We have the good news that we have all been waiting for, a return to the pitches with the following procedures and rules around this process.

Please read this carefully if you will be using our facilities and pass this on to any players hoping to return to action soon.

At this crucial stage, there is a huge responsibility on us all to continue to practice excellent hand hygiene, to maintain as much safe social distancing as possible, to think of others and to work together to stay on top of Covid-19. The virus has not gone away so we have a shared responsibility to do everything we can to stop the spread of the disease and a key step in all this is to please stay away from the club and from any crowds if feeling unwell at all.

Bear in mind too that in the initial phase of this return to Gaelic Games activity ONLY players and coaches should come pitchside and supporters and spectators are asked to wait until such time as games resume.

All the best, and see you pitchside before too long!

Michael Riordan , Cathaoirleach.

Return to Action: overview

The GAA issued its “Guidelines on Safe Return to Gaelic Games” on 5 June and these have been updated twice as the Government has accelerated the phases of the National Roadmap. The key dates now are:

• 24 June, Weds pitches open for adult training
• 27 June, Saturday pitches open for underage training
• 29 June, Monday full contact training and challenge matches
• 31 July, Friday Clare Club championship starts
• 14 September, Weds Intercounty training starts
• 17 October, Sat Intercounty matches start

The initial return to training will be on the basis of a maximum groups of 15 players in each sector of the field and spectators are not permitted to the fields until 29 June. Further guidance is expected from the GAA before 29 June in relation to other GAA buildings (such as Club bars, Gyms, Handball alleys etc).

All participants (players, coaches, officials, parents / guardians) are expected to complete a simple and quick online eLearning module before entering Club facilities for training or games – available at https://courses.gaa.ie/Covid19ClubEd

Covid-19 Club Education eLearning Module Covid-19 Club Education eLearning Modulecourses.gaa.ie

The Certificate of completion must be shown to the relevant team's Covid Supervisor before the initial return to training.

Families and individuals should carefully consider their own circumstances and weigh up whether they wish to re-engage with GAA activities at this time. The Club will place NO PRESSURE on anyone to do so and we fully recognise that different people will have different domestic circumstances and risk factors.

It is however worth noting that the GAA has pointed out the following:

• The HIQA document “Evidence summary for spread of COVID-19 by children” published in May 2020 indicated that there is low transmissibility among children less than 14 years old. 
• Serious illness in children is rare to date. There are low rates of child-to-adult or child-to-family member transmission in the limited number of studies available. 
• As with all situations there is a risk of infection but it appears to be lower in children.
• Outdoor activity appears to further lower the risk.

Key steps for Players

1. Complete online eLearning module and send / show Certificate of Completion to team Covid Supervisor before 1st return to training.
2. Complete the Health Questionnaire before initial return to training either online (details yet to be announced) or in hardcopy (which is to be given to team Covid Supervisor).
3. Each individual will sign a declaration at each subsequent session to confirm their health status has not changed.
4. If your temperature is above 37.5C, you must remain at home and consider contacting your GP. If you develop symptoms, you should not attend training/games. You should self-isolate and contact your GP.
5. Practice good hand hygiene before arriving at the pitch, avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth and practice good sneezing / coughing etiquette. No spitting.
6. Adhere to 2 metre social distancing as much as possible, reduce body contact as much as possible: NO shaking hands, ‘high fives’ or embracing
7. When traveling to the pitches, do so by walking / bike as much as possible; only family household members to share cars.
8. No sharing of personal equipment such as sun cream, jerseys, bibs etc: bring your own clearly marked water bottle and Sanitiser.
9. After training, leave immediately. Our dressing rooms will not be accessible for anyone until allowed to do so by the GAA.

Key Steps for Parents / Guardians

1. All parents / guardians must complete eLearning module and ensure their child has a completed Health Questionnaire with them before attending their first session.
2. Each parent will be required to sign a declaration at each subsequent training session to confirm the health status of their child has not changed.
3. Take your child’s temperature (and your own) just prior to entering the club and if the temperature is above 37.5C you must stay at home and consider contacting your GP for advice or referral.
4. Only one parent to travel with younger players where possible and parents not directly involved in the training session are not permitted to attend or observe training. Please either stay in your car or leave the grounds and return at the appointed collection time.
5. Players to arrive no more than 5 minutes prior to session commencing and to be collected immediately after training.
6. All children to arrive togged out ready to play as there will be no access to changing rooms.

Key Steps for the Club

1. We need to appoint an overall Covid-19 Supervisor the club:
2. We need to appoint Covid Supervisors to all teams.
3. A team training schedule will be published this week: it will stagger training times to minimise congregation of people and it must be strictly adhered to on the basis of “get in, train, get out”
4. The club will put up Covid-19 signage.
5. The dressing room toilets will be open.

About the Health Questionnaire

• Symptoms such as a high temperature, fever, cough, sore throat, general weakness, shortness of breath, and change in taste or smell will be identified. 
• The presence of symptoms, or temperature (over 37.5°C) precludes attendance at training.
• It is the responsibility of the individual to monitor their own temperature.
• Clubs are not responsible for recording of temperatures.
• If required, individuals should telephone their GPs for advice and management. 
• Temperature must not be recorded on the Health Questionnaire.
• The Questionnaire will need to be completed once, before the initial return to training.
• Each individual will be required to sign a declaration at each subsequent session to confirm their health status has not changed.

These measures will be reviewed in conjunction with public health advice.

How the Questionnaire Works

1. The Health Questionnaire can be completed online or in hard copy, in which case it should be presented to the relevant Covid Supervisor on entry to the facility. 
2. Each individual will be required to sign a declaration at each subsequent session to confirm their health status has not changed.
3. An online system for the Health Questionnaire - compliant with data protection legislation - will be provided centrally by the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association. This is the only online system that should be used.

Further details in relation to the online solution will be circulated shortly and images from the online model being developed are shown below.

Covid Supervisors

Each management team will appoint Covid Supervisors, who will all have completed this eLearning module, to each team and details of each team’s Supervisor will be communicated to all Players, Parents/Guardians, etc to ensure that appointed person(s) receive all necessary support to undertake the role.

Key Steps for Covid Supervisors

1. Administer Health Questionnaires for teams, either in paper format or via the simple online system which will be provided by the GAA.
2. Communicate and distribute necessary safety information and protocols to all Players, Team Personnel and Parent/Guardians prior to the reopening of Club grounds.
3. Monitor records of attendees at training/games within the Club. This information will be especially important in the event that contact tracing or other intervention is required.  
4. Ensure regular cleaning and sanitising of all relevant facilities / equipment in conjunction with the Club Executive
5. Liaise with Club Executive regarding any Covid-19 concerns and report any areas of non-compliance immediately to Club Executive and ensure that these are addressed.
6. Keep up to date on all relevant guidelines from HSE, HSA and the Gaelic Games associations.
7. Covid Supervisors are expected to stay for the duration of each training session / game in case a player requires isolation.

The GAA will issue more information shortly on how an online solution can be used to manage data in accordance with data protection guidelines.

What happens if someone becomes unwell at training?

1. If an adult becomes unwell at a training session/game, he/she should go home immediately and contact his/her GP.  
2. If an underage player becomes unwell at a training session/game, the individual’s Parent/Guardian will be contacted immediately.
3. The protocol for assessment and decision to send for testing is the GP’s responsibility.

Volunteer help sought

As always, we ask and welcome any help in this area. Many hands make light work and together (apart) we can bring a new normality Gaelic Games back!