VAFA COVID Update: July 23

Brett Connell – VAFA CEO

In light of recent State Government announcements, as you have probably anticipated, all VAFA matches scheduled for July 24 are cancelled.

The VAFA Board met last night and considered the following factors:

• The uncertainty of the COVID-19 Delta variant circulating within the community
• The VAFA Playing Conditions in a COVID-19 Environment Policy
• The difficultly of securing school-based venues and premier venues for finals
• Our competition’s learnings from 2020
• Other competitions’ experience of incomplete seasons

The Board’s decisions:

VAFA Women’s Competitions

• The home and away season concluded on Saturday 17 July
• We intend to complete a three-week finals series for the top four in each competition – assuming COVID restrictions are lifted (updates will be provided)
• All semi-finals will be hosted by the higher ranked club
• Also, depending on COVID restrictions, the VAFA is prepared to reschedule the commencement of week one of finals as late as Saturday 14 August
• To help support those clubs who don’t qualify for women’s finals but would like to continue to play inter-club or intra-club practice/friendly matches, the VAFA can provide a minimum of one field umpire (and venues in exceptional circumstances). This would provide those clubs with two women’s teams the option of continuing to play for two weeks while their other team is competing in finals.

VAFA Men’s Competitions

• All men’s competitions will remain as scheduled in accordance with the VAFA Playing Conditions in a COVID-19 Environment Policy
• Semi-finals in ALL men’s sections will be hosted by the higher ranked club

Finals Eligibility

• There will be no changes to the current finals’ eligibility rules
• Under the Articles of Association, any rule changes are required to be approved by the members at a members’ meeting with twenty-one days’ notice given. This does not fit within the timeframe of women’s finals and for equality purposes, men’s eligibility will not be adjusted

Promotion & Relegation

• The Board is currently considering the matter of promotion & relegation for all senior men’s sections and U19 Premier and U19 Division 1 and will advise as soon as possible
• The promotion & relegation between Women’s Premier and Premier B Women’s will remain

We will keep you all advised as events unfold.

Thanks in advance for your understanding and support.