Resumption of Billiards & Snooker – Considerations

Following the disruption to the competitive calendar over the first half of this year, the ABSC is eager to see tournament and pennant play resume as soon as it is safe, lawful and practical to do so.

There are obviously many issues that will need to be addressed by venues and players before social or competition play can re-commence, and some of these are particularly relevant to the features of our sport.  Issues include:

  • the maintenance of social distancing;

  • the amount of time spent in the company of others;

  • procedures covering sanitisation of hands, playing surfaces and shared equipment before and during matches;

  • registering all attendees to assist with contact tracing;

  • preference that attendees have the COVIDSafe application downloaded to their mobile telephone and operating whilst playing

  • regular cleaning of venues;

  • specific restrictions on the re-opening of some venues (licensed clubs, RSL’s, Leagues Clubs);

  • restrictions on interstate and international travel; and

  • vulnerable players.

All State and Territory governments are facing different sets of COVID-19 circumstances, and the “green light” and basis for venues to re-open is likely to be different in each place.   This is obviously the first consideration for all venues and players.

The ABSC has previously announced that all its sanctioned events will be suspended until 30 June 2020.  If circumstances require – particularly if interstate travel bans remain in place and host venues are unable to re-open – this may need to be extended, and a fresh announcement will be made once the position is clear.

Sport Australia (SportAus) has produced an extensive toolkit which provides information and resources to help players and venues resume activity in a safe manner when they are allowed to do so.  The toolkit is available here https://www.sportaus.gov.au/return-to-sport.

This is a fairly generic kit, and the ABSC will shortly be issuing a set of guidelines that are based on this toolkit, but adapted (with the help of a medical specialist) for the particular issues affecting snooker and billiards play. 

The circumstances under which play is possible are likely to be very different, and perhaps quite limited, for a prolonged period, as safety measures remain in force. 

However once tournaments can resume, the priority of the ABSC will be – where possible - to stage the 2020 National Snooker and Billiards Championships for Men, Women, Under-21’s and Masters.  Venues and sponsors remain very supportive, but for practical purposes new tournament formats may be required, events may be held at relatively short notice, venues may be different from those traditionally used, and prize money is likely to be lower than in recent years. 

The ABSC hopes that players will continue to support these tournaments where they can, and will release details of upcoming events as soon as possible.  Planning is already underway for a full event calendar in 2021.

In relation to any State/Territory sanctioned events and local competitions the ABSC’s position is that from 1 June 2020 the decision and guidelines for these events to occur will be the responsibility of the various State/Territory bodies guided of course by their respective government’s requirements.

Frank Dewens

President

Australian Billiards & Snooker Council Ltd

Alex Render