Focus on junior registrations ahead winter sport in SA: The sports, age groups looking strong in 2021

Junior sporting codes are gearing up for the first siren of a new season after a challenging 2020 – and new registration records are being set.

Growing cohort: These U7s from Mitcham Hawks Football Club are among a growing number of kids registered for the SANFL U7 competition, excited ahead of their first official season. Picture: Morgan Sette

A month out from the first siren sounding at junior football across the state, registrations are on par with before COVID-19 struck, SANFL officials say.

SANFL Juniors Manager Geoff Riddle said it was pleasing to see the bounce back with almost 11,000 juniors registered for the 2021 season so far – almost level with the same time in 2019.

“Participation this year is looking strong,” he said. “(We’ve) almost 730 teams nominated already – and more (registrations) expected over the coming weeks before the season kicks off on the Anzac weekend.

“This is a great result and a really positive sign for the season ahead given the challenging environment for community sport last year due to COVID-19.”

Mr Riddle paid tribute those who had worked hard – including coaches and club volunteers – to make a 12-round season a reality.

“We know 2020 was tough but thanks to everyone … (including) SA Health for recognising the importance of sport for kids’ physical and mental wellbeing,” he said.

Mr Riddle said there had been a spike in registrations of junior girls.

“SANFL Juniors girls are more than 35 per cent higher than at the same time in 2019,” he said.

The non-contact entry level U7s competition is continuing to gain popularity, also, with a record 67 teams nominated in 2021.

Regionally, 9,500 junior participants (under 18s) across 24 leagues are currently registered to play, compared to 10,250 at the same time in 2019.

However, officials say they are hopeful, with continued support for volunteers at regional leagues and clubs, state-wide participation will return to 2019 levels.

SANFL Juniors is the biggest junior competition in the nation, catering for boys and girls from under 7s through to under 17.5 years at more than 50 metropolitan community clubs.

At Mitcham Hawks an excited group of U7s is counting down the days until the season starts.

“They get to suit up in club colours for the first time … they are excited to be able to emulate their heroes,” Coach Brad Gregory said of his squad of 15, including son Baxter, 6.

“I think their parents and grandparents are just as excited.”

There are positive signs of a healthy return to normality in other junior sports too.

Baseball SA’s Rowena Trevaskis said junior registrations for the 2020/2021 season were up on 2019/2020 by more than 400, having swelled from 3466 to 3886.

Ms Trevaskis said the boost was driven by an almost doubling of regional registrations from 448 in 2019/2020 to 786 this season, explained in part by the reformation of the Whyalla Baseball League in the wake of COVID.

“Tballers are also up significantly this season … it could be due to clubs reinvigorating their Tball programs, providing different levels of skill development and modified games,” she said.

The competition has also been extended to include younger players as well, boosting participation.

“Five years ago, Tball started with 7 to 9 year olds but now we have an Under 9 comp in which Tballers as young as 3 are playing,” Ms Trevaskis said.

Netball SA officials are also feeling hopeful, although the full picture won’t be known until the end of May.

“We are tracking better than last year given we’re almost exactly a year on from when COVID-19 first hit here in SA,” a spokeswoman said.

“This year’s numbers so far is a more ‘normal’ figure for this time of year, in comparison to the lower figure you can see below for this time last year.”

Between January 1 and March 23 this year, 16,807 players have registered compared to

10,290 players during the same period in 2020.

#SANFL junior registrations are still open for the 2021 season via the SANFL website.

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