use of sanitiser
• Do not attend if you are feeling unwell
• Do Not share equipment
• Observe Social distancing
• Also consider asking parents to limit to 1 parent per child to reduce the number of spectators.
• No sharing of Food – including half time oranges end of match lollies
• No hand shakes/hugs
• Continue to comply with Contact tracing requirements
• Use the IDMe app

Junior Competitions

For Junior Football within our region the main changes will be re-scheduling games at some venues so that we are able to adhere to the guidelines regarding gathering sizes. Gatherings are limited to 100 people, however where a number of pitches are in one large open area, multiple gatherings can take place as long as each does not exceed 100 people and remains independent, physically distant, and avoids mingling or interacting with each other.

You can find more information HERE.

We will be adjusting the start times of some junior games where necessary, to limit the number of people at the grounds at any one time and the crossover of people coming and going. When we initially started playing football in Alert Level 2, some clubs/schools were able to space out their fields. If fields are closer together than 10m, then spectators must stand around the edges of the pitches, and not in-between pitches.  Clubs could assist with this by roping off areas between pitches.

Senior/Youth Competitions

Most games will continue as scheduled, but if there are pitches that are closer together than 10m, clubs should rope off these areas so that the two fields are distant from each other and can operate as separate gatherings.

Other information relating to changing rooms, clubrooms and after match functions were advised in the email sent out yesterday.

For the full Guidelines on Football at Alert Level 2, please click HERE.

A few points to note regarding spectators:

• Spectators should be limited, or asked not to attend to allow organisers to focus on players, officials and support staff.
• Any spectators that do attend are required to follow contact tracing and public health measures, while maintaining a physical distance of 2 metres from other spectators and participants. 
• Care must be taken to avoid congregating at communal points such as entries and car parks, and to maintain physical distancing of 2 metres between groups

NRFL

NRF has postponed matches in Auckland for the Weekend of August 14-16. 
 
Due to the recent news of Auckland moving to Covid-19 Alert Level 3 and the rest of the country at Alert Level 2, Northern Region Football has decided all matches taking place in Auckland and involving any teams set to travel outside of Auckland are postponed. 
 
There will be a separate update for community matches in Northland taking place this weekend.
 
In regards to the LOTTO NRFL, the Women’s Premier League match between Hamilton Wanderers and Claudelands Rovers on Sunday August 16, 2020 at Porritt Stadium in Hamilton can still proceed at this time in line with Alert Level 2 requirements and status currently in place in the WaiBOP Football Federation.

All other matches in the LOTTO NRFL are postponed until further notice from the government.

PLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE AFTER 9AM FRIDAY MORNING FOR UPDATED DRAWS.  

Games and venues will remain the same in most cases, but the kick-off times may vary.

We encourage you to download the WaiBOP Football Federation app and watch out for updates.

Please note, this information is subject to change depending on further government updates.

For Waikato Secondary School Football updates please see https://wsss.org.nz/