Cairns Netball preparing for July return

Cairns Netball clubs have returned to training as they prepare for a shortened season to get underway next month.

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Cairns Netball clubs have returned to training as they prepare for a shortened season to get underway next month.

Clubs trained at Cairns Netball’s Martyn St venue on Monday evening across eight separate zones, with 20 players and team staff allowed in each zone.

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Sharks's Amanda Barton looks for space in the Cairns Netball division one semii final match between the Cairns Sharks and the Cairns Leprechauns, held at the Martyn Street Sports Park, Manunda. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

Operations manager Tanya Dearns said while there were a number of boxes to tick to be able to get back on court safely, it was nice to be moving in the right direction.

“Clubs have been allocated training times based on the eight courts that we can use,” she said.

“We’ve had a meeting with all of the clubs around what our safety management plan looks like so they’re all well aware of the rules and regulations, the zones and where they can and can’t go.”

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Clubs are preparing for a return to competition next month.

“At the moment, we can’t play a game because it still has to be all non-contact,” Dearns said.

“We are bound by what the government says in terms of moving to Stage 3, but once Stage 3 is announced, looking at the roadmap and the framework that had come out earlier, that’s where they’re indicating we can start some form of competition.

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“So we are planning on that and with Stage 3, at this stage, set to start on July 10, we’ve set out a shortened, revised season starting on July 21.”

The season would wrap up in the last week of October.

“That allows players that are in year 12 to concentrate on their exams,” Dearns said.

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“We’re looking at running a shortened summer season following on from that as well. It just gives us a little bit of flexibility.”

Dearns said there was plenty of excitement at netball’s return.

“As long as we can adhere to the hygiene protocols and we don’t have any outbreaks, I think we’ll be able to see a resumption sooner rather than later,” she said.

Originally published as Cairns Netball preparing for July return