Dear Badminton Community,

The NZ Government has just announced that our region will remain in Alert Level 2 (Delta) until at least Tue 5 Oct at 11:59pm. This will be reviewed by cabinet on Mon 4 Oct. A significant change sees the limit on mass gatherings increased from 50 to 100. This is what we have been waiting for. Please read below for an update on our badminton activities during Alert Level 2 (Delta) and a reminder of the continued requirements.

Alert Level 2 (Delta)

All the measures introduced along with ‘Alert Level 2 (Delta)’ remain in effect. Here is a reminder:

• Mandatory mask wearing in all public venues. This includes all spectators, staff, coaches, parents and persons not engaged with playing. Masks are to be worn the entire time but may be removed to eat and drink.
• Mandatory record keeping. This is different and in addition to the contact tracing register complied by Badminton Manawatu. The easiest way to do this is by using the NZ COVID Tracer app on your phone to scan the QR codes at the venue. Badminton Manawatu are providing our own QR codes for scanning in addition to the CET Arena ones and will remind everyone when entering the venue. If you are not scanning QR codes, then we will ask what method you are using to keep a record of your personal movements.
• A maximum of 100 persons in an indoor venue. This is a firm limit, and we will not operate any event/programme that would breach this. Strictly adhere to any staggered start times as these may be used to ensure we can run an event without breaching the 100-person maximum.
• A minimum of 2-meter physical distancing. This applies to anyone not participating in badminton and must be maintained by everyone not sharing the same household (or household bubble).

These extra requirements indicate the increased risk of Delta compared to previous strains and so Badminton Manawatu will be enforcing all Alert Level 2 (Delta) requirements in cooperation with CET Arena staff. Anybody not following the requirements, or repeatedly offending will be removed from the venue for the safety of everyone else.

Programmes & Events

Below is an update on the status of each event/programme and what this will look like at Alert Level 2 (Delta):

• Bubble Badminton – GOING AHEAD (Tue 21 Sep). The final opportunity to book courts to play badminton in CET Arena through us is on Tue 21 Sep (4pm-5:30pm) & (5:45pm-7:15pm). Bookings can be made, and full details are available, on our website: https://www.manawatubadminton.org.nz/bubble-badminton/.
• Thursday Night Badminton League (Round 6) – GOING AHEAD (Thu 23 Sep). The mass gathering limit has been increased to 100 so we are able to resume TNBL on Thursday. Most teams have confirmed entry into Round 6 and so once the last few have replied we will be able to complete and release the draw for the upcoming round.
• Shuttle Time Primary School Competition (Term 3) – CANCELLED. All schools have been contacted and unfortunately the competition cancelled.
• Shuttle Time Youth League (Term 3) – CANCELLED. All schools have been contacted and unfortunately the competition cancelled.
• Shuttle Time Badge Course (Term 3) – CANCELLED. Not enough time remain to delivery and effective programme in Term 3. Registrations are open for the Term 4 course.
• Junior Reps (Training) – GOING AHEAD (Tue 28 Sep). The final junior rep training will run as one large group (all age groups) in Arena on Tue 28 Sep. Watch out for communication about an upcoming Manawatu ABCD Championships later in the year as well as prize-giving.
• Senior Reps (Practice) – CANCELLED. No venues are available to us until Alert Level 1, which will not be until October at the earliest. Watch out for communication about an upcoming Manawatu ABCD Championships later in the year!
• Shuttle Time Intermediate School Competition (Term 4) – GOING AHEAD (Thu 4 Nov). We are planning as if the Term 4 school competition will be in Alert Level 1. Please visit our website to register teams: https://www.manawatubadminton.org.nz/intermediate-entry-form/.
• Shuttle Time Badge Course (Term 4) – GOING AHEAD (Tue 2 Nov) . We are planning as if the Term 4 after-school Shuttle Time course will be in Alert Level 1. This will be located at Cornerstone School on Tuesdays at 3:45pm-5:15pm (2 Nov – 14 Dec). The registration form is on our website: https://www.manawatubadminton.org.nz/badge-classes/. Queries can be made directly to Josh Curry at josh@manawatubadminton.org.nz.

More Information

We expect all attendees to be familiar with the expectations upon them when participating (or attending) any Badminton Manawatu event/programme during any alert level. To make sure you are up to date, visit our website and read the ‘Participant Guidelines’ document:

• https://www.manawatubadminton.org.nz/policies/

Further details on alert levels and Sport NZ guidance can be found on their websites:

• https://covid19.govt.nz/
• https://sportnz.org.nz/

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Dear Badminton Community,

The NZ Government has announced that everywhere outside of Auckland will be moving into Alert Level 2 (Delta) on Wed 8 Sep. This will be reviewed by cabinet on Mon 13 Sep. Please read below for an update on our badminton activities during Alert Level 2 (Delta) and what extra requirements this ‘new Level 2’ will bring.

Alert Level 2 (Delta)

While it is great news that we are moving into ‘Alert Level 2’, you must be aware of the new requirements in this alert level and what it means for badminton (and sport in general). Here is a summary of the differences to the old Alert Level 2:

• Mandatory mask wearing in all public venues. This includes all spectators, staff, coaches, parents and persons not engaged with playing. Masks are to be worn the entire time but may be removed to eat and drink.
• Mandatory record keeping. This is different and in addition to the contact tracing register complied by Badminton Manawatu. The easiest way to do this is by using the NZ COVID Tracer app on your phone to scan the QR codes at the venue. Badminton Manawatu are providing our own QR codes for scanning in addition to the CET Arena ones and will remind everyone when entering the venue. If you are not scanning QR codes, then we will ask what method you are using to keep a record of your personal movements.
• A maximum of 50 persons in an indoor venue. This is a firm limit, and we will not operate any event/programme that would breach this. Strictly adhere to any staggered start times as these may be used to ensure we can run an event without breaching the 50-person maximum.
• A minimum of 2-meter physical distancing. This applies to anyone not participating in badminton and must be maintained by everyone not sharing the same household (or household bubble).

These extra requirements indicate the increased risk of Delta compared to previous strains and so Badminton Manawatu will be enforcing all Alert Level 2 (Delta) requirements in cooperation with CET Arena staff. Anybody not following the requirements, or repeatedly offending will be removed from the venue for the safety of everyone else.

Programmes & Events

Below is an update on the status of each event/programme and what this will look like at Alert Level 2 (Delta):

• Bubble Badminton – GOING AHEAD. It’s back! Everybody will be able to book courts to play badminton in CET Arena on Thu 9 Sep (6pm-9:30pm) & Tue 14 Sep (3:30pm-7:30pm). Full details are available on our website: https://www.manawatubadminton.org.nz/bubble-badminton/. This will run for as long as the Alert Level 2 (Delta) requirements are in place. Bookings for subsequent days will be dependent upon Alert Level status.
• Thursday Night Badminton League (Round 6)– SUSPENDED. We cannot run the league at Alert Level 2 (Delta) given the number of participants and available time. TNBL may resume if the maximum number of persons is raised to 100 or the Alert Level drops to 1. Given the large delay between the end of Round 5 and the start of Round 6, ALL teams to confirm entry into Round 6. A separate email will be sent about TNBL. The earliest next available session is Thu 16 Sep, depending on alert level status.
• Shuttle Time Primary School Competition (Term 3) – SUSPENDED. We cannot run this competition at Alert Level 2 (Delta) given the number of participants & parents in a confined space. We do not feel it appropriate to ask parents not to attend give the age of participants. The competition may resume if the maximum number of persons is raised to 100 or the Alert Level drops to 1. The earliest next available session is Tue 21 Sep, depending on alert level status. We will be in contact with schools this week about the possible options for proceeding with this competition.
• Shuttle Time Youth League (Term 3) – CANCELLED. The competition has been cancelled with 2 weeks remaining. All schools have been informed of the options and we are working through fulfilling these on an individual school basis.
• Shuttle Time Badge Course (Term 3) – CANCELLED. School venues are unavailable to us until Alert Level 1 and we do not envisage being back in school venues before the end of Term 3 so we have taken the decision to cancel this course as so few weeks remain.
• Junior Reps (Training) – SUSPENDED. The final group training session is scheduled to be Tue 21 Sep. This can only go ahead if the maximum number of persons is raised to 100 (all juniors in Arena) or the Alert Level drops to 1. We will not be extending any further training sessions as this will impact the start of the summer sports season. Junior Rep Prize-giving will go ahead later in the year, once we are back in Alert Level 1.
• Senior Reps (Practice) – SUSPENDED. The final practice sessions were scheduled for Sun 26 & Wed 29 Sep. All senior trainings are subject to Alert Level 1 given that they are held in school venues. The most likely situation is that we will return to pay-to-play sessions on Sundays in PNINS by the time we drop to Alert Level 1.
• Shuttle Time Intermediate School Competition (Term 4) – GOING AHEAD. We are planning as if the Term 4 school competition will be in Alert Level 1. Please visit our website to register teams: https://www.manawatubadminton.org.nz/intermediate-entry-form/
• Shuttle Time Badge Course (Term 4) – GOING AHEAD. We are planning as if the Term 4 after-school Shuttle Time course will be in Alert Level 1. This will be located at Cornerstone School at 3:45pm-5:15pm, with day of the week TBC. The registration form is on our website: https://www.manawatubadminton.org.nz/badge-classes/. Queries can be made directly to Josh Curry at josh@manawatubadminton.org.nz.

More Information

We expect all attendees to be familiar with the expectations upon them when participating (or attending) any Badminton Manawatu event/programme during any alert level. To make sure you are up to date, visit our website and read the ‘Participant Guidelines’ document:

• https://www.manawatubadminton.org.nz/policies/

Further details on alert levels and Sport NZ guidance can be found on their websites:

• https://covid19.govt.nz/
• https://sportnz.org.nz/

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.