Netball South West are attempting to resolve issues caused by ongoing Covid-19 distancing measures, which could limit or prevent indoor activity until beyond the turn of the year. However, head coach Linda Andrews has voted against sending her players across the Channel for outdoor matches due to the risk of wasted journeys.
Jets’ senior side will remain in the regional league system next term following the cancellation of the Premier League play-offs, while the club’s junior teams also compete on regional league ladders.
‘They’re talking about not starting until January, or looking at an outside league, but that wouldn’t be sustainable for us,’ she explained
‘They sent a questionnaire out to teams who play in the regional league and 59% of the clubs said they don’t want to do that.
‘If they did it, it would have to be friendlies. In a league of that calibre it’s not fair to have such differences between the weather … and we would only go over if there are going to be lights because in the winter it’s dark. Playing in the elements isn’t an option for us and monetary-wise as well, we couldn’t afford it, with the risk of weather cancellations.’
Hope does remain for players signed up for Jersey’s Winter League, though, with a possible return to action being discussed as the Island approaches Level 1 of its lockdown-exit framwork.
‘Hopefully, if we do move to Level 1, we can get going again,’ Andrews said. ‘We had a meeting to look at how we would distance people and we might have to make the games shorter, because you can’t start a second game until 20 minutes after the first group has left. There is so much to consider but if we are allowed to play we will definitely be looking at how we can do it.’
