Eastbourne Netball League 'will return and they will make it work’

The news came after England Netball announced they went from stage 2 to stage 4B on the netball roadmap on August 18, it’s all systems go to prepare for the return.

There will be a full league this winter of 41 teams participating including Brighton Uni, Eastbourne College, Bedes school and the East Sussex performance squads and teams from Hastings, Little Common, Seaford, Peacehaven, Heathfield and many from Eastbourne.

In order to get back to court to play there are many rule modifications, and the main ones are; 4ft distance by all players at the start of play with the Goal Shooter and Goal keeper staying in their goal circle at the start of play, the increase of the defending from 3ft to 4ft, removal of any toss ups, and no idol interactions.

Sue Ivemy, who runs the league, said: “Alongside the obvious rule modifications, each team and league manager has to appoint a Covid Officer, prepare a Covid Risk Assessment, write up a Risk Mitigation plan, ask players to opt in for training sessions, send track and trace details to the league Covid Officer each week including spectators, exits, entrances, sharing information, ensure all players are covid free each week,.and I’m sure England Netball will be sending out more jobs over the next couple of weeks.

“I have been liaising with our venue and Matt and Jim have been very supportive, as always, with working together on getting the venue ready for netball to return. I started the league in 2004 so we have a great working relationship with the centre and all its staff. We have many issues to solve and I’m guessing we will learn as we go on. We have to sanitise the ball and our hands each quarter, no sharing of bibs, no coaching huddles, scorers are to stand at the end of the court rather than next to the umpires.

“However, we will return and make it work.”

Ivemy added: “Netball is a great community sport, competitive, improves and retains fitness levels, enhances mental health and well being for all involved. I am so proud and grateful of all our players, umpires, spectators, who continually support the league and make it the success it is.”