AWFA clubs to work under crowd restrictions to return to play

The AWFA is affiliated with Football NSW and must adhere to those protocols when the season resumes on July 12.

Eleven players and five substitutes make up a quota of 16 per side, with two spectators or parents permitted for each player involved in the match.

Three coaches or staff are allowed for both teams, along with three match officials and three venue staff or volunteers, taking the total to no more than 108 on and around the pitch at once.

Competing teams are asked to maintain a social distance of 1.5 metres on the bench.

Team handshakes prior to games, huddles, high fives, celebrations involving more than one player and spitting are all to be avoided.

Boomers president Matthew Burt said the committee will meet soon to put plans in place to ensure the club is compliant.

"We've got a fairly good bunch of parents who are on the pulse when it comes to following the rules we've put out there," Burt said.

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"We're going to have to be very clear with all our members and their parents about who can and can't come.

"It's going to fall to the band of brave volunteers to try and keep a lid on it all.

"That's the difficulty at community club level, it's all well and good having these requirements in place, but with a limited number of volunteers, trying to enforce it can be hard at times.

"I guess we don't have a chance for trial and error because the rules are the rules and we've got to comply.

"It's new to all of us and no doubt there will be some teething issues, but we'll iron through those and comply as best we can."

Burt is hopeful the season will get up and running as planned.

"Many of the players and the community at large are looking forward to the return of some sense of normality, if that's what you can call it," he said.

"It will be interesting to see what shape the season takes. I think there's still a lot of water to go under the bridge in relation to the Victorian side of the border and how that's all going to come together."

Miniroos will follow a different set of guidelines when matches return.

The total of people at match is capped at 72 for 9 v 9, 66 for 7 v 7 and 47 for 4 v 4, but fields can be divided up depending on the format.

Lavington's Jelbart Park regularly stages home games for Albury City and Albury United on the same day, meaning four clubs are in close proximity, but AWFA wants it to work safely.

"An idea I've flagged is we probably need to have six grounds available at Jelbart Park so we can spread people and games out," AWFA president Mark Leman added.