Colchester Harriers Covid Regulations – Updated
Colchester Harriers Athletics Club is pleased to announce the re-starting of club training activities at the Garrison Track following the closure for Covid19 and subsequent track refurbishment. Our working party have had to introduce additional safety measures and regulations to ensure that training, both at the track and out in the wider community is offered in a Covid secure environment and meets the guidelines specified by England Athletics. Please read the following information which outlines how implementation of risk assessments will change the way we train. It is imperative that all members invited to train work within the scope of the following code of practice to protect themselves and other club members and to maintain the reputation of the club within the community.
Under current EA guidelines club members from Tier 3 restricted areas will not be permitted to travel into Tier 2 areas for the purposes of training or competition with the exception of under 18s, those with a disability, elite athletes and volunteers such as coaches and officials to enable participation.
1) Please DO NOT attend training if you, or someone from your household has Covid=19 symptoms or has had a positive test. You should refer to Public Health England for current self-isolation advice
2) Access to the track will be via the gates adjacent to the car park (behind the viewing stand). Each group (maximum of 12 athletes) has been allocated a ‘team base’ indicated by a letter on the infographic attached. Please familiarise yourself with your team base and the routes to and from this location
3) Each coach is responsible for keeping a register of athletes attending training for contact tracing details. Your coach will advise as to their preferred method of gathering this information. There will be no mixing of training groups.
4) Training fees are to be paid via bank transfer as outlined by the executive committee, this is to remove the risks involved with handling cash.
5) There are no changing facilities at the track, athletes should therefore wear suitable sports clothing when arriving at the track. Bags and water bottles are to be kept at team base and positioned at least 2 metres apart to avoid congestion. There will be access to a nominated toilet block which will operate a strict single person use to the building at any time.
6) The club house may be open for take away drinks only. If using this facility face coverings and sanitiser must be used and the one way system adhered to. Athletes are asked not to share any food or drink during their training session.
7) Where sports equipment or throwing implements are used the equipment must be sanitised before and after use by the user and not shared during the session. Coaches will have supplies of sanitising gel for this purpose. Ideally each athlete should have their own equipment and hand sanitiser for their sole use.
8) The track and other training areas are outdoor venues and as such face coverings are not required, however social distancing of 2m should be observed at all times. Social distancing also applies to parents and guardians who bring their children to the club and spectate during the training sessions There should only be one parent or guardian per athlete who should remain in the stand unless performing a designated role or using toilets/purchasing drinks.
9) As per existing club rules and in view of sources of transmission of Covid-19, there is to be no spitting on the track or use of saliva to help ‘grip’ implements. Any incident of this nature will initially result in the club member being given a warning. A two week suspension from training would be imposed for a second infringement. This reflects UKA rules for which this behaviour now incurs an instant disqualification.