Following the NSW Government’s announcement 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 on Friday, 9 July 2021.

The NSW Government has now published the Public Health (COVID-19 Temporary Movement and Gathering Restrictions) Order 2021. This Order replaces the previous PHO, outlining restrictions across all of NSW.

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, 9 July 2021.

What does this mean for Softball in those areas?

• 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, 9 July 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.

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 now 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 afternoon and will provide further advice as soon as possible.

Questions

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