COVID-19 cases hold key to sports return dates and racing crowds
Victoria regional summer outdoor non-contact open-age sporting competitions will have to wait until statewide regional COVID-19 cases drop below an average of five for 14 consecutive days before starting.
There will also have to be no cases with unknown sources over the same period.
Community sport outside the Melbourne metropoolitan area will begin to be phased in as part of the third step in the State Government's COVID-19 roadmap for re-opening announced on Sunday.
Under-18s will have more flexibility, with outdoor contact and non-contact sport allowed with the same trigger points in the third phase.
The conditions make it impossible for sports such as cricket, tennis and lawn bowls to confirm a starting date for their seasons.
Open age contact sport such as football codes will have to wait until even stricter conditions are met.
Organised contacts sports for all ages, with limited spectators, will get the green light as part of what is known as the last step - when there are no new cases for 14 days statewide.
Sport will not return restriction until Victoria is classified as "COVID normal" - no new cases for 28 days statewide, no active cases statewide and no outbreaks of concern in others states or territories.