With so many of the nation’s sporting teams relocated to Queensland, you would be forgiven for thinking there’s one set of COVID-19 rules for sports people and another for the rest of us.

Because basically, you’d be right — but rest assured, that’s a good thing.

A majority of AFL teams remain scattered across the Sunshine State, while all of Netball Australia’s teams have made Queensland home.

The NRL is split across New South Wales and Queensland.

Many people have expressed confusion and concern about how this can be made to work safely.

But a lot of work has been underway behind the scenes to ensure the players, staff and officials can train, play and travel while limiting their exposure to COVID-19.

Here’s a breakdown of what their coronavirus bubbles mean and what they’re allowed to do.

What exactly is the bubble?

Each code has a set of guidelines thoroughly negotiated with Queensland’s Chief Health Officer (CHO) Jeannette Young.

The bubble refers to a designated set of players, coaches, staff and officials who are subject to tightened restrictions as they travel, train and make their way through the competition, so they don’t expose any possible infection to the rest of the community.

Those restrictions are generally tighter than the Queensland CHO’s directions for the public.

Those outside the bubble are limited in the way they can interact with those inside the bubble.

The restrictions also vary from state to state.

What can they do day to day?

Everyone in the NRL bubble must complete daily health assessments via an app.

On top of that, their households are checked to make sure they’re following the health protocols.

Designated biosecurity liaison officers assist with the protocols in a bid to ensure they’re followed.

So long as they haven’t come back from a coronavirus hotspot, restrictions have been loosened and they’re allowed to go about a fair bit of normal day-to-day activity.

There are similar rules in place for AFL teams that came to Queensland and have come out of lockdown in recent weeks.

They’re allowed to get takeaway coffees or food, but can’t sit in a restaurant. They’re allowed to do essential shopping outside of a large shopping centre.

Netballers are expected to minimise their exposure to busy public areas, limit indoor gatherings to 10 and limit travel to team vehicles.

What about matches?

Travel is one of the trickiest issues, with journey between New South Wales and Queensland the greatest concern.

For interstate matches, those in the bubbles fly in and out on match days and generally don’t have any contact with the public on those days.

Venues typically have designated clean zones and venue zones.

A clean zone is sanitised and locked down ahead of matches and is only open to squad members in the bubble and a few other essential staff.

Everyone entering the clean zone is temperature-tested and will be refused entry if a temperature above a nominated level is recorded.

What about partners?

In general, partners of players must abide by the same rules, sticking to social distancing rules and limiting contact outside the bubble.

Family members of AFL players who joined them in Queensland are meant to limit their exposure to busy public areas and aren’t even allowed to sunbake.

How is it enforced?

If a bubble member breaches a guideline, it’s investigated by the overarching body of the code, but police can investigate if there’s suspicion they’ve also breached the CHO’s guidelines.

If no state laws have been breached, the behaviour could still be in breach of the code’s guidelines and the person is fined if that’s the case.