Participation lists, changing clothes at home, quickly vacating the premises to make way for others, no third half of a match in the canteen, and not helping with cleaning up. These are some examples of the measures taken by student sports associations to ensure that sports can be practiced in a responsible manner in the current corona era.

More than half of the outdoor sports associations responded to the ESSF’s call for a plan by Tuesday, says chairman Christiaan Goossens. That doesn’t mean the plans are immediately approved. Goossens explains: “The protocols must comply with the most recent RIVM guidelines and they must be in accordance with adequate research. That is why, for example, we are in contact with TU/e professor Bert Blocken, who studies the spread of the coronavirus during sports activities that involve wind. We decide in consultation with the Student Sports Centre and with TU/e’s corona crisis team.”

Tailor-made

A tailor-made plan is needed for each association. Who will train when and where? The space requirement varies per association. The ESSF chairman gives some examples: “The archers at Da Vinci stand still, so 1.5 meters will probably be enough. They need to draw up a plan for how their members alternate. You’ll need a bit more distance during activities that involve some walking, for instance golf. Then you have to calculate how many students you allow to play at the same time. And when you run, like the hockey players of Don Quishoot do, you’ll need even more distance.”

Associations that train off-campus, such as Asterix at athletics track De Hondsheuvels and Squadra at cycling track OpNoord in Woensel, need to write down what measures they will comply with at those locations. “If it meets our requirements, that’s fine naturally. But we do want to know.”

Outdoor judo

Once a schedule has been made for outdoor sports, ESSF will see whether it can find locations where indoor sports associations can organize substitute activities, Goossens says. ESSF will work closely with the municipality of Eindhoven for this purpose. “Finding space is the major problem. We are looking at several possible locations, such as parks or next to the Karpendonkse Plas. The municipality recognizes the importance of physical exercise and certainly thinks along with us. We inform the municipality where and when our associations go to a park, so that the BOA’s know about it. You’re not allowed to practice sports as an association without permission, and we warn associations to adhere to an approved schedule.”