SCOTTISH HANDBALL ASSOCIATION

STATEMENT Scottish Governing Body CEO Forum 3/8/20 | 

Following a formal communication sent to the First Minister on the morning of 30th July 2020 from 32 individual Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport (SGB), the SGB CEO Forum welcomes the recognition by the First Minister of the requirement to move forward the re-opening of sports facilities.

As a sector, we are disappointed that the indicative timescale for a return to sport is not sooner.  We have submitted evidence in mitigation of any risk to public health and ask for clarification as to what more compelling information is required to ensure our sports can return to activity and competition within the indicative dates given.

However, we will work with the Scottish Government and sportscotland to understand the level of evidence we need to provide so all requirements for indoor sport to safely return in late August can be met. As ever, we will react positively to any encouragement from Scottish Government to review the dates.

We are especially concerned for those SGBs which only have the small 2020 summer window to restart their sport and competitions.  Without access to facilities – both indoor and outdoor, wet and dry – our member Clubs cannot function and cannot contribute effectively to the recovery that the whole of Scotland so desperately wants and needs.

As we are all aware the reality is that ‘sport-in-Scotland’ is more than just ‘sport’. This has been clearly demonstrated through the national focus on maintaining daily physical activity throughout lockdown and effectively contributes to the social fabric of our local communities as a whole through (although not exclusively):

• The health and wellbeing of the Scottish Nation;
• Equality and inclusion;
• Contributing to effective learners;
• Mental health and wellbeing;
• Tackling obesity;
• Social inclusion and;
• Women and Girls in Sport.

With confirmation that other public spaces and venues in Scotland are now reopening and in recognition of the immense challenges facing the restart of the Scottish sporting sector, the SGB CEO Forum wish to work quickly with Scottish Government, sportscotland and facility operators to establish a clear strategy to resume sport, for our members, clubs and communities.

The Scottish Handball Association fully supports the collective drive of Scottish Governing Bodies to reopen as many sport facilities in Scotland as quickly and safely as possible.

STATEMENT Phase 3 Update 31/7/20 | THe Scottish Handball Association welcome the announcement of the latest planned moves through the Government route map and the commitment of the Scottish Government to re-start sport at all levels.  We will adjust our guidance to reflect the changes to Phase3 which will be released over the next few days.  It is a helpful step to provide indicative dates for a return to full contact, outdoor, adult sport from 24th of August and the potential opening of indoor facilities from the 14th of September.  These are indicative dates so we still have some way to go before the re-introduction of indoor handball.  Public health and wellbeing remains the most pressing priority and we have a responsibility to do what we can to continue to suppress the spread of the virus and prevent a second wave.  We are confident in the sector’s ability to ensure that sport and physical activity is delivered safely, in line with guidelines, and acknowledge the work that has been undertaken by venue operators in this regard. We will continue to work with the Scottish Government, sportscotland and wider partners to progress plans for the return of sport and physical activity when it is safe to do so.

The Phase 3 Handball guidelines applying from 31st of July are here:https://handball.scot/covid-19/.