Push to kick off sports in SA for health and wellbeing
There are growing calls to bring back sport as quickly as possible in SA, for both players and spectators. And some have already restarted.
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Community leaders have called for sport to be brought back as soon as possible for the health and wellbeing of the young and old.
As governments around the country determine the best way to get players back competing, South Australia’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Helen Connolly, has stressed the importance of sport.
“It is so important for our long-term physical and mental health that they look at sports and getting them back as quickly as they can,” she said.
Ms Connolly said sport had many benefits.
“There is the fun element, the mateship, it is the practice sessions, it is having the same uniform, it is all the stuff that gives you that sense of belonging,” she said.
“Competition rivalry and success are really important for kids.
“Sport gives you the framework to push the limits and know your boundaries and how you handle failure and success.”
The Sunday Mail today launches Support Our Clubs, a series which aims to support our sporting codes and clubs as they emerge from lockdown and to show how much they mean to our cities, towns, regions and communities.
With the return of sport at both elite and community level set to be determined by the national Cabinet next Friday, the series, which starts today and will run each day in The Advertiser and online, will ask key questions including what clubs will need to get back on their feet, what are the key challenges they face and what communities can do to support them in this, their hour of need.
Ms Connolly said supporting sport was also important.
“Belonging to something bigger than you and your family is really important in the development of kids,” she said.
“For kids that are vulnerable or don’t get to participate too much – because of a disability, for example – they still enjoy watching.”
The importance of sport was echoed by Jane Mussared, chief executive of the Council on the Ageing in SA.
“Physical activity is really important. A lot of people choose to do that in very social circumstances, and they’re missing that dreadfully,” she said.
“Lots of the wisdom around sport is combining it with a ‘tribe’ who you can socialise with afterwards.”
Ms Mussared said sport was also beneficial for those who may not be playing.
“We know older people are big volunteers in sport,” she said.
“They do lots of driving, watching and supporting for grandchildren. So, there is a real craving to return to those opportunities, to contribute, to have purpose, and to get some daily routine back.”
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Jaime Cleland, senior lecturer in sport and management at Uni SA, said: “In terms of the national mood, I think sport returning will be a positive.
“Yes, there will be people concerned about the situation and sport returning without a vaccine, but it will give people such a positive lift in their lives.
“It’ll give people something to talk about outside of the day-to-day pandemic stuff. People might be able to catch up in small groups and watch games together and connect.”
Premier Steven Marshall urged sporting groups to follow Bowls SA, which last week announced a return to competition – with caveats.
“As long as you are not in groups of more than 10, there are actually very few restrictions in regards to sport in SA,” he said.
“It is going to eliminate some sports when there’s more than 10 people, but it’s not going to stop golf or tennis.
“There are a lot of sports that can be played while these restrictions are in place.”
Return to their field of dreams in sight
Rory Sloane and Tom Jonas are dreaming of playing a Showdown in front of a packed house at Adelaide Oval again.
“I’d love to get back to putting smiles on our fans faces at the oval,” Crows captain Sloane said. “At some stage, we'll have a Showdown again at Adelaide Oval, there will be 50,000 people there, and it will be absolutely incredible.’’
But it’s a two-way street, with Sloane calling on fans to back the club through the shutdown.
“Our fans’ support means everything to us,’’ he said. “Any sporting club, whether it’s Adelaide or any local club, won’t make it through these sort of tough times without their supporters and people who make up the clubs.” Power skipper Jonas echoed Sloane’s thoughts.
“The next Showdown in front of fans will be massive, like the first Showdown at Adelaide Oval all over again,” he said. “The build-up and hype will be incredible.”
Jonas said Port was “relying on our people’’ to get through.
“Port Adelaide has always been a community club, and we rely on our people, represent our people and are proud of our heritage,’’ he said.
“We understand they’ve gone through some really tough times, and we appreciate those who have stayed on board (with memberships) and continued to support us.
“We’re also very understanding of those who are suffering and have had to have membership refunds.”
The financial cost of the COVID-19 pandemic on AFL clubs is yet to be tallied, but early estimates put loss of revenue at between $8 million and $15 million.
This is in addition to clubs having to find up to $5 million in savings.
The Crows are hoping to get through as an “unassisted” club and not draw down on AFL funds by negotiating a loan with Bendigo Bank.
Port, which will have to rely on AFL funds, is reassessing its China experiment that looked set to bear fruit.
Both clubs have stood down most of their employees, with some being retrenched.
But fans are so far standing by their clubs, with few requests for refunds from members and several calls to upgrade existing memberships, purchase new ones or make another contribution to the club.
Sloane and Jonas are confident AFL games – shut down after Round 1 – will be back this season, whether as quarantine hubs or in a fly in, fly out scenario.
“I’m confident it will return,’’ Sloane said.
“What that initially looks like, I’m not sure, but I certainly look forward to playing again as I'm sure our fans and all football supporters are.’’
Matches will be spectator-free for a while but the two skippers hope fans will be allowed into matches in the back half of the season.
Jonas tips the restart at late June or early July with a 17-round season.
“The boys can’t wait to get out there again,’’ he said.
Support Our Clubs
The Sunday Mail today launches Support Our Clubs, a series which aims to support our sporting codes and clubs as they emerge from lockdown and to show how much they mean to our cities, towns, regions and communities.
With the return of sport at both elite and community level set to be determined by the national Cabinet next Friday, the series, which starts today and will run each day in The Advertiser, will ask key questions including what clubs will need to get back on their feet, what are the key challenges they face and what communities can do to support them in this, their hour of need?