Camanachd Association presents its key priorities for enabling shinty return

The statement was released prior to an announcement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Tuesday, in which she said the reopening reopening of Scotland's economy – including shops, bars, restaurants, gyms and hairdressers - was expected to start in the last week of April.

She said there would be a "progressive easing" of restrictions before then, with four people from two households allowed to meet outdoors from March 15.

However, unlike UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’ who said on Monday that thousands of spectators could be back in English sports stadiums by mid-May as part of his overall lockdown easing statement, Sturgeon’s only reference to sport came when she said that from March 15, she hoped that outdoors non contact group sports for 12 to 17-year-olds would restart.

The Camanachd Association’s guide for 2021 and beyond the pandemic includes Priority One, Restarting Shinty: “Covid guidance is updated regularly and we aim to ensure that we support all clubs understanding new guidance and upskilling club committees and coaches to provide safe environments to protect our sport and our members in line with government guidance.”

Priority Two, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion for all, is referred to as: “Restarting shinty with a focus on inclusion and removing barriers to participation. Providing opportunities for the whole community is what has placed shinty clubs at the heart of their communities and it will play a central role in restarting our sport.”

And for Priority Three, Safe and well organised clubs, it says: “Successfully restarting shinty will depend on clubs providing a safe, well organised and fun environment for

people to take part in our historic game. We will work to support committees to provide leadership and organisation in line with best practice and aligned to their understanding of local member and community needs.”

Shinty in Scotland was cancelled until further notice last March.