There is plenty of enthusiasm for the return of the Southern Highlands Hockey competition on July 18.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Southern Highlands Hockey Association president Paul Sabatier said that more teams, across both the senior and junior divisions, had nominated this year compared to the 2019 competition.
"More people than ever are keen to play and players of all ages, 6-67, are registering in teams," he said.
While it will be a shortened season in 2020, Sabatier said that the association had been able to schedule more games at family-friendly times.
This is because of a new turf recently installed at the Hockey Centre at Welby made possible through fundraising by association members.
He said the season would run from July 18 to September 26 including finals.
"Semi finals will be held on September 19 and the grand finals are on September 26," he said.
"We've squeezed in as many rounds as we can from July 18, which is the official Hockey Season start date set by Hockey NSW.
READ ALSO:
- Mittagong Lions keen to get out of the den for start of Group 6 Rugby League competition
- Group 6 Rugby League prepares for kick off on July 18
- Robertson Spuddies still waiting to confirm its competition plan for 2020 rugby league competition
- Social lawn bowls is the first step toward restart of competition
- Southern Highlands Netball Association begins plans for a return to the court
- No games for Bowral Blacks as Illawarra Rugby competition cancelled for 2020
- Hill Top soccer players prepare for a return to Highlands Soccer Association competition
"September 26 in the last weekend before the October long weekend.
"The season is timed so that afterwards people can get away and have a holiday on the long weekend given that we weren't able to travel at Christmas because of bushfires and Easter because of COVID."
Players can expect some changes to this year's competition.
Sabatier said that matches would be scheduled with a break between games to allow players to exit before the next games start.
"Social distancing restrictions will apply," he said.
Training for the competition is also on hold until July 1.
Meanwhile representative opportunities and other special clashes have also been cancelled for the year.
Sabatier said the Field Hockey State carnivals and regional comps had been cancelled by the organisers.
Despite the challenges faced this year Sabatier is finding the positives in the situation.
"Our dedicated life members David Mackay, Sandra Sharpe, Steve Bedson and Glen Isedale have used the time to finalise work on the brand new Second Playing Field that they have had built at the Hockey Centre at Welby," he said.
"They have been working with council to get the fully lit, synthetic surface installed and ready for competition and we are all excitedly looking forward to playing on it.
"Their hard work, over a very long period, to see this project through is going to benefit the Southern Highlands hockey community for generations to come."
Anyone keen to sign up for this year's hockey season in either the junior or senior competition can do so by visiting the website shhockey.com.au.
