Every south-west football competition - including Hampden and Warrnambool and District leagues - cancelled both senior and junior divisions in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

AFL Victoria's updated return to training stipulates junior footballers - those aged 18 and under - can resume full-contact training and games after regional Victoria's second coronavirus-forced lockdown.

Senior teams, meanwhile, can resume but mustn't engage in contact training.

It means skills drills and fitness is allowed but bumping, tackling and marking contests are prevented.

All sessions, junior and senior, must be conducted outdoors.

For junior players, there is no strict limit on numbers however AFL Victoria suggests: "no more than the minimum number of participants required to conduct the training or game participate in the activity" should participate.

Senior teams, however, must train in groups of 10 at an outdoor facility except where a distance of 100 metres can be maintained between groups.

The use of indoor facilities, barring toilets and change rooms, is not permitted for either juniors or seniors.

For senior players, physical distancing of one and half metres must be maintained while training.

For spectators, only those necessary to support participation should attend junior training or matches. They must wear face masks, as should coaches and other support staff.

It's expected the rules will be revised when regional Victoria can move to the next step of coronavirus restrictions.

Nirranda coach Brayden Harkness said his club hadn't yet started pre-season training but was in touch with players.

He said clubs were mindful of the COVID-19 precautions.

"We never start this early typically, particularly having played finals the past few years," Harkness said.

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"We've had a pretty long break this year but you still want to be careful. I don't think there's too much benefit to absolutely flogging your team at this point of the year.

"We might start in mid-to-late November and blow out the cobwebs."

Harkness said the Blues' November sessions would be dedicated more so to team bonding.

"It'll just be once a week, more so to get everyone together," he said.

"We won't be launching into the game plan or any of that stuff, it's more about getting the boys back together. We've been catching up a little bit but there hasn't been anything too official."

Cobden coach Adam Courtney last week told The Standard his side was keen to begin informal training with daylight saving.

SUMMARY:

THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES AND PROTOCOLS MUST BE MET BY ALL AFL VICTORIA AFFILIATED COMMUNITY CLUBS

Training and games (contact and non-contact) can resume for people aged 18 years or under, provided:

1. Clubs/teams and umpiring groups/associations must strictly adhere to the current Victorian State Government restrictions.

2. Face coverings must be worn by all Victorians when they leave home unless they have a lawful exception.

3. If you are doing exercise or a physical activity where you are out of breath or puffing, such running, you do not need to wear a face mask. You must wear a face mask before and after you exercise. 4. Coaches and other necessary support staff must wear a face mask.

5. Spectators must wear a face mask.

6. Each Club must nominate at least one COVID Safety Officer who must undertake the free Australian Government online COVID-19 Infection Control Training prior to recommencement of Club activity. Certificate of completion needs to be emailed to your League Administrator prior to the commencement of activity. Clubs are encouraged to have multiple people take ownership of this role and share the responsibility. In addition, we strongly recommend the COVID Safety Officer completes the AFL's COVID Protocols Course to assist with interpreting the protocols involved in Returning to Community Football in a COVID-19 environment.

7. A log, or register, using the approved AFL Victoria template, League template, or an online app or similar, which clearly identifies all participants and officials in attendance at each training session must be maintained and available upon request by the League, AFL Victoria or health authorities.

8. Sporting clubs that operate a restaurant, café or canteen within its facility should adhere to the restrictions on hospitality venues. Detailed guidelines of the requirements for cafes, restaurants and food and drink facilities to reopen are available on the Business Victoria website.

9. Communal facilities, such as showers, changing rooms and toilets, can open provided participants abide by the Victorian State Government guidelines to limit close contact between individuals, relevant density quotients are met (i.e. four square metre rule ) and no more than 20 people per indoor space.

10. Signage must be displayed at the entry to each indoor space outlining the maximum number of people allowed at a single time.

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