This community advice provides updates on several key areas.

1. Greater Sydney Lockdown (stay-at-home-order) Extension.
2. Regional NSW Softball Participation
3. Pathway Updates-Under 16 State Championships Reschedule and other events/activities.
4. President’s & Representative Coordinators Engagement Session

Greater Sydney Lockdown (stay-at-home-order) Extension

Following the NSW Government’s announcement today that the Greater Sydney lockdown (stay-at-home orders) would continue past the original expiry of 11.59pm on Friday, 9 July 2021 until 11.59pm Friday July 16, 2021.

The continuation of the on Saturday that the stay-at-home orders were put in place have now been extended across all of Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Shellharbour, and Wollongong until 11.59pm Friday July 16, 2021.

Stay at Home Restrictions – Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong, and Shellharbour

Persons covered by the Order cannot leave their place of residence without a reasonable excuse. The reasonable excuses mirror those in earlier restrictions and include: 

• obtaining food, travelling to attend essential work or education (where it is not possible to do at home).
• exercise outdoors in groups of no more than 10.
• medical and caring reasons – including obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination.
• family and carer obligations and compassionate reasons, including where 2 people are in a relationship but do not necessarily live together.

Advice for community Sport in Greater Sydney

• You can take part in exercising or outdoor recreational activities that comply with
• the gathering rules (no more than 10 people outdoors)
• the premises that are required to be closed. 

N.B Social distancing should be maintained while participating in exercise.

Therefore, all Softball activities within Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong are suspended immediately until 11.59pm on Friday, 16 July 2021.

What does this mean for Softball in Greater Sydney?

• As per the Softball NSW advice on 25^th June, all games, training, and other Softball activities must cease.
• All Softball NSW and Association competitions and leagues will be suspended until 11.59pm on Friday July 16, 2021.
• Any Softball activity which takes place during this period is not sanctioned by Softball NSW and, therefore, the Personal Accident insurance cover that is provided as part of a player’s registration may not apply.

Regional NSW Softball Participation

 What does this mean for Softball outside of those areas?

Regional Areas (outside of Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong, and Shellharbour)
The following restrictions will now apply to regional areas: 

• Visitors to households will be limited to 5 guests – including children.
• Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events.
• Drinking while standing at indoor venues will not be allowed.
• Dance and gym classes limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn).
• The one person per four square metre rule will be re-introduced for all indoor and outdoor settings.
• Outdoor seated events will be limited to 50% seated capacity.

Face Mask Rules across NSW

The face mask rules that applied across Greater Sydney still apply to all areas across NSW.

Softball Specific Advice for Regional Areas

• Community Softball can continue under Safe Play Conditions including having only one person per four square metres.
• People who have been in the Greater Sydney region (including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Shellharbour, and Wollongong) on or after June 21, 2021, should follow the stay-at-home orders for a period of 14 days after they left Greater Sydney.
• Anyone attending Softball games or training must wear a mask.
• People may remove their mask only for strenuous physical exercise (e.g., to Warm-up, Train, Play or Umpire), or when eating or drinking, and must put their masks back on at all other times, including Spectators, Coaches, Team Management & Scorers etc.
• Similar to earlier orders, there are other exemptions that apply including for children under 12, people with autism or intellectual disabilities and other health conditions.

We are in regular contact with relevant government agencies, and we are all committed to keeping you informed throughout this period. We are expecting to meet with the Minister for Sport and the Office of Sport on Monday 12^th July and will provide further advice as soon as possible.

Further detail in relation to the restrictions can be sourced here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules

Pathway Information-Under 16 State Championships Advice

As per the earlier government advice, the Greater Sydney lockdown will now extend to 11.59pm Friday July 16. Due to this lockdown and the uncertainty to follow, we will now be rescheduling the Under 16 State Championships that are due to commence the following weekend on July 24-25 at Southern Districts Softball Association.

During this morning’s announcement, the NSW Premier referenced the roadmap out of lockdown numerous times. This does create uncertainty in relation to events/activities and based on previous experience this will likely include venue capacities. For the benefit and safety of our community this decision needed to be made as soon as possible to ensure that bookings and arrangements could be adjusted with their relative accommodation houses.

We have liaised with host Affiliate Southern Districts Softball Association and the Softball NSW Umpires Association in relation to the venue availability, volunteer availability and umpire serviceability for the proposed dates and these were found to be favorable. As such, we can advise that the rescheduled date will now be August 21-22 at Southern Districts Softball Association.

N.B Pending the roadmap out of lockdown this may require the event to be split due to capacity limitations. If this is required further advice will be provided at that time.

Association Action Required: We now require all participating Associations to liaise with their participants and officials and confirm participation in this event for the rescheduled date by no later than close of business Friday 16^th July. This response is to be advised to Softball NSW Events and Facility Coordinator Aimee Sutton via events@softballnsw.org.au

Other Pathway Events & Activities

In addition to this reschedule, there are several other pathway activities and events that are scheduled in the last week or July and early August which may also need to be adjusted pending the roadmap out of lockdown. Confirmation or advice on any changes of these will be provided as soon as possible to our community.

Pending Schedule

• July 23-24 Under 16 State Championships Postponed
• Jul 31-Aug 1 Under 23’s State Camp
• Aug 7-8 Open Men’s State Championships
• Aug 14-15 Open Women’s State Championships
• Aug 21-22 Under 16 State Championships (Rescheduled Date)

President’s & Representative Coordinators Engagement Session

With the change of dates being made to the Under 16 State Championships date and possibility of further changes afoot, Softball NSW would like to conduct a President’s & Representative Coordinator’s Meeting via Zoom on Monday 12^th July at 7.30pm. This would be held via Zoom and provide an opportunity for key stakeholders to be provided with updates and engage on the pathway issues at hand as well as other COVID relative matters. This would be attended by SNSW President Chris Hall and CEO Daniel Rushworth along with other staff and Board Members.

Association Action Required: Could you please confirm your Affiliate Representatives including name, email, and position by close of business Friday July 9 to Chief Executive Officer Daniel Rushworth via ceo@softballnsw.org.au

 Questions

Any questions in relation to this community advice, please contact Daniel Rushworth via ceo@softballnsw.org.au.