Petanque England has issued new playing guidance:
COVID-19 UPDATE: PLAY SAFE GUIDELINES – RETURN TO RESTRICTED PLAY
The Government has further eased restrictions from Monday 1st June around some activities, and these have implications for the playing of our sport. We are not making recommendations as to whether any individual should or should not return to playing,
everyone must make their own decision based on their particular circumstances and with reference to the guidance available please see:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-andcant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do#public-spaces–outdooractivities–exercise
Do not leave your home to play pétanque if Government advice means you should stay at home because you or someone you live with has or has had symptoms of COVID-19, or you are in the most vulnerable category and have been advised to shield from the coronavirus.
Additionally, there are a number of groups – those over 70, those with specific pre-existing conditions and pregnant women – who continue to be advised to minimise contact with others. We believe that playing pétanque does not minimise that contact, and we recommend that players in those categories should not play until restrictions are eased further.
Given the latest Government advice and also to ensure that safety is our number one priority, our advice to our members that choose to play from Monday 1st June 2020 is to follow the good practice guidance set out below.
GENERAL
• Contact your club or playing venue to ensure that pitches are available for use. It may be necessary for clubs to arrange some sort of booking system to avoid overcrowding as maintaining a 2m distance between persons from different households is imperative;
• Large gatherings at venues must not happen. No matches should take place on adjacent lanes;
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before leaving home and on return (or use an alcohol gel if washing hands is not possible);
• Consumption together in groups of six of food and drinks is possible at venues if space permits for 2m social distancing to be observed. You must not pass each other food or drink unless you live together. You must not use plates or utensils that someone from another house has touched – either bring your own or ensure you have thoroughly cleaned them before using;
• Spectators should only attend if they can watch safely, do not cause overcrowding and fully respect 2m social distancing;
• Players may wish to consider wearing a face covering. The evidence suggests that wearing a face covering does not protect you but it may protect others if you are infected but have not developed symptoms.
TRAVELLING TO AND FROM THE VENUE
• Avoid using public transport if possible;
• Avoid touching gates, fences, benches, etc. if you can;
• Only congregate after playing in groups of no more of six and maintain 2m social
distancing.
DURING PLAY
• If the physical space at venues allows for 2m social distancing between players from different households, matches can be Singles, Doubles or Triples. We recommend that players and clubs consider carefully through risk assessment whether restricting play to Singles and Doubles is a better and safer option for their venues;
• Each player should touch their own boules and equipment only;
• Each player should have their own jack to throw when it is their turn or their team’s turn. If a jack is invalidly thrown, the other player or player in the other team must place their own jack, not pick up the jack that has been invalidly thrown;
• Plastic circles should not be used; instead players must mark circles with their feet or a marker which should be only used by them;
• Maintaining social distancing of 2m between players must be observed at all times. This is particularly important when playing Doubles or Triples where there will be up to six players on an individual pitch. If possible you should stand side on, even at 2m distance, and avoid standing face to face;
• Clean your equipment before and after use;
• No static or club provided scoreboards should be used, pocket scorers should be used by one player only.
PE Board, 31st May 2020
The club’s position, as agreed by the the committee is as follows:
Please note that the Club will remain closed.
If members wish to play, then they should make their own arrangements direct with one another.
As the Croydon piste is in a public park and is open to use by non-members, the Club cannot run a reliable booking system. However, we would emphasise that any members who do play must observe the Government’s guidelines on numbers and social distancing.
The committee is considering the possibility of running a merit table while our normal competitions are suspended.
We will keep the situation under review to see when it will be possible to recommence the Club sessions, in light of any further easing of the restrictions.
