"It's game on": Senior teams to resume playing from July 1
Brad Walter
Thirroul JFC is pleased by the announcement that senior football had been given the green light to resume playing from July 1.
Acting NSW Sports Minister Geoff Lee confirmed on Wednesday that all competitions for junior and senior players could commence from July 1 .
"From July 1, everybody can play - it's game on for the whole community," he told 2GB.
The return of Junior competitions on July 1 had been announced last week, and all Thirroul JFC teams have been training in groups of 10 since May 25.
It is not yet clear when teams can move to training in groups of 20, in line with other states, but Mr Lee confirmed that full contact training would be permitted from July 1, along with competition games for all ages.
The first round of Miniroos and Junior matches are set to be played on the weekend of July 3-5.
It is now expected that competitions for Womens (Thunderbirds) and Community League (Gibson Park Rangers and Thunder amateurs) teams will also commence at the same time.
Football South Coast has proposed that Junior, Womens and Community League teams would play a 14-round season before finals.
This is likely to include some or all of the following measures:
An extension of competition dates to October, pending discussion with cricket and relevant Local Government Authorities.
Junior teams to play during July School holidays with the potential for mid-week or double headers.
Community League playing the last few rounds on a Sunday to allow games on grounds shared by cricket.
Bonnie Lassie Cup to be resumed for women’s teams, pending any requirements in relation to social gathering rules.
The Thunder is expected to play an 11-round District League competition and finals series, with a pre-season competition or games before Round 1.
Mr Lee "thanked the community for their patience during the pause on local sports".
"Sport is the lifeblood of our community and it gives me great pleasure to say adult sports can return to their competitions at the same time as 18-years-and-under," he said.
"We have reduced the spread of COVID-19 to the point where further restrictions can be lifted. It is only because communities have followed the strict social distancing guidelines that this announcement is possible."
Details about the number of people allowed to attend matches and requirements for canteens to operate are being finalised.
Football NSW CEO Stuart Hodge welcomed the announcement and thanked the Government for providing the news that will be welcomed by tens of thousands of senior players across the state.
“The Government has done a fantastic job of flattening the curve,” he said.
“That has presented them the opportunity to deliver the fantastic news that football players of all ages will be permitted to play matches from 1 July.
“Football provides enormous mental and physical health, wellbeing and social benefits to the community and this news was much needed at this point in time.”
Football is well placed to return with Football NSW having already developed return to play guidelines.
These will be checked for alignment when the government releases a COVID-19 Safety Plan for sport.
Participants are reminded that until 1 July 2020 the current restrictions remain in effect.
For the avoidance of doubt, no competition matches are permitted to be played (including ‘friendly’ matches) as part of a training session.
