One Highlands soccer club has been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis.
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Prior to the pandemic, Hill Top Soccer Club and all Highlands Soccer Association (HSA) competitions were originally kicking off on Saturday, March 28 2020.
It was on March 17, the FFA and Football NSW advised all grassroots football competitions and associated training within NSW would be suspended until April 14, 2020.
The HSA has come up with four alternate playing models catering to various reduced competitions.
Hill Top Soccer Club Secretary, Craig Napper said this by no means our committee or players will be downplaying their responsibilities in embracing all necessary safety measures required to combat this virus.
"Everyone's health is our number one priority," he said.
"The lack of soccer has left a huge hole in people's lives. We have 157 registered players for season 2020.
"Hill Top Soccer Club has the highest ratio of players to residents of any sport played in the Southern Highlands - this has hit our village incredibly hard."
It goes deeper than football for a lot of families associated with the Hill Top Football Club, families are struggling at the moment.
"Some parents are having a hard time explaining to their children why they can't play soccer," Napper said.
"As a club we are well prepared to cater to the strictest of playing sanctions.
"When we are given the okay we will then begin to start competitions."
In the meantime, Hill Top are taking this time to get on top of all hygiene to ensure the safety of their players, fans and associates when play begins.
"We will be on top of various cleaning/ sanitation products," Napper said.
"We will also be enforcing social-distancing protocols, signage for our patrons and rules that apply to, or cap spectator numbers per game.
"Each and every committee member will meticulously enforce whatever playing conditions we will be required to follow."
Napper knows that this is for the safety of the greater good, but there is still frustration.
"It's frustrating that both FFA and Football NSW seem to approach this crisis with a 'one size fits all' outlook," Napper said.
"Evidence supports Regional NSW Association areas having a lower risk profile in relation to Covid-19 than is the case in metropolitan locations, so why shouldn't there be a staggering of re- commencement dates when the time is right?
"At a point when the governing bodies are looking to re-start competitions, they seriously need to consider lower risk (regional) areas having the opportunity to start earlier than metropolitan area competitions, were the virus risk threat is much higher."
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