Sporting clubs throughout the area are ready to take in new members and participants for their 2022 programs and seasons.
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With the Covid-19 pandemic wreaking havoc over community sport for the past few seasons and several participants pulling the pin on taking part in sport at all, clubs are gearing up for a hopeful near to ‘normal’ 2022.
Tungamah Football Netball Club President Josh Buerckner said the Bears were seeing great numbers at training with the club also adding a new feature to Tuesday nights.
“To date our numbers in all grades of footy and netball are looking strong,” Mr Buerckner said.
“We have fantastic junior numbers which have increased from last season and our senior numbers are as strong as last year.
“We are looking to run a bus out to the club on Tuesday nights to help take some of the strain off parents with kids travelling from Yarrawonga, however we encourage all of our parents to come out on Thursday nights for dinner and some socialising.”
Tungamah are also practicing all the covid safe protocols, making sure to keep their club people as safe as possible.
“We have all of the usual Covid safe practices in place, QR code sign in, hand sanitisers, masks when indoors, and all equipment is cleaned between trainings,” Mr Buerckner said.
“We have also advised people to bring their own water bottle to training and most importantly stay home if they feel unwell and take a test.
“Community sport is a great outlet for people which we have all missed over the last two seasons. “Hopefully this season will see a return to something that looks more like normal, and we can all get back to enjoying our local country footy and netball.”
To get primarily children enticed and heading back to community sport, the NSW and Victorian governments have established Active Kids programs.
The governments will provide $100 and $200 respectively through a voucher system for parents/guardians/ carers to contribute to the cost of their children’s participation in organised sport and active recreation or by reimbursing the cost of membership and registration fees, uniforms and equipment.
Although all industries and sporting organisations have been hit hard by the circumstances of the past two years, Suncountry Dance Instructor Kerry Seamer knows as well as anyone how hard it has been to maintain a business and keep people involved in her industry.
The ability to get dancers back has been especially hard as the dance studios have remained closed for large chuncks of the last two years due to lockdowns and the fact that the practice is undertaken indoors.
“We started back just last week,” Ms Seamer said.
“To get families back I emailed previous 2021 students, contacted schools for an ad in newsletters and placed an ad in the join the club feature.
“Our studios are following the covid safe rules with QR code check ins, hand sanitiser, mask wearing, social distancing in waiting areas and use of regular cleaning products on any equipment.
“I totally agree that people are a bit hesitant.”
Rennie Netball Club President Tanya Rhodes said Rennie has always prided themselves on being ‘the family club’ and supporting all members of the family, playing or supporting, young or elderly, sporty or not.
“Rennie netball are currently holding their pre-season trainings in town making it available for anyone to join within the towns and open to all ages and fitness abilities,” Ms Rhodes said.
“With the appointment of our A and B squad Head Coach Paula Mifka and Assistant Coach Brooke McDougall who both have history with our club and uphold the values that our club represents.
“Part of that being we do not hold ‘try outs’ or ‘trials’ to pick the best players, we cater for everyone who wishes to play, learn, socialise and enjoy the sport we offer.
“Another way our club caters for everyone is even the busy working parents can send their children to play with us as we provide a bus service to transport our junior players out to Rennie and back home every Thursday for training sessions.
“Our social committee has some exciting things organised for the year and we are very excited to start advertising these events soon.”
As is the norm in our current world, Rennie are also taking all precautions against Covid to ensure the season is still able to go ahead.
“We understand people are staying very wary of Covid-19 and if it will affect our playing year as it has the past two years with the 2020 season being cancelled and the 2021 finals season being cancelled,” Ms Rhodes said.
“We felt very lucky to be able to play the season that we did last year and are looking forward to the 2022 season.
“We have been training outside and maintaining social distancing during our training sessions to keep our girls comfortable and safe.
“Our girls have been training down at the Yarrawonga Yacht Club giving them access to the public facilities to practice good hygiene and hand washing along with supplying them with access to hand sanitiser at each training.
“We also keep records of who is at training through a check in system to be able to contact anyone in the case of an outbreak.
“Our committee are very approachable and always happy and willing to discuss anyone’s concerns and do our best to make everyone feel safe and comfortable at our club.”
For more information or to apply for the Victorian Get Active Kids Voucher Program visit https://www.getactive.vic.gov.au/vouchers/ . For NSW visit the Service NSW website and search Active Kids voucher.
View our join the club feature in this weeks Chronicle.
Journalist