A message from our CEO

To our Victorian netball family;

In light of the current situation regarding COVID-19 (also known as ‘coronavirus’), the Federal Government yesterday provided advice to the sports involved in the Coalition of the Major Professional and Participation Sports (Netball, AFL, Rugby Union, Rugby League, Soccer, Cricket and Tennis) that community sport should continue across Australia for the following reasons:

- For the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the community;

- There is no suggestion or evidence that the virus can be transmitted through sweat.

As a result, our national body recommends that community netball continues, with full compliance to government restrictions to limit gatherings to less than 500 people, adhere to travel restrictions, and to the previously published hygiene guidelines.

That said, there is a rising sentiment in our Victorian community that local sport should be suspended given discussions about ‘social distancing’.  Yesterday we had a conference call with many other Victorian state sporting associations where the common theme was very much about suspending, cancelling or postponing community sport competitions; many of which have already done so.

At Netball Victoria we are mindful that we have both Association-led netball as well as the Football Netball Leagues, which are managed in partnership with AFL Victoria, and as such we have been liaising with our counterparts at AFL Victoria.

Many Associations and Leagues, both in Victoria and across the rest of the country, are making independent decisions based on their own community feedback.  We encourage this approach to continue, as you know your community better than anybody else does.  Many decisions have been forced due to venue closures and reduced access to facilities.  After extensive consultation:

Our recommendation to the Victorian netball community is to suspend competitions until Tuesday 14 April (the end of the Victorian term 1 school holidays).

Teams or clubs that wish to continue other netball-related activities (e.g. training) may do so at their own discretion, providing they comply with government regulations and guidelines stated above.  This must be on an opt in basis only, allowing people to make the decision that is right for themselves and their family at this current point in time. 

The April 14 timeframe will be reviewed on a daily basis, and we will continue to communicate any changes as the COVID-19 situation evolves.

The table below outlines the status of our upcoming events and competitions:

Netball Victoria has supported our community for nearly 100 years; through two World Wars and a Depression and we are going to continue to support our community as we now face this terrible global pandemic; COVID-19.  We can assure you that the decisions that we make are done so with best intentions and with the most up to date information that is available to us.

Netball has stuck together and continued to support each other and as a result we have survived many challenges; and we know that we will do that again. 

Rosie King
CEO
March 17, 2020