Knox Little Athletics Centre Inc.

LAVic has sent through some further updates for upcoming season.

Season Start and Return to Training

LAVic have confirmed this morning in a memo to Centres:

Metropolitan Melbourne Centres are not legally permitted to conduct competition or training activities, including coaching, at the current time. Following the Premier’s announcement on Sunday 27th September, it’s likely that metro Melbourne Centres may be able to commence authorised training and competition activities at/around 19th October

This is a positive move and provides some further information on a possible start date. The Executive Committee is currently working on a draft season calendar for the 2020-21 season and will communicated to members once dates are locked in and LAVic have confirmed that the season can begin.

At this stage the registration portal is not open to metro centres. Once the registration portal is open we will advise members as soon a possible.

Training / Competition Covid Protocols

LAVic has release the ‘Regional Victoria Competition & Training Protocols Framework 28.09.20 v3.0’. These outline the protocols by which regional Centres can commence their 20/21 Summer Track & Field Seasons.

Please note these protocols are for regional centres only and do not yet apply to metro centre including Knox LAC. However we are hopeful that these will be the basis of the protocols for metro centres. The Knox LAC Executive will be reviewing the protocols and keeping a close eye on any updates as we move closer to a season start. Further advice on the protocols and how they will effect our centre will be provided over the coming weeks.

Knox LAC already has a number of COVID Safe officials that were in place for the return to training earlier in the year. We will be reaching out to those people over the next few days to ensure that they are willing to continue into the season. If any one is willing to be a COVID safe official or willing to help out please let the Executive Committee know.

You can view the LAVic Covid information HERE

Primary member emails sent Monday

A primary member email was sent from the LAVic office on Monday 28th September in preparation for the registration portal opening. The purpose was to identify the default member profile for registering a family of more than one athlete.

This email has understandably been interpreted by some as meaning that the Centre is currently able to take registrations. This is not the case – only some Centres are accepting registrations. LAVic has apologised for any confusion caused.

If you need to change the primary member of your family please head over to the member portal and login to change your details.

Previous season members should have received an email this morning in regards to your families Primary Member from LAVic.

LAVic has provided the following advice:

This email is in preparation for registration portal opening for Centres shortly and doesn’t necessarily mean your Centre is currently able to take registrations. ‍

We are in continual communication with the State Government with regards to the protocols required by Centres and are working towards getting as many Centres ‘live’ as soon as possible. ‍

For now, take note of which member of your family account is the allocated ‘primary member’ and log in to the member portal if you’d like to update any details that may have changed since last season. ‍

You will receive a specific renewal email as soon as your Centre does go live and can accept registrations.

This is a positive step forward for a potential season start. Please note the registration portal is NOT yet open at this stage for registration at Knox LAC. This is just in preparation for the upcoming season.

Please keep up to date at the Knox LAC Website or LAVic Website

As its currently school holidays and families may have other commitments over the next few weekends and due to the low numbers that attended last weekend, the advertised preseason clinics being run by Mike Donato will move to face to face sessions once the track reopens.

Thank you to all that enrolled and keep up to date with the coaching information on Knox Website.

Junior Development Squad (JDS) qualifying standards for 2020/21 are out now.

For athletes in under 12 to under 16 age groups, who have achieved the qualifying standards in Season 2019/2020, have the opportunity to join the JDS squad. This gives you access to attend JDS training days with some of the best coaches in Victoria.

However, due to the restrictions with COVID-19, JDS this season has been adjusted.  As the calendar with squad training days cannot be scheduled, the JDS structure and registration are now split into two parts.

• JDS Joining Fee – the first part allows athletes who qualify, to register for JDS. The JDS Joining fee covers the administration of the registration process and the JDS t-shirt & postage.
• JDS Squad Fee – the second part is the balance of the JDS fee that covers the cost of the squad training days, that will be determined once the calendar can be scheduled and the number of JDS days confirmed

For all the details that are known at this time please see https://lavic.com.au/education/athletes/junior-development-squad/

Invitation emails have already been sent out to athletes who were JDS squad members in Season 2019-2020 so check your inbox.

LA VIC have provided a COVID 19 update on the season and the current state of play for Little Athletics. You can read the full memo here

Key Points – Below is summary of the key points provided in the memo.

In metropolitan Melbourne, the earliest community sport – and Little Athletics – can be expected to resume is 26th October, and this will be determined by community COVID-19 infection levels.

Training and coaching

Many sports are asking the following questions of the State Government:

• Are coaches considered in the same light as personal trainers, and hence can commence sanctioned coaching activities at Step 2 (28th September for metro Melbourne)?
• Can sanctioned training activities start sooner than 26th October?

The position of Sport & Recreation Victoria (SRV) on these questions is unequivocal:

Coaches are not considered personal trainers and can not undertake coaching activities prior to 26th October. The earliest sports coaching can occur is 26th October.

There is to be no community sport activity – inclusive of sanctioned training or competition – prior to 26th October. These settings apply to Little Athletics.

Region Relay Carnivals and State Relay Championships

Given the delayed commencement of the season (for almost all Centres), and likelihood that modest maximum gathering restrictions will prohibit the running of Region and State events for the remainder of 2020,

LAVic has taken the decision to move the Region Relay Carnivals and State Relay Championship to be held in the New Year (subject to restrictions), with dates to be confirmed shortly.

Other Points to Note

• LAVic will be ultimately guided by advice from the State Government as to when specifically Centres can commence.
• NSW Centres: Effective from 1st September, community sport can be conducted in NSW. LAVic has six Centres located on the NSW side of the Murray River and these Centres are currently considering their options for commencing season 20/21.
• There have been no specific announcements by the State Government on maximum crowd gathering sizes to date. SRV have given an undertaken to provide some clarity on this issue and other matters pertaining to community sport next week.

The Knox LAC and the Executive Committee is continuing to work with LAVic to ensure our centre is ready once the season can start.

If you would like further information on LAVic and COVID 19 you can head to the LAVic website here.