JUNIOR SPORT IMPACTS

JUNIOR sport in Townsville e is being forced to restructure e as it deals with the coronavi- rus spread.

With the ban on non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people starting g today, sports like netball and d soccer are doing their best to o thin out their crowds in n Townsville.

Typically on a Wednesday y night, up to 700 people descend on Annandale netball courts.

But Townsville City Netball president Marg Cedar said contingencies had been made.

The junior competition has been restructured to ensure a maximum of 24 teams play at any given time, as opposed to the usual 40.

In addition, players are being instructed to limit the number of supporters who come – encouraging each to have just the one parent attending.

Cedar said while the changes were unfortunate, it would ensure netball in Townsville continued its season.

She said at this stage the restructure would mean players would get on the court roughly every two weeks, but plans were in motion to increase that.

“We’ve extended the break between games so there’s a flow of people out and in and we limit the number of people in the complex,” Cedar said.

“What we’re also going to look at is the potential to use other netball courts around the city, specifically at schools if possible so we can get more games played, so our season doesn’t fold totally.

“We want to keep netball going.”

Cedar said that a sub committee made up of stakeholders from the Townsville cl clubs would continue to meet as the situation developed. Sh She said Monday night senio ior netball and Tuesday night “1 “10 and unders” would proce ceed as attendance figures di did not surpass 500.

North Queensland Footba ball general manager Declan C Carnes said he had created a pl plan that would allow m matches to go ahead, pendin ing approval from Football F Federation Australia. “W “We’ll play games every night of the week from 5pm to 9pm, we’ve got the ability to count people for each age group,” he said.

“The younger players would play from 5pm, so we could get them out early … and have 30-minute breaks in between to allow people to leave.

“We’re still pre-season so we don’t need to implement it straight away … but it could start next week.”

Townsville Basketball general manager Mark Wrobel said the under 16s tournament that was supposed to run at the weekend was cancelled on Friday, the same day it was supposed to begin.

“Athletes, referees who travelled all the way to Townsville had to turn back and go home,” he said.

“It’s disappointing, but we are trying to do what’s in the best interests of our members and the people who play basketball. If we need to cancel to make sure people are safe, that’s what we’ll do.”

Wrobel said most domestic competitions would continue.

Townsville District Junior Rugby League chairman Bert Peterson said games would continue to go ahead as most didn’t attract 500 people.

“We’ll continue until we’re advised otherwise or by the QRL (Queensland Rugby League),” he said.