THE Western Border Netball Association has confirmed it will remain in the waiting game and hold off on a cancellation to its season, following the withdrawal of the Mid South East netball competition this week due to COVID-19.
After meetings with Netball SA via zoom, the state’s netball associations were given the green light on training under strict protocols as of Monday.
However, with plenty of rules to abide by and forms to complete before hitting the courts, the WBNA decided to use this week to put practices in order, with a return pencilled in for May 25.
“As an association we met with the (football) board on Monday night just to have a discussion about football and netball and see how we were all travelling,” WBNA president Jo Gibbs said.
“We have notified all our clubs of what is required to resume training and suggested that all be completed so they can resume from Monday, May 25.
“There is some education that needs to be done and a bit of paperwork which needs to be filled out.
“Clubs also need to appoint COVID-19 officers for each team and make sure their hygiene practices are in place and schedule all their trainings.”
Sessions are to be non-contact at this stage, with 10 players permitted on each court, plus a coach.
“Those groups must remain the same – so if you train with a group this week, you cannot swap over to another group next week,” Gibbs said.
Gibbs said after a prolonged break, the return of training is a positive step forward.
“I think for people’s well-being it will be great for teams to get back together,” she said.
Despite permission granted to train as of next week, the decision is up to the clubs.
“We have certainly said if clubs choose not to train, that is okay,” Gibbs said.
With the future of Western Border football and netball still locked in a tedious waiting game, Gibbs said whatever the fate of the competition is, it will be a unanimous decision between both committees.
“Never before do I think it has been more important for the football league and netball association to work together,” she said.
“If the decision is made and Saturday games cannot resume, then that will be made by both groups and we will support each other with
that.
“I think we have a good working relationship with the football league, we have a position on the board and we work together in organising certain aspects of the season.
“If the football league said tomorrow that is it, it is over, then it is over for all of us.
“If it is going ahead, then I would like to think we are all going ahead.”
