Local netball club coaches hope a Premier League season can still get underway in 2020
Premier League netball coaches are remaining optimistic the season will get underway later in the year and are doing everything to give their players as much support as possible.
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Local netball coaches are optimistic there will still be a Premier League season this year despite the state’s governing body yet to formally decide on a start date.
Clubs were originally set to begin their 2020 top tier netball campaign in mid-May.
But as the state grapples with the coronavirus pandemic the start date looks increasingly unlikely.
Teams have stopped training together after Netball SA Stadium was forced to shut this week due to the Federal Government’s decision to close indoor sports centres indefinitely.
Contax coach Leanne Eichler said, like sport all over the country, the Premier League was in a “holding pattern”.
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“I believe they are still wanting to get a season up and running,” Eichler said.
“But what it will look like and how it will run, that’s the unknown.
“I think it’s important to stay optimistic.
“It’s important to keep the morale up and positivity going that ‘yes’ we will get on to the netball court and have some sort of season this year.”
Jackie Blyth is now coaching Tango after nine years at the helm of Garville’s top tier side.
Blyth said it was disappointing but hoped the measures to pause sport would help reduce the virus spreading.
“I guess they (Netball SA) are taking care of all the competitions that were supposed to start earlier than us,” Blyth said.
“I’m thinking we won’t start until after June.
“I’d like to think there will be a season, though, because the girls have done a lot of work up to this point.
“But this is only a game.”
Picture: Sports in Focus
Newton Jaguars coach Jim Haldane also hoped the campaign could begin later in the year.
“As a group, we were training outdoors but now I’ve suspended that until the end of April,” Haldane said.
“My concern at the moment is for the girls’ wellbeing and mental health, it is a thought time for everyone.
“I think sport is good for their mental wellbeing so we are encouraging our players to keep up their training.
“I’m confident we will get something, even in September, we still have time to get a season in by playing either a condensed season or two games a week instead of one.”
A Netball SA statement said the closure of the indoor stadium would “undoubtably have an impact on the Premier League which (would not) commence until later in the year”.