SIX more weeks of lockdown! Who would have thought we would be going through this again?
The first time around it was shock and disbelief, but the reality has hit home this time.
But I’m not going to sit here and rant and rave about how we should be under different rules to the rest of the state because of our low coronavirus numbers.
I know many other people have, but to get on top of this virus tough decisions have had to be made.
Unfortunately, some community sports have fallen victim to the tough new measures and shut down again.
Local tennis officials announced during the week they were cancelling the rest of the season after only three rounds.
I could hear it in SDTA president Bill Madafferi’s voice when he called me to tell me they were pulling the pin this week – absolute disappointment, but at the same time a real sense of acceptance.
If anyone should be upset at the return to stage 3 restrictions, it should be Madafferi, tennis isn’t just a sport to him, it’s his livelihood, how he supports his family and pays the bills.
As a non-essential service he will once again have to close his coaching business, but despite the obvious financial impact it will have on him, he was supportive of the government’s decision and understands the reasons why.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s frustrated, but not with our leaders who are having to make these calls, but because he can’t play the game he loves. Madafferi is driven to improve tennis numbers in the local region and, sure, it helps his business if more people are playing the game, but it[‘s not his motivation, he just wants people to experience the joy that comes with playing tennis.
Madafferi is no different to any other community sports coach or official. They don’t do it for the money, it’s for the passion they have for their sport.
Community sport is a unique thing and I sometimes think we all forget what an important role it plays in our daily lives and social fabric. The enforced shutdown of most community sporting codes has made a lot of us sit back and take stock of the important things in our lives.
For the people who were still playing, that loss of competition has been tough, but just as hard has been the impact it has had on those of us who just love the social outing weekend sport provides, whatever code and level it is.
I think the number of football players who started playing tennis when local footy was shut down is an indication of the importance weekend sport plays.
They weren’t doing it for the money or recognition, it was purely for the enjoyment an afternoon of competitive sport provides.
Unfortunately, that enjoyment was short-lived, but I think it showed everyone just how much we all value community sport.
I know money has become a big part of some sporting codes – football being the obvious one.
Player payments in recent years have allowed some players to become semi-professional, but post COVID-19 that might all change.
There will no doubt be those who will still continue to be paid well for their services, but the days of everyone getting a clip might be gone. Salary cap cutbacks and the economic impact COVID-19 have on businesses might also play a role in what clubs can afford to pay.
But putting the money aside, I still believe the majority of players involved in community sport, whether they are paid or not, do it for the love of the game and social interaction it provides – I know that’s what people like Bill Madafferi do it for.
And let’s hope we all get to experience it again soon.
