Dear VCFA Members,

Over the past weeks the Board has been closely monitoring the possibility of a return to community football in Victoria. We can now confirm that we will be aiming to provide a competition for the 2020 year. Please note that we are not looking to hold a normal premiership season, but a one-off expanded cup competition that will fill a 10-week (or thereabouts) season. The competition formats are currently being drafted and will be distributed within the next seven (7) days.

The Board understands this decision may be met with mixed emotions, and it was a decision not made lightly, but with great prayer and consideration. Although the Board has undertaken measures to provide some sort of competition, we urge clubs to please consider prayerfully how you wish to approach this competition according to your own circumstances and individual club needs. Please understand that the Board and our VCFA community support any decision you make in this regard. The Board would further like to extend an offer of support in any way we can, whether you opt in or out. We are holding each of you in prayer as you make these decisions within your club committees.

Any competition will be subject to availability of grounds and the continued easing of restrictions from the State Government and health authorities. We request that if you intend to participate in the 2020 competition that you please urgently confirm your tenancy arrangements for grounds and facilities. We are seeking a start date to the access of facilities and particularly an end-date of access. Ideally we would like the ability to use club grounds until the last weekend in September.

In preparation for a return to competition, the VCFA Board supports clubs returning to training as from Monday 8th of June 2020. Please find attached the Return to Training Guidelines. These guidelines must be adhered to by all members in order for the Association to fully comply with federal and state Government rules. We cannot stress enough that as a Christian organisation it is imperative to our values and mission that all affiliated clubs properly adhere to these guidelines.

The competition we are proposing will not be a standard-format league competition, and the chief decision in providing a competition is not so much to hand out a trophy to the eventual winners, but to bring the community back together. And although any competition is about winning, we see a greater emphasis this year on reconnection, relationship, physical and mental health and pray that each club approaches this season with that in mind.

At this stage we are aiming to schedule matches from the 11th of July as a best case scenario in line with the planned return of several other Victorian leagues. This return date remains subject to the State Government allowing 50x patrons in an outdoor space AND full-contact community sport. The latest start date for a 10-week competition will be the 25th of July. This will be subject to clubs access to grounds through til the end of September.

We must know by the 22nd of June who will be participating in each competition provided (Men's, Women's and Juniors) in order to re-fixture the season. Therefore team re-nomination forms are now open and can be found HERE. We anticipate that player and team fees will be significantly reduced compared to full-season fees. An email will be distributed within the next week and will include a more detailed approach in terms of format and the proposed budget. As previously advised to all members, the Player Injury insurance policy previously maintained by the VCFA did not provide an option for pro-rata coverage based on a reduced season or player numbers. That policy was cancelled to minimise expenses in the context of a reduced or non-existent season and the Board intends to review policy options prior to the commencement of the 2021 season. Therefore Player Injury cover will not be in place for the remainder of the 2020 season.

Please understand all our plans and intentions are still very much pending health authority and government approval. But we are hopeful and excited to bring the VCFA community back together in some format.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the VCFA General Manager at gm@vcfa.org.au.

Find the Return to Training Guide under Documents on our webpage.