COVID-19

Advice to Clubs and Counties from GAA HQ – for activities post Dec 31st  

 

CLUB SPECIFIC GUIDELINES

  1. Club Games and Training

In level 5 and under the current restrictions in the North, individual training only is permitted – neither adult nor underage teams may train collectively.

 

GAA club grounds must stay closed.

 

Club games are not permitted.

 

  1. Use of Indoor Team Facilities
    Dressing rooms, showers and all other indoor training facilities should remain closed for club activities.

    Club Gyms must remain closed until further notice.

  2. Committee Meetings

No indoor meetings can be held.

 

  1. Officer Training

All officer Training must be delivered online. Outdoor coaching education courses are not permitted.

 

  1. Club Bars

Club Bars must remain closed until the current restrictions are lifter.

 

  1. Indoor Events on GAA Property

No organised indoor gatherings can take place under the current restrictions.

 

Commercial use of indoor halls (for example by state bodies – e.g. HSE/Schools is permitted where agreement was in place prior to March and relevant insurance are in place.   These are the only instances in which indoor activity is permitted on GAA Club property. 

 

  1. Outdoor Events on GAA Property

No outdoor gatherings on GAA property are permitted.

 

Exception: Walkways may stay open for use by the community with social distancing in place.

 

 

ADVICE FOR 2ND LEVEL SCHOOLS AND 3RD LEVEL INSTITUTIONS

  1. Games and Training

Neither competitive nor challenge games are permitted in 2nd Level schools.

 

Training is permitted during school hours and as part of school approved P.E programmes only.

 

Neither games nor training are permitted to take place at 3rd level.

 

 

Appendix – Advice for Use of GAA Club Gyms 

The following advice – taken from the Ireland Active Framework for Safe Operation should be followed when opening Gym facilities:

  • Social distancing of 2m should always be maintained
  • Participants should not congregate before or after activities, and facilities should design internal flows to reflect this.
  • Facilities should plan for a maximum of 1 person/4 square metres* (2mx2m) and in accordance with government advice on maximum capacities for indoor activities.
  • Ensure adequate ventilation, avoiding recycling of air to avoid possibility of infection, in accordance with HSE/HSA guidance
  • Carry out frequent cleaning of surfaces and wipe downs of contact surfaces with single use disinfectant wipes or strong disinfectants and microfibre cloths.
  • Users should not share towels, water bottles etc.
  • All of the standard infection control guidance from the HSE should be heeded.
  • There should be no hands-on adjustments or physical contact during training.
  • Spacing of exercise machines/equipment should be undertaken to ensure 2m distance between equipment. An alternative may be to use every second piece of equipment or the closing of certain stationary equipment to ensure 2m distancing.
  • Equipment which is 2m apart should not be placed where exercisers are facing each other.
  • Spin bikes should be staggered and spaced 2m apart to avoid spray back.
  • Loose equipment such as dumbbells, kettlebells, free weights etc. should be used by one exerciser and cleaned in between each use by users/staff.
  • Booking of time slots should be employed in order to enable safe management and recording of users in the facility.
  • Where spotting of weights is being undertaken, face coverings should be worn

All areas, within the gym, where social distancing is particularly challenging should be kept closed – Players should not enter the gym facility prior to their assigned reservation

Adequate signage and reminders should be provided at entrances and in strategic places within the gym providing instruction on social distancing, hand hygiene, use of cloth face coverings or masks, and cough and sneeze etiquette.

 

Latest Covid Update: 22ú Deireadh Fomhair 2020

 

 

A Chairde,

 

An Taoiseach announced this week that Ireland would move to Level 5 (with some modifications) on the Government’s “Resilience and Recovery Plan for Living with Covid-19” from midnight October 21st, for six weeks.

 

The GAA’s Covid Advisory Group issued last night some key updates on what this means for those involved in Gaelic Games. We would ask all members, and particularly players, mentors and coaches, to familiarise themselves with what this means for club activity here: https://learning.gaa.ie/sites/default/files/Update%20Oct%2021%20re%20Level%205.pdf

 

 

In particular, please note that Level 5 restrictions mean neither adult club games nor training can take place between now and December 1st. The GAA is adopting a 32-County approach in this context and therefore training for adult teams will not be allowed in the North either.

 

From October 21st, training at Minor level and below only will be permitted for clubs in all 32 Counties (but not inter-county). However, it must be on a non-contact basis in pods of no more than 15 people. Dressing Rooms cannot be used and the Health Questionnaire must be filled out by all those participating. Attendance by parents/guardians should be on the basis of one per child (for child protection reasons) and the Health Questionnaire must be filled out by all of those coming into the ground.

 

We are asking all members to strictly adhere to these revised important public health guidelines in the interest of all our community. I would particularly ask that all parents and their families redouble their efforts and be especially vigilant with regard to possible COVID-19 symptoms, as per HSE guidelines here: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/protect-yourself-and-others.html

 

 

It has also been confirmed this week that intercounty games will only proceed at Senior Level and behind closed doors. You can read the GAA’s official statement in this regard here: https://www.gaa.ie/news-archive/news/u-20-and-minor-inter-county-competitions-paused-until-further-notice-from-tomorr/

 

 

 

Managing the ongoing Covid-19 situation is challenging for us all and, while we are relieved that we can continue with underage training, albeit non-contact under the new restrictions, it is understandable for people to feel anxious at this time.

 

With this in mind, I would like to extend a special thanks to our team managers and mentors for their continued positivity and their commitment to training our teams, taking such care to ensure their health and safety, while also taking time to develop new appropriate coaching drills. We want to thank them, and all our members, for this thoughtful support.

 

 

We will continue to keep our protocols and the evolving situation under review and will update you with any new information as we receive it. Please share this information as appropriate with anyone who you think might need it.

 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your team managers or any of us on the Club Executive.

 

 

Ní neart go cur le chéile,

 

Paul Smith

Cathaoirleach

CLG Na Fianna

 

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