Isolation is no match for clubs

Sports of all codes take to the online space to keep fit and motivated in the hopes play will get underway at some point.

ON a typical Saturday, spectators would flock to ovals, pitches, courts and fields to watch the region’s finest athletes compete in a wide array of sports.

Cheers and car horns could be heard from afar, as the scent of meat pies and sausages in bread wafted through the air.

But now, those grounds are empty. All around the country, sport fanatics are forced to stay inside.

However, sporting clubs around are adapting to these changed situations and ensuring that their players are ready for play to resume.

Using social media, many soccer clubs are posting challenges for their players and encouraging them to take part in friendly competition.

One such organisation is the Ballarat City Football Club, who post videos of their star performers kicking balls into bins from afar, juggling soccer balls and in some cases, juggling toilet paper.

While one player is highlighted in the video, the aim is then to beat their score of juggles or perform an even better trick.

Director James Robinson said the challenge videos bring players and supporters back together, despite the literal distance between them.

“We like to encourage everyone to give these challenges a try, it’s a great way to enjoy some friendly competition and improve on your skillsets,” he said.

Keeping the community engaged during isolation is crucial for all sports but keeping the team fit is the main goal for the Ballarat Highlanders Rugby Club.

Every week, the rugby club will post an online fitness challenge for players to take part in, with talks of introducing a cash prize to ensure participation.

While tackling practice might be off the agenda for now, players are urged to build up and maintain their stamina levels through the online challenges.

President Patrick Quigley was inspired by the ‘Bronco’ test, which has the team run shuttles of 20, 40 and then 60 metres, five times.

“Rugby, like most sports, demands a high level of energy and stamina from the players, so keeping fit is crucial in these times,” he said.

“If the season is brought back suddenly, we don’t want to be caught flat footed,” said Mr Quigley. “We don’t want the players showing up after isolation with a beer gut and no incentive to train.”

Similarly, netballers at the Ballarat Football Netball Club are aiming to ensure that they are ready for matches to return.

With the use of an online coaching portal called NETFIT, the players are keeping up with their training and exercise, all at home.

Coaching coordinator Rachel Cross said the teams are keeping in contact with one another and urging each other to keep up with their home workouts.

“It’s a shame, going from seeing your girls almost five times per week to not at all,” she said. “So, we’ve been contacting each other, just to let the girls know that we’re with them during these tough times.”

Due to competitions and championships across the country being cancelled, multiple A-Grade netballers might miss out on their chance to play in a state-wide competition.

“We have girls playing for Melbourne Uni and in the Victorian Netball League but now that all matches are postponed, they might miss out on their chance to play,” said Ms Cross.

Once again using the power of social media, the Lake Wendouree Football Netball Club have found a way to hold players accountable for slacking off.

Each senior football player has been allocated a partner, allowing for the pair to communicate with one another and keep each other motivated.

At the end of each week, players post an update in a dedicated Facebook group, outlining how they and their partner went through a series of fitness and skillset-based workouts.

Assistant Coach Ash Simpson said the online system helps to keep everyone’s spirits up but understands the team’s desire to be back on the field.

“We don’t know when we’ll be able to train together again, it could be three months or six months,” he said. “But we know that when we do get back together, we will all realise just what we’ve been missing.”