Lithgow Hockey receives tentative July 18 start date to get back on the turf

The winter hockey season was due to commence on April 28, but due to government restrictions on no contact sport, the competition has already lost five rounds.

There has been a tentative date of July 18 announced for hockey to restart but by then the competition will have lost 15 rounds, leaving five rounds left to play.

Lithgow Hockey Association president Denise Weekes said the 2020 winter competition would certainly be different.

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"It will be a shortened competition, but we have the facilities to continue the competition into the summer months, by playing on the weekend and during the week," she said.

She said the length of the competition would be determined by player numbers and their commitments to summer sports.

"Everything depends on our returning numbers and if we are able to recommence on the 18th.

"At this stage we are just wanting to get kids on the turf playing some hockey," she said.

Weekes said there was still a lot of planning to do and a lot of unanswered questions in relation to social distancing and keeping facilities clean that the association would have to deal with.

"There will definitely be some changes to the way we play the game for the rest of the winter season.

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"A lot is still unclear but players, parents, and spectators can be assured we will be maintaining a high level of cleaning of changerooms and dugouts during the days of play," Weekes said.

She said Hockey NSW had also brought in changes to registration fees for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

"All our members have been advised of the new structure," she said.

She said Board members were up to date with the structure and are ready to get players on the turf.

"The Board will be working on these [changes] during the next few weeks and we hope to be able to canvas our player base to see how they would like to see the season recommence," she said.

Weekes said COVID-19 had greatly affected the players who are missing their hockey and the association, financially.

"We will be looking at turf and administration fees during the coming weeks and are hoping that all our clubs will pitch in and help make playing hockey for the rest of the season as financially viable as possible," she said.

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She said the Lithgow competition was also impacted as it was due to host the U15 Girls State Championships in June.

"The competition would have been very beneficial to the Lithgow community and also the association's way of giving back to our sponsors who support us year in and year out," she said.

With the new tentative date, Weekes said Lithgow Hockey would commence training programs from July 1.

"We are certainly looking forward to getting players on the turf and are hoping this proposed date is achievable.

"It will be great for our players to be playing sport again and out of the house," she said.

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Weekes said every business and sporting body were suffering mentally, physically and financially due to the pandemic.

"We will survive it and come out stronger we just need everyone working together to get through it," she said.

She urged those wanting to play hockey this season to express interest with your local club or to Lithgow Hockey Association via the Facebook page or email executive.lha@gmail.com

"This way we will have some idea of returning numbers and can commence work on a competition," she said.

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