The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) released its season health protocols on Thursday, July 15, two days before its long-awaited return to action with the Open Conference from the Bacarra bubble in Ilocos Norte.
League commissioner Tony Boy Liao and president Ricky Palou laid out the protocols in detail, which most notably included no handshakes, no court changes, and no showers after games at the PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center.
“The teams have their own equipment [and] water, so if an infected person switches sides, everyone will be affected,” Palou said. “They understand, [and] in fact they welcome it at this point of time for safety precautionary measures.”
Players will also be required to wear masks for their 10-minute warm-up with the ball, their five-minute spiking warm-up, and during player introductions. Players may opt to remove their masks, however, once the game starts. (SCHEDULE: 2021 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference)
After a game, the two teams involved are only allowed to change clothes without showers, and must leave quickly before the next two squads on the schedule can enter the venue. The court, benches, and net will also be sanitized in between games.
“Yung LGU has a rule na only 100 people inside on a given time, lahat-lahat na yun. Hanggang nasa loob sila ng venue, hindi puwede pumasok yung second match. Pag dumating nang maaga yung second match they wait in the bus,” Liao said.
(The LGU has a rule where only 100 people overall are allowed inside at a given time. As long as they’re inside the venue, the second match participants cannot enter. If they arrive early, they must wait in the bus.)
The league made no mention of monetary sanctions if these protocols are violated, but a player who will test positive will have to undergo a seven-day quarantine with at least two of her roommates in their hotel. The team must also shoulder the cost of additional testing.
However, teams with positive cases may still play as long as they can list at least eight available players before their games.
“We have mixed feelings here,” Palou said regarding the league’s restart overall. “We’re happy that finally we can start, but at the same time, we’re kind of worried.”
Palou said he repeated to players and staff to practice social distancing and avoid loitering around, given the lengthy absence they will incur otherwise in the midst of a condensed conference.
“We’re scared, but we’re hoping and praying that nobody gets infected, none of the players, or even the coaching and working staff,” he continued. “Mixed feelings. That’s why we keep on telling everybody please be very careful.” – Rappler.com
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