NSW RUGBY LEAGUE have brought in very strict restrictions for our junior league competition grand finals for 2020 

The restrictions include only one parent to attend the game, no team songs and no medal presentations. 

to read the full release https://www.nswrl.com.au/siteassets/2020/covid/community-football-grand-final-day-protocols.pdf

We live in a complicated society during this pandemic and we appreciate the ongoing work of all Junior Leagues to allow our kids to play their sport.

What is challenging is the restrictions released for the end of the season grand finals. Not only are we living in a pandemic but we are dealing with serious mental health issues amongst our kids and a very high suicide rate. 

To only allow one parent to the grand final puts tremendous pressure on kids to choose which parent. For kids this doesn’t make sense when NRL games can have 25% capacity of spectators in large venues. These are the venues our kids play at for their grand finals. For example the Manly Jnr League plays at Brookvale Oval. A venue that can easily have social distancing. 

Many kids are from families of separated parents, why should the kids have choose which parent attends. Why should the kids have to deal with such pressure. Not all separated families get along. 

Give the kids their team song and the comradery  that goes with this, they have just spent an entire football game tackling each other.

Surely our society can now be trusted to be responsible to stand 1.5 meters apart as we have done all season in much smaller venues. As we continue to on public transport, shopping centers and pubs...... 

please sign the petition and share so we can get some perspective on what’s important. This includes the mental health of our children and being able to be responsible during this pandemic. The two are possible for rugby league grand finals in 2020. 

We ask that NSW Rugby League reconvenes with NSW Health for more appropriate guidelines. 

Regards 

Hardbord Devils Mum of 3 boys