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OUTDOOR junior community sport has been given the green light to resume from Friday.
The state government's confirmation today that regional restrictions would ease from 11.59pm tonight paves the way for junior outdoor sport to re-start and for senior players to return to training.
However, indoor sport remains closed.
The Bendigo Junior Football League, Bendigo Amateur Soccer League juniors, Golden City Netball Association and Bendigo Strathdale Netball Association all indicated on Wednesday that if the proposed easing of restrictions was ticked off they would resume competition this weekend.
The return of competition comes with a maximum patron cap of 50 people per venue and group sizes to a maximum of 10 people.
Also among the junior competitions re-starting after last weekend's forced cancellation due to Victorian lockdown 4.0 is the Loddon Valley Football-Netball League.
While the LVFNL can't yet resume its senior competitions due to restrictions still in place, the league confirmed on Thursday it would play round nine junior football and netball matches as originally scheduled.
The matches feature under-18 football and 17-under, 15-under, 13-under and minis netball on Saturday.
Under-18 football - Bridgewater v Marong, Maiden Gully YCW v Inglewood.
Netball matches - Bridgewater v Mitiamo, Pyramid Hill v BL-Serpentine, Maiden Gully YCW v Inglewood, Marong v Newbridge.
"We are going to do what we can to play sport, and if that means only the underage side of our competition starts, then let us do that," LVFNL chairman Simon Tuohey said.
We are going to do what we can to play sport, and if that means only the underage side of our competition starts, then let us do that
- Simon Tuohey - LVFNL chairman
"These players are the future of our clubs and why wouldn't we support them to play.
"We now live in an environment where protocols are the norm. Clubs have COVID safe plans, we all use QR codes and social distance ect. Round nine will be no different.
"Players will turn up dressed and ready to play. There will be no gate entry or canteen facilities, with only toilet facilities being available. We anticipate there will be restrictions on spectators and will advise as soon as possible."
While the senior competition is again on hiatus, if it can resume next weekend the LVFNL will play last week's called off round eight matches as its re-start point.
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