SportUNE Social Saturday Run Briefing - Updated: 19 Nov 2020

SportUNE Social Saturday Run Briefing
Updated: 19 Nov 2020

INTRODUCTION
The SportUNE Social Saturday Run 2020 will be held during a time of changed conditions
due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To minimise contact with and between all runners, we have
introduced an online run briefing. This document will take the place of a detailed, verbal race
briefing for all runners. Please take the time to read this document. If you do not understand
anything or need further information, please send the Run Director an email at
pbcbillings@gmail.com.

The health and safety of participants, spectators and volunteers is the number one priority
for all concerned. Included below are relevant sections from the SportUNE Social Saturday
Run 2020 COVID-19 Safety Plan. Please read all the information. All participants, spectators
and volunteers MUST adhere to them. Parents/guardians of registered participants under
the age of 18 MUST ensure they abide by these conditions. If you do not agree with any of it,
please do not attend the event. Runners will be required to sign a COVID-19 declaration on
Saturday morning.

EVENT OVERVIEW
The SportUNE Social Saturday Run (SportUNE SSR) consists of two cross country running
events within the surrounds of SportUNE and will be held on Saturday mornings at 8:00am
from SportUNE until otherwise advised. The event is organised and hosted by SportUNE.
There will be two distances: 5km and 2km.

COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
On 10 June, the NSW Government announced that Community Sport would be allowed to
recommence from 1 July 2020 after a period of lockdown imposed as a safety measure
during the COVID-19 pandemic. Event organisers must comply with requirements set out for
a return to racing and events. This is in accordance with Public Health (COVID-19
Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 4) 2020.

SportUNE in conjunction with The Armidale Athletic Club (AAC) organisers have prepared a
COVID-19 Safety Plan which is based on, and accepts, the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)
Framework for Rebooting Sport in a COVID-19 Environment (AIS Framework) and the
National Principles for the Resumption of Sport and Recreation Activities (National
Principles).
Ref: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/novel-coronavirus-covid-19

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
SportUNE expects all participants, volunteers, and spectators to:
• Comply with the health directions of Government and public health authorities as issued
   from time to time.
• Understand and act in accordance with the SportUNE/AAC COVID-19 Safety Plan as
   amended from time to time so you can participate in a safe environment. Relevant
   sections are included in this document.
• Always comply with the health directions from Government and Public Health authorities,
   and any testing and precautionary measures implemented by SportUNE and the AAC.
• Act with honesty and integrity regarding the state of your personal health and any
   potential symptoms.

•   Monitor your health and take a cautious approach to self-isolation and reporting of
    potential symptoms.
•   Monitor your health and take all precautions required by law with regards to the reporting
    of potential symptoms and self-isolation.
•   Agree that if you have been sick in the 14 days prior to the event or are unwell at the
    time of the event with a cough, runny nose, cold or flu-like symptoms or if you have been
    in contact with a COVID patient with the last month that you not attend the event
    regardless of whether you have paid for your event/race registration fee.
•   Agree that you must not attend if in the last 14 days you have been unwell or had close
    contact with a known or suspected case of COVID-19 (cough, sore throat, fever or
    shortness of breath), or have been in a known hotspot in NSW, Qld, Vic or SA.
•   NSW residents should check the website: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-
    and-updates#latest-covid-19-case-locations-in-nsw You will not be permitted to attend if
    your town or suburb is listed as a hotspot.

EVENT SCHEDULE
SATURDAY 21st November 2020 then ongoing until further notice.
When arriving, you MUST complete the COVID-19 declaration, either online or paper copy.
7.30-8.00am Race bib collection for AAC and SportUNE members.
8.00-8:15am Competitors start and finish their event by passing over the timing mat,
between the SportUNE flags. All competitors MUST be off the course by 9:30am for event
finish.

MAXIMUM ATTENDEE NUMBERS
Restrictions on the size of community sporting activities ensures that a gathering for the
activity involves no more than 500 participants which includes spectators and volunteers.
This restriction is current at the time of writing. All participants must be off the course and
completed by 9:30am. Runners are requested to ‘turn up, participate and leave’ at the
completion of their event and not linger at the marshalling area.

SUPPORT CREW / SPECTATORS
Runners are responsible for advising their crew/spectators of any requirements within this
race briefing that affects them. Spectators are discouraged from attending and those that are
in attendance will be requested to not ‘hang around’ at the start/finish area and to be safe,
respectful and courteous to allow others access without crowding. Spectators will be
restricted to any authorised area as specified by signage and/or race management, and not
within the finish area where runners will be completing their course. Spectators are to
maintain a ‘no contact’ form of celebration and congratulations.

DOWNLOAD THE COVIDSAFE APP
The event organisers recommend that participants, volunteers, spectators and other
attendees download and activate the Australian Government’s COVIDSafe App before
attending the event.

SOCIAL DISTANCING
All attendees including participants, volunteers and spectators are required to keep a 1.5m
distance between themselves and other attendees unless they are from the same
household. Physical distancing throughout the race is required, even out on course and at
Marshall points, and especially when passing others, including volunteers, spectators and
any members of the public.

HAZARDS ON COURSE
TRACK CONDITIONS There are a number of hazards that you will find on course and there
are rough sections of track. Please be alert and careful. There are rocks, branches,
sand/gravel and uneven sections on parts of the track.

Full description and map of the courses are as follows:

5 km (1 lap)                                         2km (2 laps)

SNAKES Snake season has started. Although there have been no sightings on the course
recently, as the weather continues to warm up, there are likely to be snakes around. If you
see one on the track, give it a wide berth, walk around the snake (off-track if you need to)
and re-join the track if it is safe to do so.

FIRST AID/IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
If you are injured on course and need assistance, please advise the next runner and ask
them to inform the marshal. If you come across an injured runner, offer assistance, wait with
the injured runner until the next runner arrives and decide between you that one will inform
the next marshal while one person stays with the injured runner.
SNAKE BITE: If you are bitten by a snake – stay still, inform the next runner to notify
marshal.

BYO DRINKING BOTTLE/DRINKS/NUTRITION
You will need to bring your own drink bottle. This applies to runners, volunteers and
spectators. You will need to carry your own food and be self-sufficient, ready to race.

START LINE
We recommend that all participants (runners, volunteers and spectators) wear a face mask
or doubled-up buff over mouth/nose whilst at the event hub/marshalling area. Runners can
remove their mask once their race has commenced, and to place it back onto your face at
completion of the race. Spread out! Please adhere to the 1.5m social distancing rule while
waiting at the start line to commence your event. All races will have a rolling start, which
means your time doesn’t start until you cross the timing mat. It is therefore not necessary to
crowd the start line.

PASSING ON COURSE

Where possible, please keep to your left. You will be required to keep moving and call out
‘Passing on your Right” if you are going to overtake. Runners are advised to only pass when
you can safely keep a distance of 1.5m between you and another runner. Please be
courteous and considerate of each other.

TIMING
Official race timing will be available for members of AAC, SportUNE or the Armidale
Triathlon Club (ATC). We encourage participants to join either organisation to take
advantage of member benefits available throughout the year. AAC race bibs with timing chip
will be used. Timing for each race starts as you go over the timing mat. This enables the
AAC to start each event distance in a ‘rolling start’ method to avoid crowding around the start
line. Please make sure you run over the mat. Orange witches hats or cones will funnel you
over the mat. It will not matter if you cross a mat twice within a few minutes. The timing
system will not record a second time.

FINISH LINE
Participants are required to maintain a 1.5m distance from other runners and spectators
when crossing the finish line timing mat and to disperse quickly.

RESULTS
Electronic results for AAC, SportUNE and ATC members will be available online after the
event.

PERSONAL HYGIENE AND CLEANING
Good personal hygiene can help stop the spread of COVID-19 and is paramount to a
successful and safe event. Recommendations from NSW Health, include:

•   Clean your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand
    rub/sanitiser
•   Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing and sneezing or use your
    flexed elbow, not your hands
•   Avoid touching your face and avoid shaking hands with others

The organisers also request that attendees do not spit or blow your nose into the air/ground
(ie. no ‘snot rockets’), either at the event hub or out on course whilst running. Please use a
tissue. The organisers will provide hand sanitiser near the start and finish area and
anywhere close physical proximity or contact is likely between people, or between people
and hard surfaces (e.g. near bib collection area, etc.) at the event.

KEEPING RECORDS AND SPECTATOR SIGN-IN
The organisers will collect and keep records of each participant, volunteer and spectator, to
facilitate contact tracing, should it be required.

SportUNE, AAC will use an online facility whereby spectators (not registered participants)
will scan a QR code and record their details. Runners will have had their details recorded
when they register for the event online on or within the 48 hours prior to race day. If an
attendee does not have a smart phone, a manual form will be available for people to sign.
Pens will be regularly cleaned and disinfected. The records will include the date of the event,
each attendee’s name and a contact email address or phone number. The records will be

kept for at least 28 days and stored confidentially and securely. The event organiser will
cooperate with NSW Health if contacted in relation to a positive case of COVID-19 at the
event.

RESOURCES
Rules and regulations about COVID-19 change frequently. For the latest COVID-19
information, including links to the current Public Health Orders and laws, visit the NSW
Government COVID-19 Website. For resources and information that can provide guidance
about sport generally (e.g. hygiene guidance, advice for COVID-19 Safety Coordinators,
etc), visit Sport Australia’s Return to Sport page. Please note, however, that restrictions and
advice in NSW may differ from the general national-level guidance provided by Sport
Australia. This document considers the changes to how our trail running event is managed
and offers guidelines towards best practices for the future. Nevertheless, we recognise we
cannot eliminate the risk of runners, support crew, and spectators leaving their homes to
attend a running event. The organisers will make every effort to reduce any risk posed by
this type of outdoor activity.

THANK YOU!
Thank you for joining us in 2020. Although the conditions of entry are lengthy, we hope that
you enjoy your experience at the SportUNE Social Saturday Runs. We look forward to
seeing you on Saturday 21st November 2020 and each Saturday thereafter until further
notice.