WAGGA'S summer sports are breathing a sigh of relief that "common sense has prevailed" after the state government agreed to increase the maximum number of people who can attend an outdoor community sport event from 200 to 1000.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Multi-field and multi-court sports like netball, touch football, hockey and softball were forced to make contingency plans to adhere to the original 200 person rule, which had come under heavy criticism from many sporting organisations.
Netball NSW in particular was particularly scathing of the rule, arguing a density rule would have been more sensible than a specific number. One person per two square metres is now permitted at outdoor sports events.
The 200-rule would have created a logistical nightmare for sports who operate a number of fields or courts concurrently, and Wagga Wagga Netball Incorporated president Rosemary Clarke said it would take plenty of pressure off sporting committees.
"We're recommencing our Tuesday night competition next week and we had planned it all to comply with 200. We were going to have to change our time frames and use the (Equex Centre0 stadium, a whole lot of things we were going to have to do to fit in with that 200 limit," he said.
Now we'll just run the competition as we've always done. We've got our COVID safety plan and making sure everyone is double vaccinated, we're very happy.
"It was really going to affect us, but with 1000 it gives us so many more options, it's good there's been a push from sporting organisations to lift that number because it just wouldn't have worked.
"You can have so many people at the races (3500 for Wagga's Aggies race day on Saturday), but only 200 on the netball courts."
NSW Touch Association has issued a request to be exempt from the 200 person cap on the weekend, which is now no longer required.
IN OTHER NEWS
Wagga Touch Association (WTA) is due to begin its seasons next week and although the one parent per player for junior matches is likely to remain to comply with the cap, it makes their schedule far more feasible.
"It's a lot easier. There's still a few things to check in regards to juniors and mixed, but our Monday and Tuesday night competitions should be unaffected," Wagga Touch Association president Marc Lawrence said.
"More than likely we'll have to revert back to one parent per child, as we did for last year's competition, but all going well we should be able to resume next week."
We've opened up our fields now to private training sessions for fully vaccinated people."
Wagga Hockey president Ken Larkin said their summer competitions scheduled for the start of next year would be easier to manage.
"We've got summer comps coming up from January through to March. That (increase to 1000) opens us up to get our people back on the field, and they'll be pretty excited about doing that I think," he said.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark dailyadvertiser.com.au
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters