Netball to Move to Stage 3 of ‘Return to Play’ Roadmap

On Thursday 13 August, Welsh Netball will move to Stage 3 of its ‘Return to Play’ roadmap. This decision has been made following consideration of the latest Welsh Government advice, consultation of community netball stakeholders and with regard to the latest scientific and medical advice relating to netball activity. This development now means that organised netball fitness activity may now take place in groups of up to 30 people, socially distanced, outdoors.

Expanded netball fitness activity is a very positive step forward for Wales’ netball community. This progress is balanced with a continued focus on risk management, with organised netball fitness activity continuing to take place outdoors, without the sharing of equipment. All participants are required to maintain 2 meter social distancing and this includes Under 11s, in line with the guidance we released last week. You can read that update here.

Now that we have reached Stage 3 of the roadmap, clubs and leagues are now strongly encouraged to begin engaging with Welsh Netball’s #NetsGetReady COVID-19 safety checklist. The 5-step checklist is designed to keep all participants in netball activity safe and more information on #NetsGetReady can be found here. Please note, from Stage 4 of the ‘Return to Play’ roadmap, the checklist will become mandatory for all affiliated clubs and leagues.

At present, it is required that clubs complete a Risk Assessment prior to commencing any organised netball fitness activity. A template Risk assessment can be found here. Clubs are should also consult with our netball session guidelines to assist them in organising such activity. A link to this advice can be found here.

Welsh Netball will monitor the progress of clubs and leagues through the #NetsGetReady checklist and will consult with community netball stakeholders as we settle into Stage 3 of the roadmap. Welsh Netball will consider any updated information at the next Welsh Government COVID-19 review on 21 August to see what impact it will have on our continued ‘Return to Play’ journey.