SPORTS ovals, courts and pitches around the world have been emptied due to the coronavirus pandemic and the Limestone Coast Football Association has entered hibernation during this quiet period.
Of all the clubs, there was probably none more eager to start its 2020 campaign than Blue Lake.
Challenging does not begin to describe the Rangers’ 2019 season, as player losses and injury plagued the senior teams.
With no Under 17 side and a single playing squad for both the A Grade and Reserves, it was a battle to even finish the season.
Now, with the hopeful reintroduction of an Under 17 team, along with a new senior coach in Sergio Cesaro, Blue Lake was ready to put last year behind it and take a positive step forward.
However, that goal has been put on hold until at least May 31 and Blue Lake Soccer Club president Stuart Cooper said “the club has come to a complete halt”.
Since the cancellation of the Steeline Cup and postponement of all club activities – including training – further government restrictions have also hindered the ability to socialise outside of the club.
As a result players are relying heavily on social media to stay connected.
“We have posted individual training videos on our Facebook for the juniors,” Cooper said.
Those videos have been used to help keep morale up.
The #playathomechallenge has swept social media with the Socceroos and Matildas backing the movement by posting soccer-related skill exercises and challenging players at home to get involved.
One of those Matildas is former Blue Lake player Jenna McCormick and the Rangers have used Facebook to challenge their Under 12 and Under 14’s to submit videos of themselves completing the activities, with the tempting reward of a pizza night on offer for when soccer is able to return.
