Hockey Geelong prepared for late start to season
HOCKEY Geelong is confident it will be able to run a 2020 season even if forced to start as late as September.
The association has followed Hockey Victoria’s lead in reaction to the coronavirus pandemic by postponing the season until at least May, but is prepared for a delay of several months if the need arises.
With full access to its Stead Park home base, Hockey Geelong president Alan Climpson said there would be little interference with other summer sports.
“We’re that flexible if we really wanted to we could go right up and start in September and finish at the end of November and just have a modified, short season,’’ Climpson said yesterday.
“I can almost guarantee we’ll get some form of a season this year.’’
Geelong’s Vic League 1 men’s and women’s seasons have also be delayed until at least May.
A casualty of the coronavirus measures has been the cancellation of the annual women’s country championship, which is hosted by the Geelong association on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in early June.
State representative carnivals, with the exception of the Junior State Championships, have also been cancelled. There is hope the JSC titles can be played later in the year.
Climpson praised local hockey clubs for their response to the crisis.
“All the clubs voluntarily ceased their own training,’’ Climpson said.
“They did that off their own bat and we didn’t even have to approach them at all.
“That made it really easy for us as an association to implement.
“We’ve been following our state body and everything seems to be going all right. There’s just no income.’’