Hockey NSW COVID-19 Updates

Published Wed 04 Aug 2021

10/09/2021 - COVID UPDATE

After the NSW Government's announcement yesterday that outlines their Roadmap To Freedom and also the lifting of lockdown in SOME regional areas in NSW , Hockey NSW wishes to provide the following information and reccomendation.

As announced, community sport is still NOT allowed to go ahead in those regional areas that are now out of lockdown. As outlined in the Roadmap To Freedom, it states that ‘when NSW hits the 80 per cent double dose target, the government intends to open up further freedoms around international travel, community sport, major events and other areas.’

Even if your region is out of lockdown, Hockey NSW recommends that facilities remain shut and that no training/exercise at venues is to occur while there is no community sport allowed. This is to ensure that restrictions are not inadvertently broken and that our community and facilities remain safe and free from COVID.

INDOOR STATE CHAMPS UPDATE

To protect our hockey community as well as the broader community, Hockey NSW has made the following changes to the upcoming Hockey NSW Indoor State Championships.

The Men's Masters ISC will now be scheduled to take place from Friday 4th – Sunday 6th February 2022 with Veolia Arena as the hosting location.
The Women’s Masters ISC will now be scheduled to take place from Friday 11th – Sunday 13th February 2022 with Veolia Arena as the hosting location.
An update on the remaining Indoor State Championships will be communicated by Friday 8th October 2021 (at the latest).

As always, Hockey NSW will continue to monitor the advice provided by the NSW Government and act accordingly should any changes be made. Hockey NSW always has and will continue to place the health and safety of our players, officials and stakeholders in the highest regard.

26/08/2021 - COVID UPDATE

The NSW Government has further extended the lockdown of regional NSW until 11:59pm on the 10th September. The ceasure of all hockey activities remains in place until this time or until further advised by the NSW Government. There has been no change to the restrictions in Greater Sydney.

As restrictions and health advice are constantly changing, please keep referring to the NSW Health website for the most up-to-date information - https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

We encourage our entire community to get tested immeadiatley if they have symptoms, and to also get vaccinated as soon as possible. Only if we work together, will we be able to get back on the hockey field.

19/08/2021 - COVID UPDATE

The NSW Government has further extended the lockdown of regional NSW until the 28th August. The ceasure of all hockey activities remains in place until this time or until further advised by the NSW Government. There has been no change to the restrictions in Greater Sydney.

As restrictions and health advice are constantly changing, please keep referring to the NSW Health website for the most up-to-date information - https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

15/08/2021 - COVID UPDATE

Hockey NSW wishes to provide the following update after the NSW Government’s announcement yesterday that all of NSW are now under a stay-at-home order from 5pm August 14th for a period of seven (7) days until 12.01am Sunday 22 August 2021.

This means that ALL hockey activities across the State must cease until otherwise advised by the NSW Government.

As restrictions and health advice are constantly changing, please keep referring to the NSW Health website for the most up-to-date information - https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

10/08/2021 - COVID UPDATE

A number of regional NSW areas are now under stay-at-home orders along with residents in Greater Sydney. These areas include:

Armidale
Ballina, Byron, City of Lismore and Richmond Valley
Newcastle, Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Port Stephens and Singleton
Tamworth

All hockey activities in these areas should cease for the specfied date and time period in the Public Health Orders. All Clubs and Associations in these areas have been made aware of these restrictions and will be informing their members around cancellations and postponements.

For details on the restrictions in each of the specific areas above, and Greater Sydney, please visit this link - https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/affected-regions

05/08/2021 - COVID UPDATE

Following the announcement of the Newcastle, Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Port Stephens and Singleton local government areas being placed into a 7 day lockdown as of 5pm August 5^th 2021and finishing at 12:01am Friday 13^th August 2021, all hockey activities in these areas must cease until notified otherwise by the NSW Government.

More information on the current restrictions around NSW can be found below.

Greater Sydney & Newly added LGA’s Restrictions (Now Includes the LGA's Listed Above) – https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/greater-sydney#summary-of-restrictions

Regional & Rural Restrictions – https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/what-you-can-do-nsw

20/07/2021 - COVID UPDATE

In response to the number of infectious cases in the community, along with the spread of the COVID-19 Delta strain into previously unaffected areas, Hockey NSW in consultation with our key stakeholders will be cancelling the upcoming Hockey NSW Women’s Masters in both Taree and Wagga Wagga.

Hockey NSW, along with the Women’s Masters Committee and our Hosting Associations have continually adjusted the Championships in the hope the event could proceed. We feel that with the recently announced cases in Regional NSW, the Championships are now unable to be conducted safely, without the potential risk of COVID-19 being further spread across Regional NSW.

While we recognise that this is extremely disruptive and unfortunate for the players who have been impacted, we consider this to be a responsible and sensible position to take at the current time. Hockey NSW and the Hockey NSW Women’s Masters committee will continue to place the health and safety of all participants and stakeholders, as well as the broader community first and foremost.

Hockey NSW will work with Hosting Associations and their local Councils to host these Championships in 2022.

14/07/2021 - COVID UPDATE

Hockey NSW wishes to provide the following update after the NSW Government’s announcement today that the Greater Sydney lockdown has been extended until 11:59pm of Friday 30^th July 2021.

This extension for Greater Sydney involves the same restrictions as we have been under for the past few weeks, this means that there is still to be no community sport in the Greater Sydney area during this time. Regional and Rural NSW restrictions also remain the same throughout this time.

Although the Greater Sydney lockdown is due to end at 11:59pm of Friday 30^th July 2021, we recommend any competitions or trainings in Greater Sydney don’t start until the week commencing the 2^nd August 2021.

The NSW Government’s media release can be found here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/lockdown-extended-to-30-july-2021

To keep up to date with any changes and case locations please keep checking the NSW Government’s website which has plenty of resources available - https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

7/07/2021 - COVID UPDATE

Hockey NSW would like to provide the update below folllowing the NSW Government's announcement today of the extension of the Greater Sydney lockdown until 11:59pm of Friday 16th July 2021.

The same restrictions currently in place across both Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour and regional NSW will remain in place until this time. This means that there is still to be no community sport in the Greater Sydney area during this time.

As always, this advice may change rapidly according to updated advice from the NSW Government, so please keep checking our website and your inboxes regularly.

Although the lockdown is due to end at 11:59pm of Friday 16th July 2021, Hockey NSW stongly recommends that Associations and Clubs do not start any competitions or trainings until the week commencing the 19th July 2021.

Please see the NSW Government’s media release here.

Another useful link to keep updated with is: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

29/06/2021 - COVID UPDATE

Further to the update below from the 25/05/2021, there has been no change to any rules around the Greater Sydney Area involving community sport, the new stay at home restrictions mean that no community sport (either training or a match) can proceed in Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

At this stage, the stay at home orders for Greater Sydney are in place until 11:59pm Friday 9^th July 2021 which means no community sport (either training or a match) can proceed in greater sydney until after that date.

In relation to our upcoming U13 State Championships, Clinics and Camps in regional NSW, the advice below has not changed and all regional events will go ahead as outlined below. Some regional clinics have had minor date changes but this has been communicated to all registered participants via email.

We wish to remind all of our participants who live in the Greater Sydney Area, that they are not allowed to attend the Hockey NSW U13s Boys State Championships in Parkes. If you reside out of the Greater Sydney region and have been in the Greater Sydney region, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour on or after Monday 21 June, please follow the stay-at-home rules for 14 days after you last left Greater Sydney.

As always, this advice may change rapidly according to updated advice from the NSW Government, so please keep checking our website and your inboxes regularly.

25/06/2021 - COVID UPDATE

Hockey NSW wishes to provide the following update on a range events and activities with regard to the recent COVID-19 developments in Greater Sydney.

Following the announcement by the Premier on Wednesday 25 June, the Public Health (COVID-19 Greater Sydney) Order (No 2) 2021 was published and includes revised rules and restrictions for the sport and active recreation sector. To protect our hockey community as well as the broader community, Hockey NSW has made the following recommendations and changes to these upcoming events and activities.

We strongly recommend that all training and games in Greater Sydney including Central Coast, Shellharbour, Blue Mountains and Wollongong are cancelled from now up until Tuesday 11:59pm next week (29th June 2021). Early next week, Hockey NSW will reassess the situation and the updated government advice and provide further guidance regarding the resumption of training and matches. We thank all the Associations and Competitions who have already moved to follow this recommendation.
In relation to the Steggles Under 13 State Championships in Grafton and Parkes, all Associations in Greater Sydney including Central Coast, Shellharbour, Blue Mountains and Wollongong will not be allowed to attend the above-mentioned Championships.

Any players, officials, team managers or spectators who live or work in Greater Sydney including Central Coast, Shellharbour, Blue Mountains and Wollongong are asked not to attend the Championships. Hockey NSW will only use regionally based officials as part of the Officiating Panel.

All remaining nominated Regional Associations will be able to attend the Championships and must confirm their team’s attendance by 12noon Tuesday 29 June 2021 via email to our Competitions Manager Nathan Walker.

No state squad selections will be conducted at the above-mentioned State Championships. Further information will be sent to athletes and Associations regarding updated selection procedures.

Hockey NSW is currently working on options for a Metropolitan Under 13s Championships to be held at a later date and will provide further information as and when details are finalised.
The Under 12 School Holiday Clinic in Marang, and the Goal Keeping Clinics and Goal-Scoring Clinics in Cintra have been cancelled and refunds will be offered. Other clinics will proceed as planned with regional staff in attendance. However, as restrictions change this advice may be updated. Please keep an eye on your emails.

If participants from a regional town were booked for a Sydney clinic, and have not been in the Greater Sydney region (inc. Wollongong, Central Coast, Blue Mountains and Shellharbour) within the last 14 days, we are happy to offer them a spot to attend another clinic in a different location, if they would like.
All metro AAP training sessions, including the camp in Sydney on the 9-10th July, have been postponed and athletes will be sent further information on rescheduled dates once more information is known. Regional AAP sessions will proceed as normal for the time being, but please keep checking your emails for further updates.

Whilst Hockey NSW understands these measures may cause disappointment for some, Hockey NSW has and will continue to place the health and safety of its players, officials and stakeholders in the highest regard. We also want to protect the wider NSW community and particularly those in regional areas.

Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Hockey NSW. Please note that we will be sending direct emails to affected participants where possible, and that athletes and parents should keep an eye on their inboxes for the most up-to-date advice.

See the following link which includes updated restrictions for Greater Sydney including Central Coast, Shellharbour, Blue Mountains and Wollongong: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/what-you-can-do-nsw#updated-covid-19-rules

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