by Chelsea Cryer | Aug 18, 2020 | Latest News, National
Junior Australian Championships
Today, the NSW Government have released further public health recommendations to community sport which impact on sports running representative competitions.
‘Sports are to cease activities that result in the mixing of participants and staff from different regions, eg. By ceasing zone, regional or state championships or competitions.’
NSW Government Public Health Recommendation
As a result, Australian Oztag has to cancel the 2020 Junior Australian Championships.
The new restrictions have been implemented for the next 6 weeks & then to be further reviewed. With this uncertainty AO has made the decision to completely cancel the event rather than postpone. The timing of this decision is before uniform cut-off therefore families are not placed with any financial burden.
Senior State Championships
The SSC is currently scheduled 4 weeks after the review giving us time to hold off on any immediate decision.
The SSC is different to the juniors as players have already received their uniforms and paid registration. Because players have been training for several months & are ready to play, it is AO’s intention to do everything it can to play this tournament.
AO will continually monitor Governments decisions and inform players asap.
City v Country
The Junior City v Country are in a similar position to the SSC players having paid registration and received their uniforms. They are ready to play and the tournament is now scheduled for Sunday 15th November. Therefore, allowing plenty of time for the governments review before a definitive decision is needed by AO.
A copy of the Governments Letter is attached.
by Chelsea Cryer | Aug 17, 2020 | Latest News, National, NSW Oztag
Australian Oztag has submitted contingency plans to Coffs Council.
The plans have been formulated to adhere to Public Health Orders re: Covid-19 restrictions.
AO and Coffs Council are now working through the logistics in attempt to ensure the tournaments can go ahead in the safest way possible.
A decision is expected very soon.
AO will update the public with necessary information once conclusions have been made.
by Chelsea Cryer | Aug 13, 2020 | Latest News
Australian Oztag have been keeping up with their adherence to Covid-safe measures with recent visits made to Nepean, Penrith, Sydney City and Tamworth Oztag associations.
Following inspection, feedback has been nothing short of positive as competitions continue to prioritise the health and safety of the community by enforcing protocol that allows our game to be enjoyed in the safest way possible.
On Tuesday August 4, Australian Oztag (AO) staff visited Penrith Oztag whose enforcement of Covid policies is providing the safest possible environment for all attending.
AO General Manager, Bill Harrigan said messages are clearly communicated via the Penrith Oztag app, social channels and website, with a commendable display of safety protocol at the ground.
“The sign on system is fantastic. There are sign on points located between fields, each with a designated staff member that signed the team on via the FIXI app,” Bill said.
The games are scheduled on the hour, allowing 15 minutes between games for players to leave and arrive.
“There were regular announcements, aswell as a Covid officer who continually walked around in a high vis vest to ensure there were no spectators and that all rules were being followed,” Bill said.
AO General Manager, Bill with Penrith Oztag Licensee, Jamie Howard
That same afternoon, AO visited Nepean Junior Oztag who held a ‘Come and try beginner afternoon’. NSW General Manager, Luke Manahan said their protocol was great.
“Players had to be registered online prior to attending and parents were asked to watch from the car. There was also a sanitizer station set up,” Luke said.
On Wednesday August 5, Australian Oztag staff member, Phil Browne paid a visit to Tamworth Oztag, reporting that they complied extremely well with the AO Covid Safety Policy.
“They had a number of off field staff who were COVID Safety Officers, wearing yellow vests,” Phil said.
The venue had a Covid Board on entry, including every poster from the AO Covid Resource page, aswell as frequent loud speaker announcements reminding players that there are strictly no spectators allowed.
Having also refereed at the venue, Phil said that upon arrival each ref received a bucket containing all necessary equipment.
“Referees were told to spray all players hands with sanitizer before the game and at half time. And players were told to not shake hands,”
“Referees also had to spray the ball and wipe it down with a towel,” Phil said.
AO staff member, Phil Browne at Tamworth Oztag
On Wednesday August 12, NSW General Manager, Luke Manahan visited Sydney City Oztag who have followed suit with Penrith and Tamworth Oztag.
Run by Siv at Wentworth Park every night but Friday, Luke said their Covid-safe play was good.
“They had gaps between games, allowing players to arrive and leave. And had Covid officers walking around checking teams and making sure there were no spectators,” Luke said.
Sydney City Oztag Co-ordinator, Sivasaran Sooriakumar
by Chelsea Cryer | Aug 7, 2020 | NSW Oztag
NSW Oztag are proud to announce our partnership with the Office of Sport and other State Sporting Organisations in the 2020 ‘Shoosh For Kids’ campaign.
The program strives to promote positive sideline behaviour to members, clubs and associations to ensure sport is a fun, positive and safe experience for kids.
The general rule remains, if you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
NSW Oztag take a strong stance on poor spectator behavior and encourage our grassroots to implement the same message all season long. We work to create positive, fun environments so that kids continue to enjoy their participation in Oztag.
According to the NSW Office of Sport, the campaign works to address issues which arise from poor behaviour including:
- Abuse to officials
- Reduced volunteer numbers
- Reduced participation rates (due to poor experiences/non-enjoyment/too competitive)
Usually there is an awareness week held early in the sports season, however due to the current circumstance, clubs and associations have the option to promote the ‘Shoosh for Kids’ message at their own convenience.
Shoosh for Kids Resources can be downloaded by associations and used to promote the importance of positive behaviour at junior sport, all year round.
Before a game begins, kids and officials ‘shoosh’ the crowd to remind spectators to keep their comments positive. If inappropriate behaviour is being displayed after this, the participants and officials stop, turn to the audience and ‘shoosh’ them.
Let’s show respect to officials and kids by keeping our comments positive.
Visit the Office of Sport website to find out more.
#shooshforkids | sport.nsw.gov.au
by Chelsea Cryer | Aug 3, 2020 | Latest News
From representing Shellharbour Oztag to playing on the big stage, NRL halfback Jai Field shared his love for Oztag and how the game has influenced the player he is now.
The 22-year-old began playing with friends when he was eight, falling in love with how much the game transferred into Rugby League.
“I played Touch before tag and obviously touch is a lot faster. But with tag you can kick, slow down a bit and run more footy-type plays,” Field said.
Field’s first Oztag representative experience was for Shellharbour Under 10s, at the NSW State Cup. From there, he went on to compete at the Australian Championships for the Coastal Cobras in the Juniors and for the Vipers in Seniors.
This annual display of talent saw Field selected in consecutive NSW sides to play at the 2012 and 2013 Tri Series. He was also selected in the Under 16s Australian Team that travelled to New Zealand for the 2013 Trans Tasman Test Series, as well as the Under 18s side for the 2015 World Cup.
“It was unreal. To represent any sport in the Australian colours is something special. It was the first team I had ever played in for my country so it was definitely memorable,” Field said.
Growing up playing through the middle, Field acknowledges Oztag as an integral influence on his playmaking skills, contributing to where he is now.
Field made his NRL debut for the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2017 and his recent Club debut for the Parramatta Eels in this year’s Round eight clash against the North Queensland Cowboys.
NRL immortal, Andrew Johns has recognised the importance of Oztag and non-contact sport in the development of young players.
“I’d encourage any young halfback to play as much touch footy and as much Oztag as they can to develop their craft without being bashed out of the game”, Johns told Sporting News.
“I agree with that 100%,” Field said
“In Oztag you have to make your decisions so quickly as a ball player because with the pace of the game, things are shut down so fast,”
“I think you hone your decision-making much quicker than what you would just playing league as a junior. At that age, you’re not really engaging the line, whereas in Oztag and Touch, you’re always at the line,” he said.
With 14 NRL games under his belt, Field is highly regarded for his speed and confidence with the ball. He had great pleasure in sharing his advice to young aspiring Oztaggers.
“Being a smaller kid, stick with your footy while playing your Oztag and Touch because it definitely makes your skills better,”
“Obviously you’re not going to be the most physical kid, but playing Oztag and Touch and learning new ways to kick, pass and step is going to help you in the long run when you grow a bit bigger,” Field said.
Field stopped playing Oztag at the age of 17, his last tournament being for the Vipers Under 20s at the 2015 Senior Australian Championships. He shared that he not only misses the game, but everything that came with it.
“You miss going away to tournaments with your mates, meeting new people and seeing friends that you make through other rep tams,” Field said.
IMAGE CREDIT: Jai Field
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