By Jackson Russell
Seymour Football Netball Club has returned to the training track in anticipation of a possible start date for the Goulburn Valley League season in coming weeks.
The club developed a COVID-safe plan, approved by Mitchell Shire Council, before returning to training.
Footballers and netballers are currently taking part in socially-distanced non-contact training, in line with State Government guidelines before full contact training can resume from July 13.
The club is waiting to receive advice from AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria before it confirms dates for full contact training, while a presidents’ meeting tonight could decide the start date for the GVL season.
Committee member Lyndel O’Sullivan said it was good to be back in training, despite the difference from what training would normally look like.
“We’ve had really good numbers at both netball and football training and I think everyone’s keen just to get out there and have a run around,” she said.
“It’s a bit hard at the moment not knowing whenever we’ll have a season or not but the mental health aspect is really important and we think giving our players the opportunity to train regardless of season is going to be good for everyone.”
Junior netball coaches Ellie O’Sullivan and Courtney Aldous have been keeping the under 15 and 17 squads in training right through the pandemic with Zoom sessions three times a week.
“They were running Zoom trainings on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the whole time which was impressive,” O’Sullivan said.
“It’s nice now that they can get down to the court and see each other after keeping up their hard work.”
Following advice from AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria, the club hopes to start full contact junior training this week and senior training from July 13.
“That’s our rough plan but it’s dependent on the advice at the time as well,” O’Sullivan said.
“We hope a decision might be made this week about the season but we’re just not sure what’s going to happen.”