THE Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region will ask all competitors to be vaccinated in order to play this season, to avoid confusion over the difference in rules between social and competition play.
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The new season will begin on November 13, however some concerns remain in regards to what vaccination rates are required.
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Technically to play, competitors are not required to be vaccinated, but if they wish to train during the week with their teammates - which is considered social or recreational - they need to be vaccinated.
Competitors also need to be vaccinated in order to walk into club rooms or to have a social drink with teammates and opposition players.
Ballarat Highlands Bowls Association president Ian Guymer said the board had decided to mandate vaccinations across the board.
"It's somewhat confusing if you've been following the story," he said. "The government has let out two definitions, one for community sport and one for recreation, for social bowls such as barefoot bowls.
"For bowling clubs who have social facilities, the government has mandated red line areas, but again these are different for all clubs. Some clubs may have their whole green as a red line area, others might only have their front porch and club rooms.
"Unless you want to go straight home after playing bowls, you need to be fully vaccinated, so we've requested all clubs that they are double vaccinated, and I don't foresee us making any changes on that."
Guymer said vaccination issues with associations that do not enforce the mandate could have an impact later in the season when representative matches get underway.
"When we come to representatives sides in March and April next year, you wouldn't want to be in a region that isn't vaccinated, because others would be in their right to not play," he said.
He said the opportunity to start a week later on November 13 would give clubs and teams a chance to get their COVID rules sorted this weekend, enabling them to iron out any teething issues before the start of the season. Tuesday pennant will resume on November 16.
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