Easing lockdown restrictions little relief for Victoria’s indoor sporting bodies
As footy training resumes across the state, confusion is reigning within other sporting bodies who are working tirelessly to get their players back into action. Here’s why they’re still in limbo.
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Confusion reigns among some Victorian sporting bodies who are working tirelessly to get their players back into action.
While footy and soccer clubs across the state have been able to start limited non-contact training sessions in groups of 10, others are no closer to answers about a return to play date.
For sports such as basketball — which operates indoors and inevitably breaks social distancing — it remains unclear when clubs can bounce back into action.
“We have been left in the lurch because of the uniqueness of the sport,” Altona Pirates Basketball Club President Sam Compagnino said.
“We are waiting to get the green light to play. It has been tricky.
“There’s a level of boredom, kids want to sink their teeth into it.”
Basketballer Tim Le Brocque, 11, says he “missed basketball a lot” and he couldn’t wait to get back into it.
“It would be much more fun than what it is at the moment.”
Indoor sports such as gymnastics will be able to resume with a maximum of 20 people per space on June 22.
Interim CEO of Gymnastics Victoria Alan MacKinnon said it was “pleasing” for their 63,000 members but clarity was needed about the future.
“There is no real clear picture if current rules are for two weeks or six months,” he said.
“We want a bit more clarity about what you count as ‘adequate space’. We need more information.”
Indoor sporting centres which rely heavily on organised games are still waiting for directives on contact sport, which has not yet been set by the government.
“You can’t social distance if you are playing contact sport,” Director of Box Hill Action Sport Michael McLeod said.
“We are getting calls from patrons anxious as to when they can start playing sport again.”
While soccer clubs have kicked off training in groups of 10, they face bigger challenges ahead.
“Coaches are having to get creative, keeping kids engaged in a training session can be tough,” Williamstown soccer club secretary Henrik Nielsen said.
“We are not allowed any contact between the kids, we’ll be doing dribbling and basic skills.
The novelty of simple drills, like passing to each other, can wear out quickly.”
The club has been forced to have stagger training from three nights to smaller groups over six nights a week in order to obey requirements.
Minister Community Sport Ros Spence said the government had given $40 million in community sporting grants to help clubs operate during the pandemic.
“Future decisions regarding crowds and a return to competitive team sport will be made in conjunction with the Victorian Chief Health Officer,” she said.
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