Covid-19 Restrictions

I received the following from a player:



Also: www.sportsingapore.gov.sg/Newsroom/Media-Releases/2020/Advisory-for-Sport-and-Physical-Exercise-Activities

I will confirm with each venue, but it looks like no games from 27 March 2020 to 30 April 2020.

Different venues are taking different positions, and these may change over time. For now, will update by each game, on the schedule thread.

The Premier Pitch (both @ Grandstand and @ Khalsa) are allowing 5-a-sides on their pitches.

The Cage (who operate HYFA @ Macpherson) have closed all their pitches until 30 April 2020.

Rainforest management messaged me as follows today:

Kindly take note that the Rainforest Sports Hub mgmt has decided to suspend their slots bookings from Friday 27th March 2020 onwards till further notice.

I received the following information from the management at Premier Pitch @ Grandstand:

… we have to follow the government ruling.

All people have to do temperature checking when entering the Premier Pitch boundary.

Fill up personal data for purposes of tracing and other response measures during the outbreak of COVID-19 by scanning the QR code.

There are also hand sanitizer provide outside the office.

The following was also forwarded to me yesterday:



Stranger Soccer is operating under similar lines. They sent out an e-mail today stating as follows:

Update (Thursday March 26, 2020)

Following guidelines issued by Singapore authorities to contain the spread of COVID-19, effective Thursday March 26 at 11:59pm, Stranger Soccer will be pausing several game categories, as follows:

• All 11-a-side games, including team friendlies & 'Social 11' games
• All Futsal games with >10 participants
• All "Junior" games
Starting Friday March 27, we are pleased to let you know there will be special games available in compliance with rules set forth by the authorities, at selected venues. Participation will be strictly limited to 10 or fewer players (4 v 4 or 5 v 5) with no exceptions, and participants must also ensure they:
• Cooperate with measures imposed by the sports venue, including sign ins & temperature checks
• Continue to adhere to previously communicated guidelines on hand washing, avoiding handshakes, & any other MOH guidelines
• Partake in social distancing: sitting apart while on sidelines, and adhering to game rules of avoiding contact & crowding on the pitch
• Register individually, updating their profile with an accurate name & and picture, so we can best identify & communicate as required

Currently, these are the pitches I have available from tomorrow until 30 April 2020:

• Saturdays, 5 to 7 pm, Grandstand, 5-a-side covered pitch.
• Saturdays, 5 to 6 pm, Khalsa, 7-a-side pitch, but limited to 5-a-side.
• Mondays, 10 to 11 pm, Khalsa, 7-a-side pitch, but limited to 5-a-side.
• Tuesdays, 9 to 10 pm, Grandstand, 5-a-side covered pitch.
• Wednesdays, 9 to 10 pm, Khalsa, 7-a-side pitch, but limited to 5-a-side.
• Fridays, 9 to 10 pm, Khalsa, 7-a-side pitch, but limited to 5-a-side.

I will schedule games as above until further developments.  If games fill up quickly, with a lot of players on waitlist, I may try to get one or more additional slots.   On the other hand, if games do not fill up, I am more inclined to cancel than to ask around.  I may ask around to fill one or two places at most.  I do not want to be asking players to play at a time like this, when players have to make their own choices.  

As tomorrow's games at Grandstand are somewhat complicated, I have taken over the administration this time.  The Khalsa game tomorrow has been replaced by the Grandstand games.  

I received the following messages from the Premier Pitch managers this afternoon:

• For Khalsa:  "We have just been informed by SportsSg that we need to close until end April. They said it's our decision but we don't really have a choice cuz we cannot ensure players will keep 1m away while playing."

• For Grandstand:  "So sorry... as for now, we have to cancel all bookings till further notice.  I've cancelled all your ... booking till end April. Will update you till further notice."

All games cancelled until 30 April 2020 or further notice. 

On CNA:

As a default, measures should be put in place to ensure that individuals maintain safe distancing of at least one metre at all times, MOH said.

“Where not feasible or practical to apply one metre safe distancing between individuals, this one metre requirement can instead be enforced between groups, with each group made up of not more than five persons, and with no mixing between groups," an MOH spokesperson said.

Our games might have to wait a bit longer.

According to the management of our various venues, they will also have to wait for new directions/guidelines from SportsSG.

In the meantime, Stranger Soccer is offering "Football Fitness":

Advisory for Resumption of Sport_PA_PE for ....pdf (322.5 KB)

SportsSG guidelines do not appear to allow having opposing teams of 5 or more. Maximum of 5 on the pitch?

The management of our regular venues are seeking clarification.

FAS guidelines are here.

The material part:

• No more than 5 players in total can partake in any football activity together for unorganised groups.

....


• No more than 1 group of 5 players and 1 coach in total can partake in any football activity together in any pitch or court smaller than 40m x 20m (5-a-side)
• No more than 2 groups of 5 players and 1 coach in total can partake in any football activity together in any pitch or court bigger than 40m x 20m but small than 55m x 36.5m (7-a-side).
• Social distancing of at least 2 metres shall be implemented within members of the same group.
• Social distancing of at least 3 metres shall be implemented between different groups.

It doesn't really allow for our usual games.

Stanger Soccer has adapted the above for 3-a-side football. From their promotional e-mails:

5+1 Practice Games are proving popular! Over 100 games have been already played all over Singapore. It's your perfect opportunity. Come regain your magic touch.

Basically, the mandatory "coach" joins the 5 to make 3-a-side.  

Anyone try it?

I came across this earlier. Our venues should try it, might be fun. Just need to draw lines across the pitch.

Some other groups were circumventing the rules to play 5-a-side, but that violated the social distancing requirements, so I believe the venues were forced to clamp down. Even the 3-a-side risks violating the rules, because strictly speaking, there can be no tackling if everyone has to stay 1 m apart.

I have merged the two threads, one of the Schedule board, and one on this (Discussion) board.

We are looking at re-starting games, subject to prevailing guidelines. From the OPSAGE board:

Sept 13, 2020 19:24:31 GMT 8 Rajiv said:

Premier Pitch just informed me it is possible to play 5-a-side between two teams (Team A and Team B) as follows:

• Goalkeeper and 2 defenders from Team A, plus 2 attackers from Team B, stay in one half of the pitch. 
• Goalkeeper and 2 defenders from Team B, plus 2 attackers from Team A, stay in the other half of the pitch.
• Players designated to one half of the pitch cannot cross onto the other half.  

The main change that allows for this is that the ball can pass between the two groups of five.  

If there is sufficient interest, I will see if there is a pitch available this Tuesday (9 to 10 pm) and/or this Saturday (5 to 6 pm or 4 to 5 pm).

Please add your name below.  

Sept 14, 2020 17:57:28 GMT 8 Rajiv said:

I have created a thread on the Schedule board for tomorrow's game. I will do the same for the Saturday game once we get to 10.



....

Premier Pitch has provided me with the Sports SG update:

Addendum to Advisory_Update on Outdoor Grou....pdf (185.14 KB)

and Premier Pitch's rules:

Dear customers, we are allowed to take in bookings for 5vs5, with the following conditions:

1.Each group of 5 must remain in their own half at all times and maintain a minimum of 3 metres' distance between groups.
2.Suggested game play is to have 2 members of Team A and 3 members of Team B in the same half (and 3 members of Team A and 2 members of Team B in the other half) - see illustration
3.Ball transfer between groups is possible
4.The groups must leave as the same group they have been playing with in their half.
5.Strictly no mingling of players between groups / no switching of players between groups at all times
6.All players to leave the premises once their booking has ended, no loitering or sitting around
7.All players to put on their masks before and after gameplay is done (not immediately after, but a few minutes after catching a breath)

If you play, please comply!

From the thread on the OPSAGE board:

Sept 15, 2020 17:23:54 GMT 8 Rajiv said:

The Saturday regulars have prior arrangements, so I will switch this weekend's game to Sunday, 5 to 6 pm, Grandstand.

It doesn't look like we'll have enough for Sunday.

I will do the following for the rest of September 2020:

• Tuesday, 22 September 2020, 8.50 to 10 pm, Grandstand, 5-a-side (covered).
• Saturday, 26 September 2020, 5 to 6 pm, Grandstand, 5-a-side (covered), as a challenge match organised by Raj. 
• Tuesday, 29 September 2020, 8.50 to 10 pm, Grandstand, 5-a-side (covered).

These games are subject to the additional rules set out above.

I aim to continue these games into October 2020 and beyond.  If there is demand, I aim to resume as many of our regular time slots, at our regular venues, from the start of October 2020 onwards.  However, all games will be 5-a-side, subject to the same additional rules.  

Please do not put any more names down on this thread.  I will create a thread on the Schedule or Challenge Match boards (as the case may be) for each game.

I will merge this thread into the "Covid-19 Restrictions" thread on the discussion board.

The games on the 5-a-side covered pitch at Grandstand (5-a-side last Tuesday, 4-a-side yesterday), have gone reasonably well. 

I have had some queries about re-commencing games on other days or at other venues.  These are the options:

• For Mondays and/or Thursdays, at Khalsa, 8.50 to 10 pm, 4-a-side on the 5-a-side pitch, or 5-a-side on the 7-a-side pitch, at $10 per person. 
• For Sundays, 5-a-side on the covered 5-a-side pitch at Grandstand, 4.50 to 6 pm, $11 per person.  

HYFA at Macpherson are still limiting games to 5 players in total, as they think the additional rules are difficult to enforce. 

I will only try one or two additional games first, if there is sufficient interest.  

With only the Tuesday night game on a small covered pitch at Grandstand (apart from the Saturday evening challenge match on a big covered pitch at Grandstand) resuming after the Covid-19 restrictions were relaxed in mid September 2020 (but still subject to additional rules, including being limited to a form of 5-a-side), I have been taking a lighter touch on the rules. However, with 4 withdrawals on the day of the game yesterday (Tuesday), we almost had to cancel. I wasn't expecting the Premier Pitch management at Grandstand to take the hard stance on late cancellations that they had taken before the Covid-19 situation. In the end, we had to scramble to get 2 more players late on.

I therefore have to apply the rules on filling places and withdrawals, and cancellations, strictly. In particular:

If we have at least the minimum number when the group chat is created, but as a result of withdrawals, the game is cancelled, those who withdraw after the WhatsApp group chat is created will have to share any cancellation fee payable for the venue, unless they find their own replacement. If there is no cancellation fee payable, they will still have to pay a $1 admin fee. Withdrawals include anyone stating a condition for playing which was not stated before the group chat was created, for example, they only want to play with the maximum number.

As an aside, I only realised today that Premier Pitch have someone watching the game to enforce the additional rules. I suppose they have to, otherwise they may be liable for any breaches.

Continuing from the post above, the management at Khalsa has always been less fussy about late cancellations, so I'll try the Thursday night game at Khalsa (5-a-side on the 7-side pitch, subject to the same additional rules) from next week (15 October 2020).

Continuing from the above, from the report thread for the game at Khalsa on Thursday (22 Oct 2020, 5-a-side on the 7-a-side pitch, subject to additional rules):

Oct 23, 2020 9:25:25 GMT 8 Jessen said:

Hilarious night of 5v5 football with safe distancing measures in place.
Due to facility rules, game started only 10-15 mins later to allow for exit and entrance of teams between sessions.
First time experiencing playing with a DMZ.
Sure felt more like netball than football.
Final score 13-1 to reds.

Not sure if I would be any keen for the next one but other than the rusty kicks and passes, we definitely had a good 45 min workout.

Oh well, we make do with what we can.

The Tuesday night games at Grandstand and the Saturday evening challenge match at Grandstand have been fairly consistent since the games resumed with additional rules.

I received the following text from HYFA yesterday:

With the existing group of 5 limit we have curated modified versions of team activities like soccer and archery tag.

This version of modified 5 v 5 has been running at other premises for a few weeks now - the authorities are of the view that these activities are permissible as long as the groups of 5 are kept separated at all times.

Below are the rules and instructions which we will follow:

1.Each group of 5 must remain in their own half at all times and maintain a minimum of 3 metres' distance between groups.
2.Suggested game play is to have 2 members of Team A and 3 members of Team B in the same half (and 3 members of Team A and 2 members of Team B in the other half)
3.Ball transfer between groups is possible
4.The groups must leave as the same group they have been playing with in their half.
5.Strictly no mingling of players between groups / no switching of players between groups at all times
6.All players to leave the premises once their booking has ended, no loitering or sitting around
7.All players to put on their masks before and after gameplay is done (not immediately after, but a few minutes after catching a breath)

Next Thursday's game will be at HYFA @ Macpherson, 5-a-side on the 7-a-side pitch.

There were no names down for the game on Thursday (29 Oct 2020), so I moved it to Monday (2 Nov 2020). There were still no names down, so I won't schedule any more games at Macpherson or Khalsa until there is further relaxation of the Covid-19 restrictions.

The management at Premier Pitch @ Grandstand has informed me that the reduction of price for the Covid-19 period has been reversed with effect from 1 November 2020. While the price of the pitch was reduced, I had reduced the price per player to $11 (otherwise, it would have been $13 per player). I can bear some of the increase, but I would still have to increase the price per player to $12. I kept last night's game at $11 per player because it had been scheduled as such.

As Iqbal has been doing a lot to keep the Tuesday night game going during this Covid-19 period, especially by introducing new players to make up the numbers, I have given him a one-time $5 credit. He can consider converting the Tuesday night game to a challenge match:

For challenge matches, my role can be limited to holding the regular booking (on the venue's terms) or can extend to collecting payment from players. The organiser can decide on a higher payment per player to allow for incentives to be given to certain key players. If payment is on my standard terms, I waive the organiser's payment, for taking on the responsibility of organising.

The Saturday evening game at Grandstand has been a challenge match since September 2019.

From the thread on the Challenge Matches board for 21 Nov 2020:

Nov 21, 2020 11:43:33 GMT 8 Rajiv said:

After confirming today's game via WhatsApp on Monday (16 Nov 2020), Raj WhatsApped me on Thursday (19 Nov 2020) to say he had 20 players, so they would take two 5-a-side pitches. Fortunately, two 5-a-side pitches are available from 5 to 6 pm today.

....

I understand from Raj that the first 10 will be on one pitch, and the second 10 will be on the other pitch. Due to legal requirements arising from the Covid-19 situation, there can be no mixing between players on the two pitches.

Another way to split the 20 players is to treat them as a single pool of players, with four captains each selecting their team of 5. With four teams, lots can be drawn to decide which two teams will be on each pitch. If a similar group of players play next week, the winners from this week can play against each other, while the losers from this week can play on the second pitch. However, I leave it to Raj and the captains to decide. Most important is that the players on each pitch are remain separated today.

They went ahead with 2 games.

Raj messaged me on Monday (23 Nov 2020) to say that he again has 20 for this Saturday 28 Nov 2020), so they'll again play two 5-a-side games on two pitches. That's two weeks in a row. Two pitches are again available.

The game from 9 to 10 pm on Tuesdays is also continuing.  

I will also try scheduling the following additional games at the same venue (5-a-side covered pitch at Premier Pitch @ Grandstand):

• 5 to 6 pm on Sundays, starting from 29 Nov 2020.


• 9 to 10 pm on Fridays, starting from 4 Dec 2020.