Panthers keep in shape amidst coronavirus crisis

THE Panthers are taking to Instagram to keep fit ahead of their postponse Ruby Series season.

KEEPING UP: Ada McKenzie is one of a number of Panthers players that have shared their home workouts on social media. Picture: File

NETBALL: Like just about every other sport, netball is on the sidelines waiting for the coronavirus situation to pass.

The Darling Downs Panthers aren’t sitting on their hands and sitting around however.

The squad is making full use of technology and the powers of social media to not only stay connected, but keep fit and active in a time when staying fit is difficult.

Through their Instagram cl page (@darlingdownsnetball), players are sharing their home workouts, incorporating strength, ballwork and endurance among others.

“The girls have been really good on our social media,” coach Bec Stower said.

“On our Instagram each have a turn of putting something up from the home program.

“It’s good to keep the younger ones engaged. We’ve got a really good group.”

The tight-knit group has also been using the power of connectivity to help each through a challenging period.

Stower said the squad is managing to keep spirits high despite hardships being experienced.

“A couple of the girls have been stood down from work and are struggling a bit mentally,” she said.

“Just to have something there they can focus on and look towards is helpful.

“They’re a group of like-minded people and they’re doing a great job to keep connected.

“We’ve got a group chat going which is always good. The girls are full of personality.”

The Panthers were in the opening stages of their pre-season when the full effects of the coronavirus situation were felt around the sporting landscape.

“We had only been into it for a couple of weeks,” Stower said.

“We kicked off with our team building day and utilised some guys out at the Cabarlah Army Barracks which was really positive.

“Then we had two weeks of on court and fitness testing before we were told that this was it.”

As it stands, the latest advice from Netball Queensland has postponed the start of the Ruby Series until at least October.

Stower said that while it is obviously disappointing with the circumstances surrounding the decision, it is a positive that the season hasn’t been ruled out at this stage.

“Not much is happening at the moment with everyone stood down until at least July 1,” she said.

“The season is scheduled to start in October and hopefully everything will be settled down by then.

“We can start back training on July 1 if everything pants out well.

“At the moment the girls are doing home programs twice a week. The season is still a long way away, but we don’t want to lose too much of what they’ve gained.

”Everyone is disappointed, but we’re also happy that we’ve been given a bit of a lifeline with our season.

“A lot of sports have been cancelled and there is no light at the end of the tunnel, whereas with this lifeline there is some light.”

Netball Queensland moved to suspend all netball activities across all levels until June 30.

State age championships have been pushed back until the end of September, and the preliminary rounds of the schoolgirl Vicki Wilson Cup have been scrapped.

A revised draw will be released once completed by officials.

Originally published as