The start of the winter sports season has been delayed for yet another week – with the weather forecast suggesting it could be a long stretch before anyone gets on the grounds.
Council has this week placed a blanket ban on use of all sports ground across the Coast, including the nine playing fields at the regional sporting complex at Tuggerah that boast state-of-the art “sand-slitted” sub-surface drainage.
Teams would normally be ramping up training sessions and taking part in weekend trial matches, but most of these have been cancelled, from premier league AFL teams such as the Killarney Vale Bombers through to under-7s soccer at clubs like Budgewoi.
The severe rain follows last year’s frustration, when COVID forced games to be halted mid-way through the season.
Killarney Vale Bombers senior coach Corey Shackleton said the premier team has managed to squeeze in one trial match so far, but nothing is scheduled for the next week.
“There is some frustration because we know the grounds at Tuggerah can cope during this weather and other team grounds, for example, the one used by Bateau Bay Blues, are fit for purpose. But when there’s a blanket ban imposed, there is nothing we can do.
“Obviously there is a loss of income to the Club too. We have to be mindful of our sponsors and their commitment to us, plus we lose money we would have made on the bar and canteen during home games,” he said.
Corey said the Club had been keeping members busy with gym circuits, pool training and community assistance during the floods.
“We’re using the time as wisely as we can to keep morale up. I think we have filled sandbags with about 60 tonnes of sand to help people who have been dealing with floods.
“We can’t really complain when we look at what the weather is doing to places like Lismore,” he said.
Mitch Williams, senior coach at Wyong Leagues, paints a similar picture. The clubs there that play across the Central Coast are keeping themselves busy with indoor training where possible.
“They have been training in the gym throughout the week and have been working extremely hard, which is credit to them given the competitions finished in June because of COVID,” he said.
Many kids’ teams, however, are still to enjoy their first training sessions.
Central Coast Football – the not-for-profit body that provides the administrative tools, organisation, coaches, referees, and assistance with training for 14,000 players at 24 clubs – has been handling the mammoth task of rescheduling and re-organising games.
Across the Coast there are 74 football (soccer), 26 rugby league, 13 rugby union, nine AFL, 28 touch football /OzTag and five hockey fields.
Council assesses the effects of wet weather and the condition of each sports ground from Monday to Friday to 2pm. The website is updated by 2pm on weekdays.
If Council determines the sports grounds are closed, they cannot be used for training or competition purposes. This includes the area surrounding the sports grounds.
Unauthorised use results in fines to the user.
After 2pm on Fridays and on the weekend, associations determine if sports grounds can be used safely and without damaging the playing surface. Council reserves the right to close sports grounds on weekends under special circumstances.
Nicola Riches