July 22, 2020
The Kingaroy Touch football competition is back in action after an enforced COVID-19 break.
The last round – Round 5 – was played on March 16.
Round 6 was played 18 weeks later – on Monday (July 20) – under a COVID Safe plan developed by Touch Football Australia.
“Everyone was keen to get back out there,” Kingaroy Touch Association president Rob Taylor said.
It would now be a 20-round competition followed by a four-week finals series.
Rob said the first night back was a success although the changes forced by COVID-19 restrictions initially caused some confusion.
Entry and exit gates are being manned to control the number of players in the grounds at any one time.
Players have to be at the gates at least five minutes before their game is scheduled to start as the gates are then shut.
No spectators are allowed at present, either.
In a major change since before the break, the games also shifted to a new venue.
The competition has moved from rugby league’s T.J. O’Neill Oval to the nearby junior soccer grounds in Oliver Bond Street.
Three fields have been set up with sanitisation stations nearby.
Rob said KTA had signed a joint lease arrangement with the Kingaroy Junior Soccer Club which would mean the grounds would be used for both sports.
The Association now has plans to install new lighting at the venue as well as an aim to build a clubhouse beside the existing Redbacks’ building.
