Dear Coaches,

As State/Territory and Federal Governments continue to progressively implement measures aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Australia, Athletics Australia is constantly monitoring the evolving situation and the advice from relevant authorities. At the time of writing, some State/ Territory governments across Australia have chosen to close schools (VIC: COB March 23^rd, ACT: COB March 24^th, NSW is mixed messaging with schools remining open but the Premier urging parents to keep children at home if that option is available), as well as a number of school closures in States/ Territories where schools are still operating but a specific instance of COVID-19 has been detected.

At this stage, the Sporting Schools program intends to continue to fund schools to encourage physical activity for Australian students. Sport and physical activity in schools has a positive influence on children’s confidence, motivation and wellbeing. Sport Australia will follow the guidelines set by the Australian Government and will respect the decisions made by State and Territory education departments and Catholic and independent school bodies.

Where schools are continuing to operate, Sporting Schools programs can continue to be delivered. The health and safety of our coaches and of the communities in which we operate is of upmost importance and we certainly respect your personal choice for social distancing and the school’s choice to restrict external contractors.

At this time we recommend coaches consider implementing the following precautionary measures in the delivery of programs:

• Modify activities and practices that involve physical contact. For example, instead of using a high 5 for a relay change or an object for a relay baton, substitute for an elbow bump or use cones as a changeover point

• Consider cleaning and disinfecting equipment between sessions

• Encourage good hygiene practices, including frequent hand washing

• Work with teachers to implement any specific measures that your school(s) may have introduced

Additionally, we recommend you:

• Wash your hands as often as possible with soap and water or hand sanitizer

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or cough into your elbow not your hands; and

You should look to the advice provided by your relevant State and Territory Health Department relating to COVID-19 as the specific advice, recommendations, and restrictions may vary depending on your location. We recommend you check this advice regularly.

• If you are ill and/or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, have come in to contact with a confirmed case of the virus or have recently travelled overseas or interstate, please follow the direction of authorities, immediately cease delivery of Sporting Schools programs and contact Tait or Jo at Athletics Australia.

Some individual schools have moved to cancel or postpone certain activities, so if one of your schools advises that they have chosen to cancel or suspend the delivery of Sporting Schools programs, please contact us. Similarly, if you are not comfortable continuing to deliver programs for the time being, please advise us at your earliest convenience.

The situation regarding COVID-19 is rapidly evolving. Should additional measures be implemented by governments which impact upon the delivery of Athletics Australia’s Sporting Schools programs, we will issue further advice to coaches.

• We encourage all coaches to submit timesheets for sessions delivered by COB this Friday 27^th March. With timesheets to be processed on Monday 30^th March. We are encouraging schools to put undelivered/ cancelled sessions into credit for next term.

Thank you for all of the important work that you do in the community. This is a challenging time for all industries. We will continue to update you as necessary. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Sporting Schools Coordinators Tait Forster tait.forster@athletics.org.au or Jo Hyland jo.hyland@athletics.org.au.