WA Cricket Return to Play Protocols Update
Last week, Cricket Australia revised their protocol guidelines following ongoing engagement with health and medical authorities. These are no longer as prescriptive and now allow each State and Territory to fully align their protocols to the guidance provided by their respective State and Territory Government. With this advice, as well as our continued monitoring of the ever evolving situation around COVID-19 in WA, including the imminent move to Stage 5 of the WA Government’s COVID-19 Roadmap, the WACA has also been able to review and revise the WA Return to Play protocols.
The key change to these protocols is the easing of the previous advice around sharing of equipment, in particular, helmets. As such the revised protocol relating to equipment is as follows:
For the playing of community cricket, it is strongly recommended that people avoid sharing any equipment especially helmets. However, if the sharing of equipment is unavoidable, then the equipment should be sanitised as best as it can be using the guidelines in the WA Cricket Return to Play protocols, which includes the following:
Hands should be sanitised using an alcohol based hand sanitiser before and after handling equipment and at any breaks in play during training and games
Each piece of equipment being shared is to be cleaned with Alcohol-based anti-bacterial wipes by the person who used it or someone else who sanitises their hands before and after cleaning the equipment
Where possible, allow the equipment to ‘rest’ in sunlight for at least 30 minutes before being used again
We understand that based on the previous advice in relation to the sharing of equipment, some clubs will have already put plans in place to provide helmets for players, particularly in the Stage 1 age groups. We are aware many clubs will have already purchased additional helmets or created loan schemes for players. Some competitions have also allowed the use of non-British Standard helmets for this season in Stage 1 Junior Cricket age groups.
For those clubs who have put in place these strategies, it has not been a wasted effort. While this protocol revision will ease the pressure on many clubs and families it still remains good practice for all players to have their own equipment for cricket especially helmets.
The aim of these protocols, which may initially seem inconvenient, is to help avoid future transmission of COVID-19 in our community. We have been fortunate in WA for many months now and we hope our success in managing COVID-19 continues, but we all have a role to play and cannot afford to be complacent. The WACA will continue to monitor the research and advice from Government and our medical professionals to provide continued updates throughout the season in relation to these protocols. This will also help to ensure Cricket is well placed to respond In the event WA experiences a second wave of community transmission.
Visit here for all the up to date information in relation to the WA Return to Play Guidelines and as is always the case, please contact your Cricket Manager if you have any questions or need support.
As the season commencement is fast approaching I would like to take the opportunity to wish you every success both on and off the field. After a lot of hard work by so many throughout a very challenging off season, we are excited about the summer ahead for communities right across the State.
Regards
Jo Davies General Manager, Community Cricket
WACA Community Cricket
PO Box 6045, EAST PERTH WA 6892Click here to contact a member of our team.
Email: volunteers@waca.com.au