COVID-19 AND NETBALL When Covid-19 started to permeate throughout the world, it eventually came to New Zealand with its first recorded case in February 2020. New Zealand was forced into a nation-wide lockdown on March 25 (Alert Level 4). This forced the cancellation and postponement of all Netball Taranaki events and activities. It was a waiting game as the virus intensified and staff were reimagining a year without netball. When New Zealand moved down Alert Levels, a three staged approach to return to netball was implemented. These were Get Ready to Play, Prepare to Play and Return to Play, which eventually occurred on 13 June when a pre-season tournament hosted followed by the first round of premier on Thursday 25 June and Satellite and futureFERNS netball on the week of 25 June. The later start of the season had some impacts to our overall numbers, with plenty of our rural players unable to play due to farming commitments. However, Netball Taranaki continued to provide netball at various grades throughout Taranaki. Netball Taranaki postponed events for a week in August until advice was received from the Ministry of Health after another community case in Auckland. That gave staff time to re-plan and arrange various restrictions and requirements, should netball continue. Netball did resume with restrictions in place to ensure the community remained safe and vigilant during the second outbreak. Health and safety measures were implemented, and spectators were limited at outdoor courts and not permitted at indoor facilities. Once Taranaki moved into Alert Level 1 for the second time in September, crowds were permitted back at venues, but some safety restrictions remained until the end of the season.
Balls for Bubbles delivered from Urenui to Waverley. 7
