The unrest grows. The clubs want sports to be resumed soon, albeit carefully. The German Olympic Sports Confederation had set up ten rules, with compliance with which sports would also be possible in corona times. Many sports associations have now made this more concrete for their area.
The badminton association, for example, suggests sticking lines on both sides of the net at a distance of one meter so that the players always keep a distance of two meters. Network-related play of both actors is then not allowed. There is no change of sides and a ten-minute break is inserted between two training groups in order to enable a contactless change.
The volleyball association also wants to let play without net actions. The implementation of the protective rules would, however, intervene strongly in the sport, because if possible no serves or attacks should be hit in the middle between two players, otherwise direct body contact would be caused.
The golf association may want to adjust the rules for the duration of the corona crisis. Touching the flagpoles, rakes and scorecards of fellow players should be avoided.
The table tennis association recommends that rackets, balls and the table are disinfected after each pairing. Here too, there should be no page changes and breaks should be made when changing at the table. The game system in league operations can be adapted to the provisions in force at the start of the season (3, 4 or 6-a-side teams without doubles).
The German Karate Association states that competitions can only be resumed when physical contact is permitted again. Exceptions are Kata competitions, as there is no contact with other people.
How sports operations can be opened in the club depends on the respective offer. “How we proceed, we will vote on the board,” says Kerstin Barnert-Paul, sports manager for gymnastics and dancing at Teutonia Groß Lafferde. “With the adventure gymnastics for children in the hall it becomes difficult, and with older people special caution is important because they belong to the risk group.” Barnert-Paul thinks it is possible to relocate sports activities outside to one of the Groß Lafferder sports fields. “I’ve also offered forest gymnastics before,” she says. “But the disadvantage is that it would depend on the weather.”
Michaela Link, head of the gymnastics and dance department at MTV father Jahn Peine, is currently still very skeptical about the possibilities for sports in the club. “We have to wait and see how the infection numbers develop after the shops have opened. The halls and sports fields are also still closed. “
If halls were to be reopened, the door handles would have to be disinfected, for example. “If a lawn or a larger hall is available, sports operations could perhaps function again. But with restrictions like a maximum number of participants. Maybe everyone would have to bring their own sleeping mat. And everyone would have to come and take a shower at home. “
Link and Barnert-Paul, meanwhile, recommend training alone at home. Help is provided by links on the homepages of their clubs.
The State Sports Association of Lower Saxony is in favor of a nationwide uniform re-entry into sports – according to binding standards from May 6th. “The member clubs of the LSB with their diverse sports offers need and expect clear, binding, sport-specific transitional rules for resuming training and, if possible, limited competitions as clear guidelines,” says a press release from the committee.
Start with sport in the open air
In coordination with doctors, the DOSB had developed general “guard rails” for a cautious and limited re-admission of sports activities in the clubs. After a query from the central associations, they were supplemented by further sport-specific transitional regulations for sports, games and competitions.
In their conference call on Monday, the sports ministers of the federal states unanimously decided to gradually resume club-based sports and training in close coordination with the concepts of organized sports and made the corresponding decision on Tuesday evening. The overall concept will be handed over to the Federal Chancellor and the Prime Ministers of the federal states for talks starting this Thursday.
The proposed procedure: A first step in relaxation should only apply to exercise offers in the open air, and comprehensive additional regulations such as minimum distance and hygiene requirements must be observed. Sports centers, changing rooms, catering areas and halls will remain closed for the time being. If the outcome is positive, the next steps for further opening can take place later.
“We are relying on the federal and state governments to decide on valuable sporting activities in clubs and to make adapted sports offers possible on the basis of our nationally coordinated position paper,” says a press release from the Lower Saxony State Sports Association.
