Following a meeting of the MWFA Board and the Presidents of all 17 clubs and the Manly Warringah Football Referees Association (MWFRA), the MWFA Board has resolved the following for the 2020 season.
- The Manly Warringah Football Association competitions will re-start on Friday 1 May 2020. This is subject to change upon any advice received by the Federal Government.
- MWFA teams and clubs will be free to commence training on Monday April 27. This is subject to change upon any advice received by the Federal Government.
- The MWFA Challenge Cup competitions (Men and Women) will be cancelled for 2020.
- The MWFA will work through competition structures based on starting on the weekend of May 1/2/3, playing 17 weeks (including the middle weekend of the July school holidays) with the cancellation of semi finals, moving straight to grand finals.
- Monday 8 June (Queens Birthday long weekend) will be set aside as the only wash out round.
- MWFA and its clubs will consider the impact on registration fees and the financial aspect of player deregistration when we know the full extent of the disruption. At this stage the suspension of football takes into account a minimal disruption that we will work to make up throughout the season as best as possible. We are delaying the start of the season, not cancelling. Any decisions around registration fees and refunds will be based on the broad principle of trying to ensure that all Clubs, MWFA, Football NSW and FFA are able to get through this difficult time in a position that will enable football as we know it to continue into the future.
- MWFA will put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions, to assist clubs and players with communication.
- The MWFA will put together information for the clubs in relation to hygiene and guidelines for when football resumes to give them the opportunity to plan for playing football under a very different general environment.
- We will continue to work through a range of issues in relation to questions like Champion of Champions qualification, State Cup competitions, promotion/relegation and communicate the answers as soon as possible.
There is no doubt that we all have more questions than answers but when we reach decisions we will continue to communicate them.
The MWFA Board also committed to the following, which was agreed by the 17 Clubs and MWFRA:
- Taking its responsibility to the broader community in relation to the current health situation seriously
- Taking time to consider the broader impact, viability of clubs and the MWFA and the long term future of the sport when making decisions due to the special circumstances around the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus).
- A clear understanding for the MWFA, the 17 Clubs, the MWFRA, players and volunteers that the 2020 football season will be different to what we are used to.
- Immediately consider the suspension or cancellation of any non essential costs and activities to ensure the best possible opportunity to lessen any financial impact due to the suspension of football and any possible further suspension (under Government advice).
There is no doubt we are entering a challenging time as a country and as a sport but we are appealing to the Clubs, the 19,000 players and their families to work together to make sure that the special community spirit that binds football together on the Northern Beaches helps us get through this tough period.
We will have to make sacrifices and adjustments to the way we train, play and interact and accept that it is in the best interests of the game.
Please see the below links to assist with understanding the current situation:
Commonwealth Department of Health – COVID-19 Health Alert
NSW Health – COVID-19 Information
NSW Health-COVID-19 frequently asked questions
