Hours after the sports ministry gave the go-ahead to the resumption of training in its complexes and stadia after the Centre permitted them to reopen in lockdown 4.0, Sports Authority of India issued the Standard Operating Procedures on Monday night, giving directions for preparing training centres and athletes to resume training at both SAI and non-SAI centres.
The MHA had, on Sunday evening, given the green signal for sports activities to resume sans spectators, while extending the nationwide lockdown to May 31.
As per the SOP:
► All individuals who participate in, and contribute to, sport and recreation will be considered in resumption plans, including those at the high performance/professional level, those at the community competitive level, and those who wish to enjoy passive (non-contact) individual sports and recreation.
► Resumption of other sporting activity should take place in a staged fashion with an initial phase of small group (<10) activities in a non-contact fashion, prior to moving on to a subsequent phase of large group (>10) activities including full contact training/competition in sport. Individual jurisdictions will determine progression through these phases, taking account of local epidemiology, risk mitigation strategies and public health capability.
► The SOP put onus on NSFs to secure their athletes' agreement to adhere to the dos and don'ts.
Other instructions include:
► All personal training equipment belonging to an athlete shall be disinfected while the athlete is inducted into the training centre.
► Athletes and staff shall be screened before being allowed access to common
field-of-play/training facilities.
► Athletes shall change before and after the training at their respective home or
room. Use of low ventilated spaces and rooms that prevent social distancing,
such as locker rooms and small dry-land rooms shall be eliminated.
► A coach or staff member should ask athletes, as they come into practice, if they feel ill in any way, specifically listing certain symptoms, and send home those athletes reporting illness or experiencing symptoms.
► Residential athletes requiring usage of common shower areas shall ensure soaps, towels and any other utility is not shared.
► Physical contact of any form shall be avoided as part of training routine, for
example handshakes, high-fives, tackling, sparring etc.
► Spitting and clearing of nasal/respiratory secretions on the pitch or at any place within the facility other than toilets shall be prohibited.
► Training shall be planned in a manner which prevents the need of physiotherapy or recovery post training
► Use of swimming pool shall be avoided during this period.
Lastly, while detailing the COVID-19-related awareness programme for athletes, SAI also made the download and use of Aarogya Setu app mandatory.
