sportaus.gov.au
Sport needs you back: an open letter to every volunteer
and participant
Australian Sports Commission
4-5 minutes
So it was with optimism and pride that we were able to
launch the Return to
Sport Toolkit this week, moving a step closer to the resumption of
community sport. Sport, we firmly believe, can play a prominent role in lifting
the nation’s energy and spirits again.
First up, let’s bust some myths about the Return to Sport
Toolkit.
I can assure you, grandparents are not banned from watching
their grandkids play sport.
Nor are we enforcing one parent to sit alone in the car
instead of cheering on from the sideline.
Our intention is not to burden millions of sporting
volunteers with rules and red tape. Indeed, this Toolkit is designed to give
them a helping hand and peace of mind for a safe and successful return to sport
at all levels.
Put yourself in this scenario, the local junior netball or
footy competition has been given consent by the local state Government to
resume. Children, families and communities flock to a congested local venue en
masse to cheer on the kids and celebrate.
Now think about the role of sporting officials, the bulk of
them volunteers, who are trying to manage everything from competition
schedules, venue preparation, match officials, operational procedures. Then add
the complexity of a pandemic, where they need to consider crowd management and
social distancing for public safety.
As we contemplate the return to community sport, there are
two key priorities. The first is supporting our sporting administrators, many
of them volunteers. The second is winning back our participants.
Sport Australia’s AusPlay research conducted just prior to
the COVID-19 pandemic reveals Australian sport and physical activity has about
3.1 million volunteers.
The biggest segment is 35-54 year-olds - parents.
Sport has the largest volunteer base in this country and one
study has previously valued this contribution at $3 billion per year. The
reality is, sport’s volunteers are priceless. Australian sport, as we know it,
cannot survive without them.
But this is no regular return to sport, like a new season.
We cannot blow a whistle and just re-start play, expecting things will
immediately return to normal, as we’ve always known it.
That’s why the Toolkit has been developed, with checklists
that give our community clubs guidance. They are adaptable for small to large
organisations, with templates that everyone can customise to their own
circumstances.
We have, of course, made recommendations to try and ensure
the safest sporting environments. We recommend, if possible, that one parent or
guardian attend along with each child as sport resumes. In many cases this
guardian may well be a grandparent.
If you happen to be at a venue where you can watch the
action from the car, it may be suitable for parents and guardians to view from
there.
We will all have to play a role in a safe and sensible
return to sport. We may only get one shot at it this year, so we need to do it
right.
Taking this approach will also give participants the
confidence they are returning to safe sporting environments.
Just as we do not take our volunteers for granted, we
desperately need our participants.
Many Australians have no doubt adapted their activity during
COVID-19. It may be running around the block, cycling on trails, creating home
gyms and following online sporting drills.
Sport offers so many benefits these activities can’t. Social
connection and friendships. A sense of purpose, whether it’s overcoming your
own challenges or uniting with teammates for a common goal. The thrill of
competition, win, lose or draw. The euphoria of kicking a goal, the resilience
of learning from an error and getting better each time.
We cannot decide when sport returns, those are the decisions
for State and Territory Governments and are based on the very best health
advice. Public safety is paramount.
But when sport is back, we will need you all back too. Join
a team, sign-up for a membership, volunteer to help.
Let’s ensure sport doesn’t just survive, but it thrives
again.
RETURN TO SPORT TOOLKIT