Club unable to support social events

[Pamsresearch]

Would you challenge this or have they done the right thing?

I belong to a sports club. After our last training session before Christmas the members had organised a get together in a bar (I.e. organised by the members themselves not an official club do).

The chairman has sent a message today that with the new variant, the club is unable to support the event and he hopes we understand.

So, first it's not his place to cancel, it's not a club event?

Even if it was, there's no guidance from government or the sports' governing body to day this couldn't go ahead.

OTOH we are been advised to be cautious so maybe it's the right call?

My view is that attendance would have been fairly low as people made their own risk assessments, but that it's heavy handed to cancel it . I suspect that some members will meet up anyway which will lead to secrecy/cliqueiness and bad feeling.

The chair doesn't get to cancel something that isn't club organised. He doesn't have to attend and people can make their own minds up. I wouldn't attend an indoor event at the moment, although I am happy to go to training outside. Just let those who want to attend get on with it.

But he's not cancelling it is he? If the wording is 'the Club is not supporting the event' maybe it is to make it clear that it is not an official event. Many clubs and voluntary organisations have to do risk assessments before the opening of an envelope to avoid any future comeback so that's probably why he has stated that. I am on the committee of a couple of organisations and we are constantly asked 'what's our policy' on various issues, mainly covid related at the moment, of course it's easier if people take responsibility for their own choices but many people seem incapable of doing that.

Could be he's thinking of the health and safety of staff behind the bar, given no one will be wearing a mask if drinking (and hasn't highlighted this as a reason).

He's distancing the club from any potential outbreak. If you meet up and someone becomes unwell, it's going to look really bad on them, even if it's an unofficial event.

You're free to make your own choice, but they're being sensible in advising it's not a great idea.