CRFU RugbySafe
War a’n Peryl, na worth-peryl
(Risk aware, not risk averse)
COVID 19 Risk Assessments and RugbySafe
As the provisional fixture lists for the new season have been published and clubs turn their focus towards pre-season training, there have been several requests of the CB to provide a standardised risk assessment for clubs. Unfortunately every club has a unique operating and playing structure so a cut and paste standardised assessment would not be appropriate. However, the CB can act as a forum for sharing ideas, information and examples of good practice for protecting payers and supporters both inside the clubhouse and on the pitch.
The situation over the coming months is going to be fluid and some clubs plans are well advanced whilst others slightly less so. The CB has copies of several Risk Assessments (RA’s) which augment and amplify RFU and government advice. The authors are happy for them to be shared. Equally, for example, there is excellent video advice produced by Falmouth that clearly spells out how to perform essential activities in the Covid environment. A google search will also show lots of ideas from other clubs around the country.
In preparing for the shift towards playing, the emphasis must be on developing consistent practices that are applicable to all age groups and which provide the confidence to players parents and supporters that training socialising and eventually playing can be conducted in a safe and enjoyable environment. Sadly, some of the traditional aspects of the game will have to be adjusted to achieve the ‘new normal’.
From a RugbySafe perspective, Covid has naturally taken clubs eyes off the ball in RugbySafe matters and that initiatives such as Activate and the Mental Health programmes are just as important (possibly more so) in the Covid era and deserve inclusion in any RA. For example, the RFU’s https://www.englandrugby.com/dxdam/e8/e81f449a-5e25-4957-b417-9c546f323c25/Covid-19%20coaching%20risk%20assessment.pdf is, in effect, an excellent coaches pre session aide-memoire which can be amplified as appropriate by clubs
If any club wants advice, help or examples of how other clubs have generated their RA’s for their training and clubhouse arrangements, please contact rugbysafe@crfu.co.uk In addition, if you have information and ideas that you feel will benefit other clubs or just need confirmation that you are on the right track, then please use the same email address.
