THE green light has been signalled for the 2020 Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Junior Football League season to begin this weekend from president Will Malone.
Saturday will be a special day for football fans in the Limestone Coast, with one senior and three junior competitions under way.
The 2020 KNTJFL season will be a nine-round competition accompanied by two weeks of finals to be wrapped up on Saturday, September 26.
Having overcome a long list of challenges, Malone believes everything was set for the first bounce.
“Eight teams are listed to play in both the Junior and Senior Colts and the only sides not involved are the ones from over the border,” he said.
“All teams have been training for about a month and some even longer, so I think the kids are pretty keen to get back playing.
“Hopefully we can stay clear of any problems and carry on.”
With just eight clubs committing to play due to border restrictions, this year’s junior competition will be unique to all.
The most noticeable difference will be a change in playing times and the social distancing measures in place.
Junior Colts will begin a bit later than usual – at 10am – while Senior Colts will begin at 11.15am.
Mundulla and Kybybolite home matches in rounds six and eight could be held in “hubs” alongside the senior Limestone Coast competition, but that is yet to be confirmed by the two clubs.
Grand final day will also look different with two deciders scheduled on the final Saturday of September.
The eight sides in both grades will be separated evenly across two divisions, both comprising of two semi-finals.
The semi-final victors from the top four will face off for the grand prize, while the same process is completed in Division 2 between ladder positions five to eight.
Malone said the format switch was made to ensure each child can play as many games as possible.
“We are playing two divisions so every child plays up to the second to last week no matter what team they are in,” he said.
“It is purely because we are very conscious of trying to get the kids to play as much as they can in a shortened season.
“It will be a once-off this year and hopefully it can work.”
Despite the dates for both of the semi and grand finals being locked in, the venues are yet to be decided.
Malone said the association will wait to see how the season plays out before allocating which club had the honour of hosting the big games.
After COVID-19 delayed the KNTJFL season by three months, Malone expects the kids to be sprinting out of the change rooms for their opening match.
“I think kids need to get back outside and run around again,” he said.
“Obviously they have been doing less physical exercise than they normally would, so I am pretty sure most are keen to run back onto the ground and their parents are looking forward to watching them on Saturday morning again.”
