PLANS to re-start senior sport in south-west Victoria have come to a grinding halt following the state government's decision to postpone full-contact training and competition as the coronavirus crisis worsens.
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On the directive of Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton, the state government on Friday ruled out full-contact training and competition for athletes 19 years and over.
It will impact Warrnambool and District Hockey Association, Western Victoria Female Football League, South West Victoria Football Association and Ballarat and District Soccer Association, which features Warrnambool Rangers, which all planned to start their senior seasons in coming weeks.
Junior sport, including soccer, football and netball, can proceed as planned.
Warrnambool and District Hockey Association secretary Mark Bridge conceded the setback was "frustrating".
"But it is what it is, the rest of the state has to deal with it," he said.
Bridge said the association was seeking clarification from Hockey Victoria as to what constituted a senior competition. It could alter its program to fit within guidelines.
He said he was pleased juniors would not be impacted. Its under 12s start on Wednesday, its under 14s on Friday and its under 16s on Saturday.
Warrnambool Rangers coach Cameron Pyke said it was "disappointing but there is a greater good we have to look out for and with cases increasing we have got to follow the rules".
Pyke said his side would continue to train in a non-contact capacity at this stage.
"There are obvious benefits socially and physically to keep the guys fit," he said
"We have also found our junior players have been really responsive to the instructions our senior players have passed on.
"While the senior players can't play on the pitch, they can still play a role mentoring our junior players."
A statement released on Friday announced the "difficult but necessary decision" to halt contact training and competition, saying it was "essential to slow the spread of coronavirus and save lives".
A significant increase in cases in Melbourne, and active cases in a number of regional communities, meant the Chief Health Officer determined adult community sport in regional Victoria would remain non-contact for the time being.
Full-contact training for seniors was scheduled to resume on July 13 with full-contact competition to return a week later.
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