'Get in, train and get out' - the weird world of community sport in the post-COVID era

A SIGN that greets the Wagga City Wanderers' women's squad before training is, well, a sign of the times.

"Get in, train and get out," it says, rather bluntly, just to encapsulate how blatantly weird training for all community sports teams has become.

The girls are excited to be back together. Only the day before, the state government gave the green light for senior sport to resume from July 1.

It means their socially distant, "strange" way of going about things hasn't been for nought, with Capital Football set to start their competitions on the weekend of July 18.

While some teams may be cutting corners when it comes to the COVID-19 protocols, the Wanderers women are doing anything but. And it's not just because a pesky journo has rocked up, either.

The players rock up at 5.55pm in full kit, as dressing rooms are off limits. Even after three months of being reduced to catching up via Zoom, there's no time for catch-ups as teams are only permitted an hour to train.

Hand sanitiser stations are beside the training field, balls aren't allowed to be picked up unless you're a goalkeeper.

Players are given individual hoops to place their belongings, and must go to those hoops for a drink in between drills, of course at least 1.5 metres apart.

For most of the players adjusting to training without the usual social pleasantries, hugs or pats on the back has been the most difficult challenge.

"It's a lot different. It's hard not being able to interfere with each other and we have to stay apart," 18-year-old defender Brandy Nicholson said.

"There's no socialising which is the hardest part, what we've missed is the socialising during this quarantine."

What is unquestioned though is the players' relief simply to be able to train.

Kicking a ball around on a Tuesday and Thursday night is ingrained in everyone's schedules, and the weeks have been long without it.

"It's been interesting getting back into training with all the restrictions and having to be adaptable to the situation," new recruit Miranda Walker said.

"For everyone it's been the mental release we needed after being locked up for so long.

"We now know we're going to have a season, so at least we know there's a point for being here now. I think that was a downside for most people, not really knowing what you're training for.

"That (not socialising) has definitely been really tough but social media's been a wonderful tool for that. We've been able to connect and stay connected with Zoom meetings, which has been good to get to know the girls.

"A lot of them I already feel like I've known them for years and I've only just got here."

While teams can now train in groups of 20, Thursday night was the team's final session of training in groups of ten.

Drills are designed by coach Sam Gray to ensure players are consistently moving, but stay 1.5 metres apart.

"It's been challenging, but it's been enjoyable as well," Gray said.

"It forces you to think as a coach, come up with practices the girls enjoy and still get something out of.

"This is session four, and the first week we were here we had to tell them what to do. We're arriving 45 minutes before training to set the signage up, all of that has to be in place before they get here.

"The girls are smart. They know what they're here for.

"Obviously they can't stand in groups and take it from me, they're a very social group. I know they've all found it challenging.

"We've got people here from Albury, Tumut, Wodonga, Harden... they're missing that."

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Only two players are allowed in the toilets at any one time, and cars are supposed to be parked a few metres apart.

It's almost like living in a parallel universe, but players are willing to cop the convenience to do what they love.

"Showing up to our first training and seeing all the hoops and all was kinda funny, but we have to do it, rules are rules," captain Suze Waia said.

"It's hard though, doing our usual training and not doing what we normally would isn't so great, but we put up with it.

"It's better than nothing. Being at home, for most of us it's really hard. I for one struggle just being at home, all my sports got cancelled like everyone else, but we still had our Zoom meetings and our coach set some challenges for us on Facebook.

"Training is done and then you get in the car and go home. Some of us would usually go to the pub, but hopefully we can do that soon."

Gray believes the senior teams at the Wanderers need to be the ones to lead by example and ensure they're abiding by the rules.

"As the seniors of the club we set the example for the girls, and we've gone about it like that. They've all taken it on board and have stuck to it pretty well," he said.

"The leaders in the team set the example as well. It would be easy to shut your eyes and let them get on with it (as normal), but they've been good.

"If they come for a drink they have to sanitise their hands before they come back in. They can't pick up the balls, the goalkeeper's the only person that can do that and the goalkeeper has gloves on."

Nicholson and Walker are both defenders, and being unable to make contact with attackers running their way feels completely foreign to them.

"Because I'm a defender it's hard, someone is running at you and Sam's saying 'stay 1.5 metres apart," Waia said.

"I'm struggling with the lack of contact, I'm still getting my head around standing back and letting someone run at you."

Nicholson added: "it's harder to train because I'm not getting that body contact to work on, but at least we can get a touch on the ball before the season starts."

Gray said he's done his best to counter the lack of contact when drawing up training schedules.

"There's no tackling, in football the girls want to try and win the ball. They've found that a bit difficult," Gray said.

"We've altered the practices a bit to try and help then with that. Whether it works we'll find out in a couple of weeks with our first pre-season game.

"I just want the club to be proud of them, that's what the girls want. The girls want to give them something to be proud of and build on last year."