“Should we move to Covid-19 Alert Level 1 and can secure funding for the stadium hire, we may be able to consider moving premier games back to Wednesday evenings indoors,” Hall said.
“To ensure numbers are limited at the courts, we have extended our playing rounds to seven weeks, so teams will play only one game a week.
“We have eliminated the grading round, and teams will play two full competition rounds in the grade they were nominated into. Grade winners will be determined on total points at the end of the rounds.”
However, should the country move to Level 1 with restrictions lifted early enough in the season, the centre was open to looking at playing a couple of double-up game weekends to enable semis and finals to be played on September 19 and 26, Hall said.
That would be dependent on government announcements in coming weeks, and be at GNC board discretion.
“We know players have been itching to get back out there and we are rapt to be able to confirm a start date,” Hall said.
The format took into account the reduced time frame available and all the contact-tracing, safety and hygiene measures required, while limiting numbers at Victoria Domain at any one time as much as possible, she said.
Secondary and intermediate competitions would all play during Term 3, with games starting on Saturday, July 25.
The season would be reduced to 10 weeks and, as grading rounds would not be played, formal grades would not be used.
Teams would be allocated games weekly, and weekly spot-prize winners — rather than grade winners — would be named.
“We want to provide a fun netball experience for all of our juniors, and the priority is getting them on court and enjoying playing,” Hall said.
The Mother Earth Future Ferns would play an eight-week season beginning the second week of Term 3.
“The days will remain Thursday for Years 1 and 2, Friday for Years 3 and 4 and Saturday for Years 5 and 6,” Hall said.
Training could resume at Victoria Domain on Tuesday, June 2, she said.
Booking was essential for teams to be allocated a training court. Coaches would be provided with an information pack outlining all requirements and would be given contact-tracing sheets.
An online booking form on the Gisborne Netball Centre website could be used.
The GNC board said in a statement that Netball New Zealand had scrapped its affiliation fees for the season, and Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty Zone had halved its fees.
This, combined with a shortened season, had enabled the Gisborne centre to pass on substantial discounts.
Knowing the impact that Covid-19 had had on many families, the centre wanted netball to be accessible and affordable for all of its members.
The board understood the difficult time everyone had experienced during lockdown, facing the uncertainty of whether netball would even get a season.
“Now is the time to unite as we in the Gisborne netball community come back together to play the sport we all love, and make the most of the opportunity to have some form of a season.”
