RTE say that the plan will likely be announced this coming Friday which is line when the government is expected to announced a move to phase 2 from Monday June 8th. The plan is set to look a gradual unrolling of restrictions. Of course this will be dependent on goverment advice and the R rate of the virus remaining low. Phase 2 will see the opening of walking tracks but it won’t be till phase 3 really till we start to see players back out on the pitches. GAA pitches will likely reopen and of course the clubs will have appointed Covid officers and supervisors to keep on top of things.

RTE have said that county boards have been planning and organising a return to the club championship which could see some club championships compacted and completed by the end of July. The pressure on clubs is quite high. They are not getting any gate receipts from games or sponsorship. However, if club grounds were to open then clubs will have to have the correct signs in place which show social distancing, as well hand washing facilities and sanitiser been placed around each club ground. It is also expected all equipment used will have to be washed and sanitised.

We all need to understand that the way the GAA will operate will be obviously different when it gets back. Everything we do in life has obviously now changed, be it queing to get into a shop, constantly hand washing, social distancing, these are just going to part and parcel of Ireland for the next couple of months at least. When the GAA does come back we will all certainly have the appetite for it !

The post GAA to sign off on Return to play protocol appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

According to RTE Sport, the group met on Monday night to discuss procedures and opening of GAA grounds and property. It is expected the committee will now meet on a regular basis. It will recommend a pathway which will be suited to the amateur status of the GAA and culture. The advisory group are aware the effect of closed club grounds on rural Ireland. In a statement they said, “When the time comes the GAA Management Committee will decide when to go back to training and games and also how we will go back,”.

It continued,“The Covid-19 Advisory Group has been established to advise the GAA from a health and welfare perspective. “The remit will centre on return-to-play protocols around training, playing and safely facilitating spectators – when that times comes.  “There are other specific areas that need to be carefully looked at too.

The spokesperson said that rules will have to be drawn up regarding the opening of ball alleys and handball alleys. “For example, we may need specific rules to be drawn up for the convention of opening up ball-alleys or handball courts, and the committee will be invaluable in drawing up documents for such scenarios.”

An update is expected on May 18th. However, an imminent return to play is unlikely according to the spokesperson. “Certainly, no-one could envisage any imminent return to play as the downward movement of the Covid-19 rate of infection is not enough at the moment.

RTE Sport also report that they expect the committee to announce a phased approach to players returning to training. Just like current guidelines for soccer in Italy and Spain where training in large groups is forbidden I would expect something similar to occur here. It will likely start of smaller groups, before progressing to large group non contact training and then full training.

RTE also report that the Covid 19 advisory committee will provide advice and safety details on how everyone involved in sport will be able engage safely. Furthermore, match advice will also be given, as will the use of facilities and stadium preparation. The committee itself is made up some medical experts with GAA experience, admin from Croke Park and representatives from the GPA and ladies football and camogie associations.

Earlier last week, it was reported that 57% of club players would return to training if a vaccine was in place. However, it is looking likely a vaccine won’t be in place till next year.

The post Covid 19 Advisory Group discuss GAA roadmap plans appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.