Queensland junior sporting clubs hold onto to rego fees, saying they need them to survive

Many grassroots sporting clubs will be forced to fold if they agree to refund this year’s registration fees to frustrated families stuck at home due to self isolation policies.

Petelo Bollinger, 7, Jaydan Pereia, 7, Tamaine Enkera-Raveora, 7, Kenzington de la Cruz-Enkera, 8, from the Brothers Saint Brendan’s Rugby League Club.

Footy clubs throughout Queensland are hanging on to registration fees as they fight for survival and push to play in 2020.

The Sunday Mail has canvassed a range of grassroots sports competitions across the state which have been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Community rugby league, union, soccer and Australian rules seasons have all been suspended as the nation counters an unprecedented health crisis.

Each sport is hopeful of social distancing and mass gathering restrictions easing in the coming months, allowing them to complete some form of competition season.

Petelo Bollinger, 7, Jaydan Pereia, 7, Tamaine Enkera-Raveora, 7, Kenzington de la Cruz-Enkera, 8, from the Brothers Saint Brendan’s Rugby League Club.

Most grassroots clubs and associations run on lean budgets, relying on volunteers, grants, sponsorship and membership fees to stay afloat.

But with junior fees costing upwards of $400 per child, families face being left out-of-pocket significantly if their kids don’t get to play.

Queensland Rugby League chairman Bruce Hatcher said the league was yet to put a line through 2020 and refunding fees now would send clubs broke.

“We made the decision to review (fees) at a time where there is a little bit more stability, we are looking at being fair and reasonable,” he said.

“We will look at doing something towards reducing the fees next year for example.

“The competitions are run and funded to a great extent by fees, match-day entertainment, selling the hot dogs and drinks, local sponsorship.

QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher says many junior rugby league clubs would go broke without registration fees to cover their fixed costs. Picture: AAP

“All of those clubs have fixed costs. They incur a lot of costs early to get the things up and going.

“I don’t think it’s a sensible option to send a whole lot of money back and cause a lot of clubs to fall by the wayside.

“In many cases it is a hand-to-mouth existence from season to season. What you don’t want is clubs falling over and people losing interest and not being able to get it going again.

“Those issues have to be considered without writing a cheque out and saying ‘well we’ve now got 50 clubs that are broke’.

“We haven’t called it off for the year. If you give the go-ahead for community rugby league to start up again it will be quite easy to get it going.”

Brisbane’s Downey Park Netball Association, the state’s largest, has decided to refund $65 each to more than 4000 players because the winter season has been called off with no room to reschedule.

“Because our courts do flood, we have a sinking fund and we felt it the right thing to do for our community while individual clubs will decide on the rest of the registration fee,” DPNA president Michelle Prado said.

Downey Park Netball Association has part-refunded registration fees after their season was cancelled. Picture: AAP

The Queensland Rugby Union has extended its tentative community rugby season suspension from May 1 to June 1.

Junior competitions could play two games a week in a condensed season and QRU chief David Hanham said the code was hoping to play this year.

“The QRU is recommending to clubs that participant registrations remain active while the community rugby season is suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

“The QRU and its affiliate associations remain committed to recommencing grassroots rugby competitions this year, pending advice from government agencies and Rugby Australia.

“Queensland Rugby Union is committed to our goal of ensuring the safety and financial viability of all affiliated clubs in the state.”

Football Queensland has suspended soccer seasons until at least July 1, with the hope of playing a shorter season finishing in late November.

QRU boss David Hanham says he is hopeful grassroots rugby can be played this year. Picture Brendan Hertel

“We can work towards the establishment of a sanctioned playing window alongside the format and delivery of competitions to commence in Queensland from July 2020, reassuring clubs of our determination to deliver a competition this season,” said FQ chief Robert Cavalluci.

“As part of our strategic planning for recovery, FQ has been undertaking a detailed and comprehensive review of state-wide football competitions including league structures for 2021 and beyond.

“We will use this temporary suspension period as an opportunity to consult with our football community so the game can come back in a stronger position.”

Football Queensland’s cut of a junior player’s annual fee is $38.

“This fee supports the delivery of the game across Queensland through insurance coverage for players, coaches and referees alongside competition planning, grassroots coaching development, administration, referee training and support,” FQ chief executive Robert Cavallucci said.

The local Aussie Rules competition is yet to start.

Remaining junior fees collected by clubs and zones are subject to “each organisation’s own independent refund policies”.

“Any other fees a participant may have been charged are not related to Football Queensland or the services it provides,” Cavallucci said.

He said the suspension of football statewide until June 30 was a “temporary measure” and that FQ hoped to deliver a competition window from July 1.

While the elite AFL has been suspended indefinitely, the local Australian rules season is yet to start.

AFL Queensland chief Dean Warren said the association was still hopeful that they will be able to get competitions up and running in 2020, but AFLQ would do the “right thing” by its participants if not.