On your marks, get set, play
After weeks in lockdown, then training in small groups, community sport finally returns today. Brendon Egan and Phillip Rollo report.
Football teams across the country will get a head-start on the English Premier League when they return to action this weekend, with community sport making its longawaited comeback in New Zealand from today.
A move to alert level 2 signalled the return of team sport last month, but it was only when the surprise addition of a restriction on gatherings of more than 10 people was lifted that competitions were finally permitted to start.
Although rugby, rugby league, and netball are waiting until June 20, when New Zealand may be in level 1, football and hockey competitions will commence in some parts of the country from today, including the capital Wellington. Club basketball gets under way next Saturday.
‘‘It seems like it’s gone on for quite a while, the lockdown, but everyone is looking forward to it and raring to go,’’ Wellington Olympic football chairman Paul Kotrotsos said.
‘‘I know there’s some other countries around the world really struggling and who knows when they’ll get back up and running. We’re in a very good position.’’
Although community sport is permitted in Level 2, there are still some restrictions participants must adhere to including contact tracing, hygiene practices and a limit on gatherings of more than 100 people.
But after weeks of preparation Kotrotsos is confident the club is ready to get started. With Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern set to announce when the country will drop to Level 1 on Monday, it’s possible the current restrictions may be gone after this weekend. ‘‘Most people have been well-trained over these last couple of months, so I’m sure we should be fine.’’
While community sports return is much anticipated, there’s no sugar-coating the fact clubs, regional and national sports organisations will be stung financially from the Covid-19 pandemic. Few businesses are immune and the exact damage to the sports sector won’t be fully known until later this year.
Auckland Netball Centre chief executive Dianne Lasenby said everybody was hurting and they were bracing for the worst.
‘‘We’re going to take a big financial hit for this year with the competitions being shortened a little bit. Worst case scenario, there could be a dropoff in teams.
‘‘We’ll keep our fingers crossed, but we are looking at quite a deficit because the fixed costs remain when you’ve got insurance for $50,000 a year and all those things. That’s not changing.
‘‘You’re not getting your money through your cafes and events and other things. We are looking a little bit on the sad side this year.’’
The Christchurch Rugby Club has a rich history, producing a wealth of Canterbury, Crusaders, and All Blacks stars, including retired great Richie McCaw.
Christchurch’s rugby development manager Simon Kneebone said a delayed start and no bar takings on Saturdays during lockdown had hurt financially – something all rugby clubs will experience. ‘‘It’s tough for everyone. We’re a club that relies on revenue across our clubrooms and bar and restaurant, so that’s taken a hit . . . 2020 is going to be a really tough year financially.’’
Community sport relies heavily on class four gaming money (gaming in pubs and clubs, outside a casino). Some sports clubs receive 75 per cent of their annual income from class four gaming, sparking calls for a more sustainable financial model.
More than $150m is pumped into the New Zealand sports sector annually from class four gaming. With restaurants and bars closed during lockdown and gaming machines turned off, community groups will see a much smaller return this year. Sports clubs are certain to see reduced sponsorship too. Some businesses will not survive Covid-19 and those that do will closely scrutinise where every dollar is going.
Kneebone was optimistic Christchurch could hold onto the bulk of their sponsors, but understood the pain businesses were feeling. ‘‘We’ve got a really
Emma Hodgkin
Canterbury Hockey chief executive
loyal group of supporters we’re thankful for and humbled that they’re still involved, but we’re realistic about where everyone is at.’’
Regional sports organisations initially worried there would be a major decline in playing numbers – if the season did indeed start. Parents would naturally be hesitant about their children participating in weekend sport with the risk of infection.
With no new Covid-19 cases in 14 days and just one active case, New Zealand’s encouraging situation has eased those concerns.
Canterbury Hockey chief executive Emma Hodgkin believed the financial situation of parents would be the biggest issue.
‘‘There’s still potentially some hard hits to come for some families over the next few months with businesses and the economic environment and unemployment. Some of that will play a part in it.
‘‘I think overall there’s still that desire for parents and their kids to be out and active and doing something for all those other benefits sport brings.’’
Most regional sports organisations were confident clubs would make it through to 2021, but some may perish around the country or be forced to amalgamate.
Sport New Zealand’s $25m relief package targeted towards community and regional sport has provided a boost. Clubs can apply for $1000 in support, while regional sports organisations (RSOs) can apply for up to $40,000 via the $15m community resilience fund – the biggest chunk of the package.
Hodgkin said hockey clubs were fortunate they had so many hardworking volunteers, who would be critical in helping clubs survive.
‘‘We’ve got some fantastic club presidents and secretaries and committees, who’ve worked closely with us and put a helluva lot of time and hours to making sure they could get everything up and running again for their community.’’
It’s a sentiment shared by Lasenby, who said community sport clubs were amazingly resilient.
‘‘I’m optimistic they will survive it. Sometimes the little clubs run on the smell of an oily rag, and they do have those dedicated volunteers that will do anything to keep the kids or the adults out there. We’re hopeful everyone will make it through.’’
New Zealand’s potential move to Level 1 next week would be a gamechanger for community sport.
Under Level 1, restrictions around gatherings would be lifted, allowing for the return of crowds at games. Contact tracing is still expected to be carried out, but more details are expected on Monday.
Sanitisation bottles will be common at community sports fields, turfs, and courts, but organisations can breathe easier knowing they won’t have to constantly clean and replace match balls.
The Auckland Netball Centre normally draws more than 6000 people through their gates on a Saturday. They would benefit from eased crowd regulations, though they are staggering the start of their competitions and using multiple venues.
Lasenby feared the Covid-19 pandemic would ruin the 2020 club netball season when New Zealand first went into lockdown. With the country having flattened the curve so successfully and the first community sport events beginning today, she said it was fantastic to see.
Sport was pivotal for wellbeing, social interaction, and keeping active. Weekend warriors and youngsters were itching for their opening competition games.
‘‘The parents we’ve spoken to there is a lot of confidence. All they want now is their kids to get out there and play sport. Returning to some normality, although it’s not going to be as it was, but some normality of getting out there and playing sport.’’
With thousands of players returning to competition this weekend, Andy Rogers, the National Sport Development Consultant for Sport NZ, said the message to players was to enjoy themselves and follow the rules.
‘‘We’re starting something after having an almost three-month break so be kind to each other, don’t expect to be back at full swing too early and be mindful of playing it safe,’’ he said. ‘‘Playing it safe from a hygiene perspective and playing it safe from a physical perspective as well. Ease yourself into it, make sure you have a really good warmup and take care of your body.
‘‘The last thing you want after having such a big break is to blow yourself out in week one.’’
‘‘There’s still that desire for parents and their kids to be out and active.’’