Written by nswrl.com.au  Friday 3 April 2020

We answer all your questions about Community Football during COVID-19.

Has Community Rugby League been postponed?

The National Rugby League (NRL), in partnership with State governing bodies (NSWRL, NRLVIC, NRLSA, NRLWA, NRLNT) have postponed Community Rugby League in Australia until at least the first weekend of May. This decision has been informed by advice from Government and relevant Health organisations with view to stopping the spread of the COVID 19 virus.

The postponement includes all junior and senior Community club Rugby League competitions, training, gala days, Try League and League Stars.

When will Community Rugby League commence?

At this point in time the postponement applies through to the first weekend in May. We will continue to review this position and be guided by the relevant authorities. We will announce the return of Community Rugby League when the advice from the authorities deems it to be safe and appropriate.

Do we need to register Team Nominations?  

Sydney Metro nominations have been received. We will work with Clubs at the appropriate time to ensure teams are nominated to play in competitions when start dates are confirmed.

Who will set-up teams and competitions in MySideline?

Clubs are encouraged to continue setting up teams if they are capable of doing so, complying with previously prescribed naming conventions. Please be aware some District Leagues complete this function on behalf of Clubs.

Can volunteers still get accreditations?

The majority of accreditations with an on-line component will still be available and we encourage Coaches and Sports Trainers to take advantage of this down-time to complete these components of their courses if their individual circumstances allow.

Delivery of courses with a face-to-face component have been suspended until further notice. Volunteers previously registered to complete a face-to-face component will be re-allocated into a course once the course delivery suspension has been lifted.

Safety Education Accreditation

Sports Medicine Australia announced on 19 March the suspension of all face-to-face delivery until further notice, click here for the SMA statement. Participants already enrolled in courses are still able to complete the on-line component. Please follow the relevant links on the SMA website to access the on-line education opportunities.

Volunteer Compliance

Please continue to encourage your coaches, managers and trainers to register online, and continue to allocate them to their respective teams.

We strongly encourage Clubs to continue to work with us if their individual circumstances allow to ensure their officials are appropriately accredited and assigned to teams prior to season start.

How can we maintain engagement in Rugby League during this time?

Staying connected to your Club and community is highly encouraged. While the postponement applies to all competitions and training activities, this may present an opportunity for Clubs to complete some administrative tasks or engage with members via social media channels.

Any activity that does take place should be performed with strict adherence to Government guidelines on personal hygiene and social distancing.

Coaching Resources are available at playrugbyleague.com which contain many fun and helpful activities that will keep people connected. Please be sure to strictly adhere to Government advice when undertaking any activity.

What if our League or Club wants to continue playing?

The decision to postpone all competitions, training, gala days and programs announced on 18 March applies across all States and Territories. Under no circumstances should a League or Club continue to play or train until further advice has been provided.

Will Community Competitions commence this season?

While a number of state-wide competitions and events have been cancelled, at this point this doesn’t apply to Community Competitions. The intention is to commence Community Competitions when the advice from the authorities deem it safe and appropriate.

What happens if the situation hasn’t improved by May?

We are constantly reviewing the situation and any decisions that are made will be based on the advice of the Government and relevant Health authorities. Any changes to the current position will be based on new information and will be communicated immediately.

The situation is evolving rapidly and it’s important Rugby League plays its part in not only stopping the spread of the virus but also safe-guards our valuable volunteers, players and broader Rugby League community.

Will there be a point in time Clubs and Leagues will be advised the season will be cancelled?

We are continually monitoring what is an evolving situation and the intention is to run Community Competitions at the earliest and safest opportunity. Any changes to the current return date of the first weekend in May will be communicated as soon as it is practical to do so.

Will Clubs be offering refunds?

Active Kids vouchers are not refundable for cash.

It is the intention of the League to run competitions at the earliest opportunity that government advice deems it safe and appropriate. Clubs will be better positioned to make decisions on registration fees once the competition length and number of games played has been confirmed. We recommend that clubs hold on to any registration fees paid until this point, or failing that, apply the same refund policy from previous years for each individual club.

For further information on Active Kids Vouchers click here.

Should Clubs continue to take registrations?

There is no reason why participants can’t continue to register. Once we are able to re-commence competitions, we want all participants to be ready and registered to train and play.

Can player transfers still be processed?

Player transfer applications can still be lodged. Please be aware there may be delays in processing due to the availability of staff and club volunteers to administer the applications. Applications will remain in the system until processed.

Is school Rugby League still being played?

No. All school Rugby League Competitions events and gala days have been either postponed or cancelled. School Sport Australia has cancelled the U12’s National Exchange and the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League Committee have cancelled the Australian Championships.

Where can I find out more about Covid-19?

The Australian Government’s Department of Health is a reliable source of information relating to Covid19. Click here

Will the NRL turn off Registrations and Transfers if the season is postponed past 1 May?

The MySideline System will remain open for clubs and associations to take registrations and manager their participants. If Participants or Administrators need assistance using MySideline they can go to support.playrugbyleague.com