Covid Update

August 25, 2021 - 3 years ago

Update 30.9.21

Today the ACT Government updated their roadmap to easing restrictions. Working on this and in conjunction with Sport & Recreation ACT, if everything goes to plan, we anticipate play resuming in all our leagues from October 29. 

We will be updating each league individually via email over the coming weeks with more information on the return to sport. Thanks for all your patience and support over this time. We are so excited to see you again and get back into sport. 

FAQ’s

When are we coming back? From October 29 BABY!!! All our leagues, venue permitting, will be able to resume under the current ACT Roadmap from October 29. 

Do we need to be vaccinated to play? Currently the ACT Government has said there will be no vaccine mandates in the ACT. We will adhere to government and venue guidelines on this issue.

Venues- Urban Rec works with multiple venues around Canberra, including schools, and each venue may have different rules and return guidelines. We will contact leagues individually with information regarding their venue. 

How will leagues be different? There will be no spectators at games for the foreseeable future, and teams will need to wait outside the venue until the game before has finished. Urban Rec will also maintain all of our pre-lockdown covid processes. Mandatory QR Code check-ins, Sanitiser, Ball wash etc. 

I was playing with Urban Rec when we went into lockdown, what is happening to my games? If you were a current and participating member, your games will be scheduled to resume from Oct 29. Check your member dashboard to see if your games are rescheduled. 

I live in NSW but play in ACT can I Play? Check Government guidelines. We understand our region bubble will be open by the 29th but NSW may have different hot spot rules. When we have a definitive answer on this we will post it here. 

I was not playing previously, but I would like to start - Great! We have new leagues starting in November and there will be opportunities to join existing leagues where capacity allows us to get as many eligible members playing sport in a safe and social environment. 

Any questions please contact- [email protected]

Update 15.9.21

The ACT Government has extended our lockdown until 15/10/21. Our community is doing an amazing job at getting vaccinated and we had hoped for more positive news and a roadmap. As an organisation, we had hoped we would be able to provide more clarity on our pathway back to sport after the lockdown. 

Urban Rec Canberra's first priority is keeping our amazing employees safe and making sure they have a job to come back to when restrictions ease. 

Our second priority is making sure everyone who has registered and is playing in a current season is able to finish their season in a covid-safe environment. 

Here at Urban Rec we have been working hard on some amazing NEW experiences to keep you socially engaged, entertained and having fun with your team over this lockdown as well as opening up our spring/Summer leagues to give you something to look forward to.

We know this lockdown has affected all of us, we can’t control the actions or steps that are taken by the Government, so we will continue to lobby for the safe return of sport as soon as possible. We will keep this blog updated as soon as we know more. If you have any questions regarding your league, our refund policy or need any extra information, please send us an email [email protected]

We really appreciate all your understanding, commitment, and patience while we navigate this difficult time.

 

Update 6.9.21

We’ve been missing you over the past month and can’t wait to get back into social sport. Currently we’ve missed 5 weeks of leagues, schedules have been updated and venues permitting we are ready to be back on the courts and fields from September 17. If you are currently playing or registered in a winter season your season will restart as soon as we get permission to play. You can keep up to date with the current public health orders here. 

Prior to the current Covid situation we were busy planning an epic spring. We have new venues, new leagues and heaps of fun events ready to go. We’ve done our best to guess when we will be able to start and all these leagues are now open for registration. We recommend you pay a deposit to secure your spot and go in the draw to win a BOAT at launch on a launch. 

We may be locked up at home, but we have plenty on to give you something fun to do: 

STEPTEMBER - The one thing we can do in lockdown, is go for a walk (mask on of course). Take advantage of that and join the UR HQ Team for steptember! Keep those legs moving whilst also raising money for Cerebral Palsy at the same time. Its honestly a win-win, lets be honest. Find out more here. 

E-LEAGUES - Most of us are getting alot more quality time with our Xbox's & Playstations these days, so why not keep your social competitive side alive and play with other Urban Reccers? We have you covered, join our eLeagues League for the chance to still get some bragging rights over your friends. All the info is here. 

TRIVIA - Missing your Trivia Nights and exploding with the urge to blurt out some random general knowledge at someone other than your dog? Same. Jump onto our Friday Night Trivia nights, get your team together and show the room (zoom room) exactly how much you know about hot dog eating contests in the USA. Find out more here. 

Our office has currently moved to skeleton hours, we are working from home of course. The best way to contact us is via [email protected]. 

This is an ever changing situation, Canberra seems to be doing a really great job of staying home and all our health workers are doing an amazing job. We are planning and ready to go, for a September 17 release from lockdown but if that does change we will keep you updated. 

Donald, Leish, David & the team at Urban Rec Canberra 

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The FUN-DAMENTALS of social sport

June 3, 2021 - 3 years ago

Urban Rec prides itself on being the most social, sports club in Canberra, meaning there are a few things that separate us from the rest, more competitive sports leagues. These 5 FUN-damentals are what keep Urban Rec and social sport social, fun & accessible to everyone.

PLAY TO HAVE FUN, NOT TO WIN! Now, this is pretty self-explanatory but for the people in the back, do not turn up with the mindset you are there to smash your opposition on the scoreboard. DO turn up with the mindset that you are going to smash your opposition with friendly (reciprocated) banter and good times.

BE THE TEAM YOU WANT TO PLAY AGAINST! Again, say it out loud! If you want to rock up and play against a team that is always smiling, laughing, having fun and not taking the sport too seriously (you should because it is social sport) then be that team for everyone else.

DON’T TAKE SOCIAL SPORT, OR YOURSELF, TOO SERIOUSLY! Have fun with the game, have fun with your team, have fun with your opposition & have fun with your host! Miss a shot? Laugh it off. Didn’t get an intercept? Ahh well. The other team learning? Yeah cool, lets help them! It is social sport people, have fun with it.

LEARN THE ART OF LETTING THINGS GO! Urban Rec are welcoming to all levels, beginners to experts (actual experts or self-proclaimed experts). If your opposition is learning, let them learn, you were learning once too. If someone accidently steps out and it wasn’t called, yeah cool, whatever, let the game flow. This goes hand in hand with number 3, it is just sport, let it go and get on with it with a smile on your face.

REMEMBER, YOUR HOSTS HAVE FEELINGS TOO! BOOM, the most important FUN-damental! Your hosts are there to facilitate the FUN not call you for every single rule and not to be yelled at or argued with. They are there to have fun with the teams, a fun way to be around sport and people, not to have people tell them they are not ‘umpiring’ or ‘reffing’ enough. They are not refs, they are not umpires, they are hosts, hosting the Urban Rec party each week!

Just a few reminders for the social sport world, simple, easy and effective. Be fun people, have fun, make friends, laugh, enjoy yourself! That is what Urban Rec is all about, the good times, good mates & good beats.

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The Urban Rec Winter Series

May 10, 2021 - 3 years ago

It’s starting to get colder, you’re thinking it’s time to lock in that space on the couch a hibernate away until the spring. Na, it’s time to get out with your mates, warm up, get social and have some fun. We want to give you something to help you warm up this winter so we’re bringing you the Winter series. A series of fun, social Friday night sports tournaments for Urban Rec Members.

Street Netball

The First of the Urban Rec Winter Series tournaments is Street Netball (But indoors because we know you want to be indoors). If you love your Netball you’re gonna love street Netball, It’s 5-aside, half court, no positions, super fast with 3 pointers.  If you play in our Fast 5 or our 7s netball leagues you’re gonna love pitting your skills against teams from all 5 of our netball leagues, hanging out with your favourite hosts and have a good time.

Street Netball will be held on Friday 18th June. Team numbers are extremely limited and only open to Urban Rec members until May 26. Then if not sold out we will open up to the public.

This tournament is mixed a requires 1 of either gender on the court at all times.

Here is a link to find out more

Golden Goal Soccer

The Second of our Urban Rec Winter Series tournaments is our Golden Goal Soccer Tournament. The first team to score wins. This ensures for fun, quick, and lively games. Every team plays minimum of 7 games. The top 2 teams at the end play a final where the first to score two goals wins! If you play in our Street Soccer Mondays, Outdoor Soccer Tuesdays or Indoors you’re gonna love pitting your skills against teams from all 4 of our soccer leagues, hanging out with your favourite hosts and have a good time.

 Golden Goal Soccer will be held on Friday 9th July. Team numbers are extremely limited and only open to Urban Rec members until May 26. Then if not sold out we will open up to the public.

This tournament is mixed 5-aside and requires 2 of either gender on the court at all times.

Here is a link to find out more

3x3 Basketball

The Third and last of the Urban Rec Winter Series tournaments is our Basketball 3x3. Covid put a shutdown to our 2020 3x3 tourney so we are really pumped for this one. If you play in the big leagues at Merici on Thursday night or you love the Street Ball on Tuesdays this 3x3 Tournament will be your chance to play against teams from all 7 of our basketball leagues, hang out with your favourite hosts and have a good time.

The 3x3 Tournament will be held on Friday 16th July. You can choose from 2 Divisions, team numbers are extremely limited and only open to Urban Rec members until May 26. Then if not sold out we will open up to the public.

This tournament is mixed a requires 1 of either gender on the court at all times.  

Here is a link to find out more

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Mates Day

May 3, 2021 - 3 years ago

MATES DAY!

Urban Rec is all about connecting people through sport. Our individual teams are THE BEST way to make new mates in this city. This week, we wanna celebrate all the NEW MATES you guys have met through playing with Urban Rec!!

Here’s how individual teams work. Urban Rec opens individual teams into most of our leagues before the season begins. On a first come, first serve basis teams fill up with like-minded, fun-loving individuals. Once the team is full, it gets entered the league. There are TONS of member perks that come as part of being and UR member as well as playing in an individual team.

Most of our individual teams end up developing their own identities and become part of the Urban Rec family.  It is a great way to meet some people, have some fun and get active.

See the individual FAQ’s 

So, it’s Mates Day this Saturday (May 8) – and we wanna see you guys getting together with your mates from Urban Rec! This week, if you and your teammates get together for some food or a bevvy, tag us (@urbanreccanberra) – and #matesday and you and your mate could be playing a season on us. That simple. #matesday our favourite matesday post will get Indy registrations on us. 

Share the love for #matesday and if you can’t see your mates face to face, call someone and tell them. “I love you mate”.  

Don’t take our word for it… Here’s Claire. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 days ago

Hands down the best way to meet new friends through signing up as an individual and joining any team/league. Absolute legends that run the show and awesome people playing in every comp. Down to earth people who are also down for the pub! What else could you want from social sport! 😄⭐️

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Netball Etiquette

February 17, 2021 - 3 years ago

Urban Rec’s point of difference from almost all other sport providers, is that we care about the experience had by absolutely everyone involved within our leagues, including our staff.

As with all Urban Rec leagues, we do not tolerate dickheads. We are inclusive, and welcome all levels of ability, and as a consequence – we are pretty tough on any team or player who goes against our culture. 

To make things super clear, we have compiled a list of Urban Rec Netball player etiquette. Keep these points in mind, when playing in any of our competitions. It’s the Urban Rec way… 

DON’T

• Defend your opposing player face to face outside the goal circle, it's an old school netball tactic an it's way too intense for social netball.
• When defending a shot, if you lose balance, don’t use this as an opportunity to intimidate the shot. 
• Go for a pass like it's an AFL catch, if there is contact on a pass/catch like this, our Event Hosts will always award posession to the attacking team.
• If you are the team who hit the ball out of play, be the team to collect it. Doesn’t matter if it’s not your throw in. 
• Trash talk the opposition or your own team! Goes without saying. Don’t be a dick.  
• Make calls or question a call of one of our hosts – This creates a shitty atmosphere and ruins our staff members evening and other players evenings. Wait till quarter time and have an adult conversation about your concerns. 
• Don’t make passive aggressive calls under your breath, talk to your host at quarter time. 
• Be way too competitive that it could be mistaken as aggression.

DO’s 

• Always put the enjoyment and respect of your opponents, ahead of your desire to win.
• Remember your Event Host is not a referee.  
• Socialise with other teams, they are not the enemy.
• Be honest – if you stepped, or contacted a player by accident, step out of play and let the opponent take a pass.
• Support and coach players that seem to be struggling.
• Play to the ability of your opposition, give beginner players and extra second, but compete when you see a player who knows the game/rules well. 
• Win and lose graciously – its fine to be good and its fine to win, but don’t enjoy dominating a team so bad that it spoils their game (points for and against is NEVER used in our standings). Same goes when you are on the losing side, its fine to lose and it really doesn’t matter if you’ve lost so do so with a smile on your face, you can still have a good time surrounded by mates.
• Cheer for the opposition if they pull off something spectacular.
• Always shake your oppositions hands

Do you play in our Netball leagues? Do you think we have missed something? Is there any behaviour or bad etiquette you would like to see abolished? Send us a message. [email protected] or contact your League Manager.

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