Personal responsibility remains at the heart of GAA’s Return to Play

EVERY player, mentor and other person actively participating in Gaelic games when clubs return to playing next month will have to complete a health questionnaire, answering some basic health-related questions, before returning their club for the first time.

That is the new requirement under the GAA’s Return to Play protocols, and Liam Lynch, who is a member of the Kerry GAA’s five-person Club Covid Support Group, has implored every club and individuals to comply with the questionnaire and employ a ‘best efforts’ policy with regard to a return to play.

Mr Lynch, who is also Kerry GAA Development Officer, informed club delegates on Monday night of the new requirements for a safe return to play next month, and stressed that the new Club Covid Support Group was there to “help, support and advise” clubs through the Return to Play period and beyond.

Lynch, who is joined by Joe Crowley, John Joe O’Carroll, Mike Murphy and Mike O’Brien on the Support Group, told delegates that the situation regarding the Covid-19 virus and the GAA’s roadmap to return to playing action “will remain fluid and changing, and that the group is continually distilling and processing the information from Croke Park and helping clubs make it adaptable and user friendly.”

Mr Lynch said the primary objective of the Support Group is to provide a single page summary list of all responsibilities for all the relevant groups so that the clubs can then send that information out to clubs officers; the team Covid supervisor; coaches, mentors and managers; and players and parents/guardians.

Mr Lynch stressed to delegates that everyone in these groupings has a very specific role to play, but said that as long as every person operated on a “best efforts” basis, that was really as much as was expected from everyone.

He said that as much as Croke Park could and were giving guidance and guidelines, in conjunction with Government and public health advice, that personal responsibility remains at the heart of Return to Play, although clubs having the correct structures in place was just as important. He added that the preparations, at fairly short notice, by Kerry clubs has been nothing short of excellent so far.

In addition to completing the Health Questionnaire, all participants in the return to play must also re-confirm that their health status hasn’t changed on each subsequent occasion that they participate.

It was also clarified that the club’s Covid Supervisor can only verify that individual members of their teams and panels have submitted the questionnaire and are permitted to participate, but they will not be able to view the specific information provided on the health questionnaire. Personal information contained on the questionnaires will be stored for a maximum of three weeks.

KEY MESSAGES FOR CLUB EXECUTIVE ON RETURN TO PLAY

• Circulate the latest Safe Return guidelines to all Covid supervisors, club officers, players, team personnel, and parent/guardians

• Ensure a strong leadership team is in place in the club to oversee the safe return to play

• Chairpersons/secretaries or their nominees to complete the Games Education Module

• Ensure all teams have a nominated Covid Supervisor (and a back-up in place as well)

• Prepare all facilities for a return to play (facilities/ equipment/supplies/signage)

• Put together a training timetable and communicate to all teams

• Establish a process for administering the Health Questionnaire

• Ensure all participants complete the online Games Module

Liam Lynch