School sport guidelines not far off

Guidance is on the way from Sport New Zealand to ensure school children can participate in sport, while sports organisations urge the government to relax restrictions for club and community sport.

The Ministry of Education announced on Friday unvaccinated school children would be able to play and participate in school sport under phase 3 of the Covid-19 Protection Framework.

Sport NZ said officials are working through the ‘‘necessary legal changes’’ and expects changes to be completed within the next two weeks.

‘‘We recognise these changes will have implications for councils, venues and schools, and we will be developing guidance to support them in this transition as the full details are confirmed,’’ Sport NZ said in a statement yesterday.

Enabling school children to take part in school sport, including extracurricular sport and inter-school competitions, is important for ‘‘students’ overall activity levels and personal wellbeing’’, it said.

‘‘Access to school sport has been enabled here to ensure all children can take an active part of school life, be that participation in sports, arts or cultural activities.’’

Sport NZ said it understands that the relaxation of restrictions for unvaccinated players in club and community sport will be considered as part of ‘‘ongoing work to ensure settings in the Covid-19 Response remain fit-forpurpose’’.

‘‘Sport NZ will continue to advocate for restrictions that enable as many New Zealanders to remain active as possible, while balancing the need to limit the spread of Covid-19.’’

Under current Sport NZ guidelines for community and club sport at the red light setting both indoor and outdoor sport can go ahead. If the My Vaccine Pass requirement is met, a limit of 100 people can gather. If the requirement isn’t in place, up to 25 can meet.

Children under the age of 12 years, three months do not require a My Vaccine Pass to participate and engage in sport.