Following deliberations between the WACA, CricketWest and other sporting associations, an approved agreement regarding the start of the summer sporting season and completion of the winter sporting season has been tentatively agreed upon.
The finalisation of the the Winter/Summer Season Crossover Agreement – between winter and summer outdoor (green space) sports has taken place and at this stage suggests a starting date of October 17th 2020 for the upcoming 2020/21 season.
This is in relation to the impacts caused by COVID-19 (the Coronavirus) on community sport that saw a delayed start to the winter sporting season (for sports such as football, soccer and rugby) and the cancellation of all of our grand finals only days out from when they were scheduled to be played.
The 2019/20 season is officially closed, with all grand final teams sharing premierships. The 2020/21 season is also going to be delayed but only by a week under the agreed plan outlined below.
The proposal saw collaboration between the sports, their governing bodies, SportWest, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, the WA Local Govt Assc (WALGA) and a number of individual local governments.
It is yet to be formally announced by the South Metropolitan Cricket Association (the competition in which we compete) but has been adopted and confirmed by the WACA, CricketWest and several other cricket associations.
As such we cannot say for certain that this is what will occur for the season, but is certainly the most likely result. The season normally would have expected to start on the 10th October or possibly the 3rd of October, and this proposal suggests only a one-week delay.
The Leeming Spartan Cricket Club’s clubhouse and home ground John Connell Reserve is utilised by the Leeming Soccer Club who had a delayed start to their season due to the COVID-19 crisis. The Club will work closely with the soccer club (who participate in the Football West competition – one of the organisations who have supported the agreement) in coming weeks in terms of coming to a mutual agreement as soon as possible in relation to the above.
The full agreement has been outlined below:
Read The PDF Version Of The Report Here
AGREEMENT ON COMMUNITY SEASON CROSSOVER PLANS FOR WINTER AND SUMMER OUTDOOR (GREEN SPACE) SPORTS 2020/2021
This agreement has been developed by the State Sporting Associations represented below, in collaboration with SportWest, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, the WA Local Government Association and the Metropolitan Area Recreation Advisory Group. Feedback has also been sought from a number of country Local Governments to test applicability to regional competitions.
The intent of this agreement is as follows:
- Guide the 2020/2021 winter/summer sport season cross over as a result of the impacts caused by COVID-19;
- Help maximise the participation opportunities across all community sport;
- Acknowledge the important role that Local Government plays, and the time required in transitioning sports grounds between winter and summer seasons;
- Provide clear direction to local clubs and associations across all sports to ensure a united and common-sense approach across both seasons in what is an unprecedented year; and
- Help manage the potential impact on players and volunteers recognising the number who are heavily involved in both winter and summer sports.
For further information or questions in relation to this agreement, please contact the relevant State Sporting Association, as listed below.
Note: This agreement applies to community grassroots level competitions and excludes Premier and State League competitions. (e.g. WAFL; WACA Premier Cricket, National Premier League) as specific agreements will be worked through in relation to these competitions and ground requirements.
Read The PDF Version Of The Report Here
The key agreement outcomes are as follows:
1. WINTER SPORTS
1.1 Winter sports will have priority access to shared sports grounds up to and including the weekend of the 3 and 4 October 2020.
1.2 Any winter sport season fixtures required beyond the weekend of the 3 and 4 October 2020, either for home and away or finals matches, will be played on sports grounds that are not shared with summer sports (subject to local agreements relating to specific maintenance requirements and timelines of the Local Government).
1.3 All winter competitions will be completed on non-shared grounds no later than 17 and 18 October 2020 to minimise direct cross over of the winter and summer seasons and subsequent impact on players and volunteers involved in both seasons.
2. SUMMER SPORTS
2.1 Summer sports will have priority access to shared sports grounds from the weekend of 17 and 18 October 2020 (subject to local agreements relating to specific maintenance requirements and timelines of the Local Government).
2.2 Summer competitions will not commence any earlier than the weekend of the 10 and 11 October 2020 (on non-shared sports grounds) to minimise direct cross over of the winter and summer seasons and subsequent impact on players and volunteers involved in both seasons.
3. GROUND MAINTENANCE
3.1 Ground maintenance periods on shared grounds will commence the week commencing Monday 5 October 2020, unless competition fixtures allow an earlier start date.
3.2 Ground maintenance periods on non-shared sports grounds used by winter sports will commence at a date determined as per point 1.2.
4. SPORT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COLLABORATION
4.1 State Sporting Associations will be required to inform all affiliated and member organisations of this agreement so competition administrators for summer and winter sports can apply these principles when drafting up competition fixtures.
4.2 Discussions between winter and summer sport competition administrators, club administrators and local government authorities are encouraged as soon as possible to consider how these principles will inform local decision making and agreements for the upcoming winter and summer season cross over.
4.3 Where a local government agreement cannot be reached in relation to season cross over dates, both the relevant clubs and local governments are encouraged to contact the relevant State Sporting Associations to assist in these discussions.
4.4 Access to grounds for pre-season training for summer sports to be organised through discussions between Local Governments and the winter sports as per normal winter/summer season cross over planning as well as specific local circumstances.
5. 2021 SUMMER/WINTER SEASON CROSS OVER
5.1 The 2020/2021 summer season end date will not be extended beyond that of a normal season timeline to ensure season crossover periods return to normal.
6. WA GOVERNMENT COVID-19 ROADMAP
6.1 This agreement will be subject to changes made to the WA Government’s COVID-19 Road Map.
6.2 All community sport return to play practices and procedures must align to the WA Government’ COVID-19 Sport and Recreation Guidelines as well as their respective sports’ return to play protocols and guidelines.
2020/2021 WINTER/SUMMER SEASON CROSSOVER PLAN
