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KUALA LUMPUR: Team sports such as soccer, basketball, sepak takraw and hockey can only carry out non-contact training and not matches, has clarified the Minister of Youth and Sports Reezal Merican Naina Merican.
Following confusion over standard operating procedures (SOPs) for these sports, he said training activities like passing and skills (juggling and dribbling) are allowed as long as physical distancing is respected. There is no contact involved and the capacity to use the field or court is 30% of the capacity.
“Sports like hockey and soccer cannot host games, only training sessions. Doubles events for badminton, tennis and table tennis are also not allowed because it will be difficult to comply with (physical) distancing and the possibility of contact as well as splashing droplets, thus increasing the risk of infection.
“We want to help commercial court / field operators resume operations, at least they (athletes) can train and those who have clubs can start face-to-face physical activities instead of (having) online training all the time.” , He said. reporters at the Sports Arena here today.
Reezal, who had previously monitored activities at the Glenmarie Golf Club; the UiTM Stadium in Shah Alam, which is the training ground for the Super League UiTM FC; and Sports Arena Sentosa; admitted to being satisfied with the fulfillment of these premises with respect to the rules and standard operating procedures.
Meanwhile, Sports Arena CEO Jack Koh said most sports facility operators are nearly “drowning” or “dying” after being closed since Jan. 13 and the reopening was a relief.
“All of our employees are evaluated every month. We sanitize the sand after each session and have invested in a disinfectant gantry to prevent the spread of Covid-19. We have also divided our courts into five zones, so teams can only play in one zone, ”he said.
