WAGGA Hockey has introduced a 'Super Nines' format for their men's competition this year to ensure teams can be competitive in a shortened season.
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The juniors will begin their season on Friday and seniors on Saturday, but Wagga Hockey has opted to ban spectators from Jubilee Park this weekend to protect the health of participants, and make it easier to comply with coronavirus guidelines.
Wagga Hockey president Ken Larkin attempted to sell the Super Nines concept to players before the pandemic shut down community sport.
But the clubs are now keen to give it a test run, and Larkin is hopeful it will become a permanent fixture after this year.
"We tried to talk them into it at the beginning of the season, but because there's a couple of clubs with low numbers they decided to have a crack at it," Larkin said.
"Once that went out we had more players coming back to play in it. They're looking forward to it, and it will be really fast hockey.
"We're also introducing it into our under 16s and we feel once the players play it this year, they'll want it next year without a doubt."
With all Wagga Hockey matches played out of one venue, Larkin said it was practicable to put a blanket ban on spectators for the time being.
Spectators can still still on the 'wall of knowledge' at the southern end of the fields, if they practice social distancing.
Hockey NSW introduced a scheme effectively allowing players to register for two seasons for the price of one, which includes this year and next.
"I think at this stage, our spectators will watch from outside the ground," Larkin said.
"That will make it easier to manage attendance registers, and keep our players and officials safe as much as we can."
The men's and women's senior competitions will play ten regular season rounds, before a top four finals series held over three weeks.
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