The latest edition of the Stopwatch Times is available in the Members/Stopwatch Times area of the website.
You can also find a selection of back issues of the Stopwatch Times going back to 2006.
The latest edition of the Stopwatch Times is available in the Members/Stopwatch Times area of the website.
You can also find a selection of back issues of the Stopwatch Times going back to 2006.
It is now clear from the latest England Athletics (EA) guidelines, dated 24th February, that we can resume outdoor training from the 29th of March.
EA have continued to support the concept of a Covid-19 secure environment in which groups of unlimited number are allowed for a training session organised by a coach. However, 2 metre social distancing should be maintained at all times wherever possible. We are satisfied that our track is a Covid-19 secure environment provided that everyone brings their own hand sanitizer and or wipes and complies with the following rules.
All participants must be health screened (you will be asked to self-declare your health when attending a training session):
You must not take part in activity if you have been instructed to self-isolate (following a positive COVID-19 test, contact with a confirmed case or international travel)
or have any of the following symptoms:
All attendees at a training session will be registered for Test & Trace purposes.
It is clearly not possible to have an unlimited number of athletes at the track, however there can be multiple groups at the track at any one time viz:
OR
It seems unlikely that the maximum number of distance runners can exceed 35 whilst still complying with the rules. It is the responsibility of the coaches and or group leaders to determine the safe number within this limit as it is likely to be dependent on the type of session. It will be a challenge for the coaches to determine how to accommodate adults and children on the track at the same time.
The track booking system will operate as before whereby members check the track calendar on the club website (www.paddockwoodac.co.uk/calendar/category/track-bookings/ ) and, having chosen a desired 1 hour time slot, email Mike Ridger (mike.ridger@outlook.com) before 5pm of the day before with the names of the attendees. to confirm the booking. He will confirm that the session is available or, if not, suggest alternatives. On a user’s first booking he will be required to complete the EA Covid-19 Risk Assessment.
We have now been able to arrange with Mascalls school that we can use the front section of the school to park for our Tuesday & Thursday training sessions, this is the area just inside the main entrance gates. Please park considerately to ensure that we can fit all members in that need this space. There will be no toilet facilities available at Mascalls School or at Putlands and the gates to Putlands car park will be shut. It may still be advisable to walk to the track if you live in Paddock Wood. All members should still meet at the track, unless advised otherwise by coaches.
For full details of the EA guidance see https://www.englandathletics.org/athletics-and-running/news/category/coronavirus-updates/
Please be aware that hammer and discus throwing sessions are being coached every Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 5:00pm and 6:00pm.
For Health and Safety reasons the track cannot be used whilst throwing is taking place.
All member are asked to be aware of this restriction and that entry to the track is forbidden during these times. This restriction will be lifted when the works to the Throws Cage has been completed.
The attached documents have been updated to reflect the changes to EA Guidance dated 4th August.
Please read the documents which describe the rules and regulations from EA and the Government that are applicable to PWAC together with some of our own that we have had to impose. The main track gate is fitted with a combination padlock. Please lock the gate after entry and exit to prevent unauthorised access. When making a booking you will be told the code for the combination padlock. If you have any queries regarding the booking system please email these to mike.ridger@outlook.com
Please ensure you follow the sanitising rules, these are for yours and others safety.
Kind regards,
Richard Harris
With the introduction of Lockdown 2 from 5th November the track is now closed.