There are three community Covid-19 cases in South Auckland - a mother, father and daughter from Papatoetoe. New Zealand is still at alert level 1.
When sporting organisations throughout Bay of Plenty learned they were heading back into alert level 2, they quickly set about making the necessary adjustments.
On Sunday night, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Auckland would move to alert level 3 and the rest of New Zealand to level 2 after threenew community Covid cases were discovered in the south of the country's largest city.
For some Bay of Plenty sports, this means carrying on with training and competitions but following Ministry of Health guidelines around contact tracing and hygiene, and ensuring there were no gatherings of more than 100 people.
For those unable to restrict gatherings to fewer than 100 people it means cancellations or postponements.
Bay of Plenty Rugby Union community rugby manager Pat Rae said the positive side of going into alert level 2 again was union and clubs were well equipped to make adjustments.
At this time of year, the main activity for rugby clubs is senior preseason training which would still go ahead within the guidelines.
"It's what we were doing as we came back down the alert levels last year," he said.
"I take my hat off to the clubs and what they did last year, especially in the junior space, to keep rugby going. They did a really good job managing gatherings and contact tracing.
Bay of Plenty Rugby Union community rugby manager Pat Rae says the union is following the Government's lead and taking a cautious approach in alert level 2. Photo / File
"They've still got those systems in place. I don't think there's much stress or anxiety, the clubs have been here before and done it. So long as we stay in level 2, we'll be right."
Tauranga City Basketball Association general manager Mark Rogers said alert level 2 did result in extra stress but there were plans already in place for all alert levels.
Basketball competitions will go ahead as scheduled in alert level 2 but games will be played without spectators to ensure mass gathering rules were followed.
"Just like last time we have a pandemic plan that we follow including all the guidelines from the Government," Rogers said.
"We're just putting that into practice. We're limited to 100 people in the venue and things like contact tracing and extra cleaning are all part of the plan."
Tauranga Basketball Association general manager Mark Rogers says he and his team have plans in place for each alert level. Photo / File
Rogers said the local basketball community was great at following guidelines.
"We hope this time round is the same and we're only at the alert level for a short period of time.
"It's definitely a challenge, it's something we'd rather not have to deal with but that's just the situation we're faced with. We're in a better situation than some people in the country and the rest of the world so we just have to get on with it."
Sport Bay of Plenty sport manager Nick Chambers said that like everyone in New Zealand the Bay of Plenty sporting community had a role to play in minimising the risk of transmission of the virus.
"Sport can continue, but it requires some adaptations such as limiting gatherings to less than 100 people, as well as good contact tracing and hygiene measures," he said.
"We've had practice at this, and sporting organisations have worked hard to make sure they can adapt to alert level changes.
"Regional sports organisations, under guidance from their national governing bodies, helped clubs put together Covid-19 plans for alert level 2. These plans were activated back in August 2020 and the local community sport sector has shown its capability in adapting and playing its part to keep the community safe."
Chambers said Sport BOP had two fulltime community sport advisers who were in regular contact with local clubs to offer help where needed.
"It's important to note, though, that national sporting organisations advise their respective sport on any specific operating guidelines within alert level parameters that are relevant to their sport.
"No doubt there's a sense of 'not again' for local sporting organisations with this change in alert level, but we've proven before what's possible when we all work together and play our part.
"If any Bay of Plenty sports clubs or organisations have any questions or need some support then we encourage them to reach out to us, or their regional or national sporting organisation."
Further guidelines and information can be found at www.sportnz.org.nz/covid-19-response/alert-level-information
