LOCAL sports organisations are seeking clarification from the state government on what impact the tightening of recommendations will have on community sport, with players travelling into Riverina from other regions set to come under the microscope.
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While the updated recommendations won't stop community sport continuing, the participation of players who reside in outside regions such as Sydney and Albury looks to be in doubt.
The guidelines released by NSW Health on Friday includes "ceasing activities that result in the mixing of participants and staff from different regions, for example by ceasing zone, regional or state championships or competitions.
NSW Health recommends the guidelines be put in place from Wednesday and remain in place for the next six weeks, which includes the October 3 Labour Day long weekend.
AFL Riverina originally strongly recommended clubs not field players from the Border region, which teams complied with for round one.
The recommendation was quashed just before round two, while round four was played the day after the latest directives were released.
"Travel restrictions is likely to impact on some AFL activities, however we are seeking further information to clearly interpret regions in both metropolitan rural areas across NSW and the ACT," AFL NSW-ACT said in a statement on Tuesday.
"We are currently assessing the recommendations and their impact on community football, and we are also seeking further clarification from the NSW government."
It is understood NSW Rugby League boss David Trodden was set to meet with representatives from the state government on Tuesday.
Football Wagga president Tony Dobbin said the new recommendations were a significant warning for clubs to ensure they're doing the right thing.
He urged spectators to stay away, unless they're a parent or carer of a player under-18, or they will put the season continuing at risk.
"We managed to get underway because we have COVID safety plans and that's what guides us, but the adherence of those safety management plans isn't as good as what we expect in some places," he said.
"It's a stern warning, but it's also a reminder we're only playing because we've been given an approval to play, and that can be removed if we don't do the right thing.
"In the back of our minds is the situation in NSW is not improving, and these further guidelines have come in to guide us saying to be aware of that.
"We will be contacting clubs and telling them we have to make sure we're fully following our safety plans, otherwise we are in danger of having approval to play removed from us.
"We have to demonstrate that to ourselves and the community, there has to be improvements in some locations and crowds are probably our biggest worry at the moment."
Netball NSW has already responded to the recommendations by cancelling this year's junior and senior state titles.
Wagga Cycling Club is also scheduled to host the state road championships on October 3, with spokesperson Cameron Oke telling the Daily Advertiser earlier this month they wouldn't be taking any risks if it's deemed unsafe.
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