The announcement of a four-week lockdown extension has resulted in netball across the ACT being completed for the 2021 Winter season.
Netball ACT CEO Matthew Battams confirmed that this was the case for all netball in the ACT.
“While the HCF State League had already completed its first week of finals and only had two rounds of finals to play, games were last played on Sunday 8th August” Battams said. “Netball is a really dynamic sport and in addition to not being clear when community sport will be allowed to return, the risk of injury to athletes returning after such an extended break was a key consideration. Additionally, both athletes and officials often transition to other sports as we move into Summer”. No Divisional Winners will be announced for the 2021 HCF State League season.
The lockdown extension also results in Winter Fixtures not returning at District Associations. Tuggeranong, Arawang, South Canberra and the combined North Canberra Netball Competition consisting of Belconnen and Canberra Netball Associations have recently advised clubs of this decision.
The announcement also brings an end to the ASI Solutions Winter Social Netball competition played at SolarHub ACT Netball Centre on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Morning Ladies and Walking Netball played at the same location, is also impacted.
“The ACT community is passionate about its netball and throughout lockdown Netball ACT and each of our Districts continue to be contacted about when netball will be returning” Battams said. “Netball ACT and each of Districts remain optimistic that a Summer Competition will be played, however understand that this will be dependent on the transition out of lockdown and that the highest priority is the safety of the ACT community”.
It has been a successful year for Netball in the ACT with participation numbers increasing from both 2020 and 2019 and the HCF State League season being one of the most competitive in recent times.
