UTS Norths

RECENT NEWS

STATEMENT ON ATHLETICS COACHING IN AUSTRALIA

MARCH 24, 2019

Following a number of enquiries from members the Board of the Australian Track and Field Coaches Association (ATFCA) has set the following guidelines for coaches in relation to training squads and safe practice: 

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It is the view of the board that the suspension of training activities should be discretionary, depending on the training activity and the number of athletes training within the group activities. Subsequently:

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1. Coaches may choose to suspend their coaching/training activities where they believe the circumstances expose either themselves or members of their training group to an unacceptable level of risk of infection with COVID-19, were they to continue with the coaching/training activities.

2. Where coaches choose to continue with their coaching/training activities, they MUST adhere to the National and their State Government’s regulatory guidelines – .

Currently (as at the close of business Wednesday 18th March) the National and State Government guidelines include, but are not limited to (note some of these are enforceable by law and carry punitive penalties):

1. Social distancing to a limit of at least ;

2. Non-essential outdoor gatherings to be kept within 500 people;

3. Non-essential indoor gatherings to be kept to within 100 people;

4. Everyone who has with a person returning from overseas (i.e. has visited that person who is self-isolating), should also self-isolate and not come to training;

5. If an athlete or coach is feeling ill, they should not come to training;

6. If an athlete or coach comes to training and shortly thereafter becomes ill with symptoms similar to those of COVID-19, the coach training and the group as a whole should self-isolate until the test results are returned, and training should recommence if the tests .

7. Coaches and athletes using public toilets need to practise good hygiene.  This means avoiding direct contact with toilet doors, toilet taps and toilet flushing buttons or levers. (This can be achieved by using a tissue or glove as a barrier between the hand and the object.) Comprehensively washing your hands with soap and water is also recommended.

8. Coaches continuously monitor Government announcements in regard to COVID-19 to ensure they remain aware of any new or increased control measures being introduced, so that these can immediately be implemented.

9. Athletes and their coaches should not attend and participate in Community Sport if they are at a high risk including the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions. So for elderly coaches, it might be appropriate to wear a mask – while it will not negate all transmission of the virus, it may make it more difficult.

The community’s health and well-being should be of primary concern at all times and whilst we understand the importance of training and staying fit, the control measures being implemented by  the National and State Governments is intended to slow the radical increase of cases of COVID-19, and it our responsibility to adhere to these measures.

There is no doubt that most of us will be impacted by COVID-19 in some way.  Some of us have a full-time or part-time job that may or may not be under threat; For others - coaching provides a much needed supplementary source of income and for some of these, it is their only source of income.  

None of us know at this moment what the final outcome will be or how long this situation will last, but let us all do our best to make our everyday life as meaningful as possible and bring some positivity into our lives and others.  As long as we remain calm and demonstrate a great deal of fortitude and resilience, we will survive this dreadful pandemic and hopefully things will be back to normal in the not too distant future.  I hope that there will be no panic buying and that we will respect each other’s space and keep in touch with family and friends. 

It is great to be around our loved ones which matter more than ever – even though we all need to keep our distance from each other.  Keep safe and look out for each other in the coming weeks and months.

Dennis Goodwin                                                         Glynis Nunn

President                                                                     Executive Director

State Relays Championships 2019 Wrap Up

November 25, 2019

An heroic final leg by Mason Cohen secured UTS Norths the gold medal in the prestigious open men’s 4x800m at the NSW Relay Championships at Campbelltown on the weekend.

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The thrilling race in which UTS Norths edged a star laden Bankstown team was the highlight of a great weekend for our club.

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It was one of 31 gold medals which UTS Norths won, including four in the open division with our open women’s 4x1500m and long jump teams tasting victory along with the open men’s discus team.

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And as if inspired by Cohen’s brilliance on Day 1, 13-year-old Sarah Baker, competing in the under 20 years women’s 4x800m, produced a withering finish on her final lap to grab victory for her team in the shadows of the post.

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Our masters dominated in the field and on the track, winning almost every event they contested.

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Masters teams set at least three State records including in the men’s 240+ years 4x800m with our treasurer dashing Doug Barrett scooting around the track like an Eveready bunny to set up his team’s victory.

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Our junior women sprinters were brilliant, winning the under 18 years 4x100m and 4x200m and the under 20 years 4x200m and 4x400m.

The under 18 years girls 4x200m team was so good with Alice Dixon running a cracking last leg that they broke the club record for both the under 18 and under 20 age groups.

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In the under 18 years 4x100m, Jess McIver was very courageous in the final leg, grimly holding off the fast finishing Campblelltown runner.

And in the under 20 years 200m, the A and B teams staged a brilliant one-two finish.

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Overall UTS Norths set 18 club records and won 31 gold medals, 19 silver and 15 bronze.

More Relay photos