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The Horsham City Netball Association is calling for expressions of interest from players for a 2020 junior and senior competition after easing of COVID-19 restrictions around contact sports were announced at the weekend.
Competitions for 9 and under, 11 and under and 13 and under netballers will resume on Friday afternoons in Term 3. Net, Set and Go will be on a Wednesday for prep to grade three players to learn ball skills and get to know the game.
HCNA president Cathie Weidemann said a committee meeting would be held on Wednesday to look at the set-up for this year.
She said they were still waiting on guidelines from Netball Victoria before a green-light on dates could be given.
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In the meantime, they were looking to give players who might miss out on games this year due to the COVID-19 shutdowns a chance to pick up a ball.
Football and netball leagues are still deciding on their strategies for this year as COVID-19 restrictions ease.
"If the Wimmera or Horsham and District leagues, for instance, do not go ahead we want to see if we can offer a competition," Weidemann said.
"Players regularly travel 100km to get to a game. So that's Kaniva, or Donald or St Arnaud."
Weidemann said at this stage they were just looking to see what interest there was from players in expanding the Horsham netball competition this year.
The league in which Kaniva play - the KNTFL - on Thursday announced that it would abandon a senior footy competition for 2020, citing border closures and social-distancing restrictions as among the reasons for the decision. A junior footy competition will continue, with Kaniva's blessing, in the hope the Victorians can rejoin during the season.
The Wimmera and the Horsham and District leagues are expected to meet this week on the next steps for their 2020 seasons.
Weidemann said netballers resumed training about three weeks ago, and the seven outside courts at the Park Drive complex in Horsham have been in demand due to the ability to maintain social distancing rules.
Up to 120 netballers in 12 teams across three divisions are expected to take part in the 2020 season.
In Victoria, juniors would get back to playing sport from June 22 as training and competition reopens for 18-year-olds and under, while non contact sport will be allowed across all age groups.
Indoor sports centres and gyms will be able to open to 20 people per space, with a cap of up to 10 per group for those over the age of 18.
Local footy teams, soccer clubs and other contact sports will be able to resume training for over-18s from July 13, and from July 20, full competition can kick off.
Anybody interested in taking part in a junior or a senior competition should contact Weidemann are horshamcitynetballa@gmail.com or on 0411 166 914.
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