Covid-19 Restrictions

With Phase 3 starting on 28 December 2020, we can have 4-a-side going forward. From the Straits Times yesterday:

In a Facebook post yesterday, Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, wrote: "In line with Phase 3 of reopening, the cap on group sizes for sporting activities will increase to eight from next Monday.

"This means team sports like basketball, football, hockey and volleyball can now resume with a 4v4 format. Larger facilities can have more than one zone. Not quite time for a 4-3-3 or 4-3-1-2 formation (for football) yet, but this gives sports fans some additional options.

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Aside from the changes to group sizes for team sports and activities, the maximum number of persons allowed at all sports and recreational facilities shall be limited according to its gross floor area based on 8 sq m per person - down from 10 sq m per person - or 50 people, whichever is lower.

The work around by Premier Pitch @ Grandstand will allow us to have 7-a-side there.  The management has confirmed that we cannot go up to 8-a-side because it would exceed 8 sq m per player. 

With 7 players sticking to their half of the pitch, we would have the following for a 7-a-side (Team A v Team B):

• Goalkeeper and 3 defenders from Team A, plus 3 attackers from Team B, stay in one half of the pitch. 
• Goalkeeper and 3 defenders from Team B, plus 3 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.  There will be a 3 metre wide no go zone between the two halves. 

The ball can pass between the two halves, allowing us to play 7-a-side.   

The modified rules were very unpopular at Khalsa. Also, the Premier Pitch @ Khalsa are not yet applying the work around for 7-a-side, so we are stuck with 4-a-side, but with no restrictions on movement across the pitch.  David T has asked me to schedule a game for Wednesday (30 Dec 2020), on a 5-a-side pitch. I will put up the schedule thread soon.  

We have had the following games since the start of Phase 3 on 28 Dec 2020:

• 5-a-side regular game with the modified rules (see above) on a small covered pitch at Premier Pitch @ Grandstand on Tuesday, 29 Dec 2020.  


• 4-a-side regular game without the modified rules on a 5-a-side pitch at Premier Pitch @ Khalsa on Wednesday, 30 Dec 2020.  


• 7-a-side challenge match with the modified rules on a big covered pitch at Premier Pitch @ Grandstand on Saturday, 2 Jan 2021.

• 5-a-side challenge match with the modified rules on a small covered pitch at Premier Pitch @ Grandstand on Saturday, 2 Jan 2021.
  

From the report thread for the game on Wednesday:

Dec 31, 2020 10:51:32 GMT 8 Jessen said:

Game ended abruptly after 30 mins due to an injury to Kee Hoe.



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The risk with a 4-a-side game is that losing a player, for example, through injury, affects the game more.  One player is quarter of a team!  With Covid-19 restrictions, it may be impossible to find a replacement at the venue, or change line ups or formations.  The only remaining option is imposing scoring restrictions on the team with a player advantage. 
 
The game on Tuesday, 5 Jan 2021 is a challenge match.  From the thread for the game:

Dec 31, 2020 11:10:57 GMT 8 Rajiv said:

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As the Tuesday game is a challenge match, I will schedule an extra game next Friday (8 Jan 2021).

No 5-a-side pitch is available in the coming week on Wednesday or Thursday, 9 to 10 pm, at Khalsa, but one is available on Friday, so I will schedule the extra game on Friday as a 4-a-side on a 5-a-side pitch.  

The weekend regulars are looking to re-start a Sunday game as well. For this Sunday (10 Jan 2021), the big covered pitch is only available from 3 to 4 pm and 6 to 7 pm. For Sunday afternoons/evenings, an earlier time slot has fared better, so I will schedule the game from 2.50 to 4 pm. It is the rainy season, so the heat should be manageable.

I have asked the management if we can go up to 8-a-side on the big covered pitch, but the response is that it would be too crowded. I think for now, they are being cautious, and are restricting numbers to 14 (7 per half of the pitch) so that they can monitor better.

For 7-a-side, it should be $15 per player, but I will bear $1 per player, and reduce it to $14 per player.

I will only confirm the pitch booking for this Sunday if there is sufficient interest.

Since the start of the year (2 Jan 2021, 9 Jan 2021, 16 Jan 2021, 23 Jan 2021 and 30 Jan 2021), Raj has been organising both a 7 or 8-a-side on the big pitch, and a 4 or 5 aside on a small pitch, on Saturdays, at Grandstand, as challenge matches. 5, 7 or 8 a side games were played by modified rules (set out above), limiting the number of players allowed to enter each half of the pitch.

Peminder has been running the Tuesday night game as a 5-a-side challenge match at Grandstand since 1 Dec 2021, also by modified rules. Jessen has been running the Wednesday night game at Khalsa since 30 Dec 2020, as a 4-a-side, without any modification to the rules.

The only PRG games since the start of the year have been on Thursday nights at Khalsa - on 14 Jan 2021 and 28 Jan 2021 - 4-a-side games without modified rules.

Since the start of the year, I have been counting each 4-a-side game, or 5-a-side played under modified rules, as a half game in the number of games played in each accounting period.

Going forward, SportsSG has now informed Premier Pitch @ Grandstand (and all other venues) that the maximum allowed is 4-a-side. 4-a-sides are played without any modification to the rules.

A 4-a-side on a covered pitch at Grandstand works out to $15 per player. However, I'll reduce it to $14 per player for challenge games, but only waive half of the organiser's payment.

PRG games will be at Khalsa. Apart from the Thursday night game at Khalsa, I will look at additional games at Khalsa, starting with Sunday evening. These are $10 per player.

From the Sport Singapore website: Stricter Safe Management Measures For Sport....pdf (66.23 KB)

And from the Premier Pitch management:

Dear Customers,

In view of the latest announcement from the Government that social gatherings will be reverting from groups of 8 to 5, we will only be taking bookings for 5 pax from the 8th – 30th May.

Sports SG released their latest advice (6th May 2021) and we at Premier Pitch would like to clarify our operating procedures during this period (8th – 30th May).

We are restricted to 50 pax per venue - 50 pax at PP indoor and 50 pax at PP Outdoor.

We are allowed to operate with restrictions and as such will be following both the Government and Sports SG guidelines.

We have been informed that the ‘COVID’ game is NOT allowed. We will strictly be adhering to the Government rules and expect that customers will fulfil their responsibilities too.

We hope you understand the situation we are in and hope that these short-term restrictions will ensure a return to larger groups sizes by the end of the month. We really do value your support and safety and hope that you continue to use our pitches to, at least, stay fit and be ready to go again on the 31st of May.

During this period we want to encourage everyone to, at least, have a ‘RUN AROUND’ and so will be implementing the following price structure for the rest of May.

INDOOR – All pitches at off peak rates - $60 p/h all day

OUTDOOR - All pitches at off peak rates - $50 p/h all day

For any clarification or questions on the advisory or what we are doing, feel free to give us a call.

www.sportsingapore.gov.sg/Newsroom/Media-Releases/2021/May/Stricter-Safe-Management-Measures-For-Sport-And-Physical-Exercise-and-Activity-(8-to-30-May-2021)

We hope to see you on the field keeping fit over the next 3 weeks and your support during this time will be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

The management has also confirmed that 5 + 1 (for a 3-a-side game) is not allowed, let alone the modified rules for a 5-a-side.

We'll just wait it out then.

The current restrictions have been tightened and extended to 13 June 2021.

I'm waiting for Premier Pitch management to update me on when we can resume at least 4-a-side at Turf City and Khalsa. They are in turn awaiting an update from SportsSG.

Our games have been on hold since 8 May 2021, but the Saturday regulars had 5 on a pitch on two 5-a-side covered pitches at Grandstand last Saturday (26 Jun 2021). With 2 v 2 and 1 keeper on each pitch, I'm not sure how it worked out.

From the "Other OPSAGE" board:

Jun 26, 2021 12:06:25 GMT 8 Rajiv said:

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The games are so far removed from our regular games or challenge matches, I am creating the thread on the "Other OPSAGE" board.

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If anyone else is interested to go ahead with 5 on a pitch, please let me know.