PREPARE for an eight-week explosion to ease the cabin fever - that is the message from Group 10 Junior Rugby League as it plans for season 2020.
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Group 10 JRL vice-president Shane Earsman said he and his fellow executive "have been relentless behind the scenes to come up with ideas" for a season format.
With New South Wales Rugby League setting July 18 as the target for grassroots competitions which had been on hold due to COVID-19 to commence, Group 10 JRL are aiming for 'no weekends off, explosive eight rounds into finals.'
"It will be eight rounds otherwise we run out of time and I'm pretty sure it falls in term three, so there's no impact with school holidays. Historically we've not really played through the bulk of the school holiday periods as some parents like to go away, but the way the calendar has been designed, it doesn't fall in school holidays which is good," Earsman said.
"We've got most of the teams noms through now and the brains trust of Group 10, when they develop the draw, we'll have it so there are no byes in there.
"Some teams may have to play each other back-to-back in that eight weeks, but it's a case of getting those eight rounds done and dusted, finalising the top four and then having a finals series.
"That includes league tag as well, they'll follow the same format."
The finals series would run over three weeks, with Group JRL planning for a 'super grand final day for boys and girls'.
While Earsman acknowledges that the July 18 resumption is not set in stone and all medical advice will be considered before any games are played, he said the target date provided "a breathe of fresh air."
"It's been tough on mums and dads and the kids getting a bit of cabin fever, so I can only see it as a positive," he said.
"Normally the weekends are a chance for kids to get out there and let off some steam, but we haven't had that opportunity. So that again, that just adds to the excitement that if, all going well, come July 18 the whistle blows and we'll all be up and running again.
"As it stands now, every club in the Group 10 junior competition are busting at the seams to get the competition up and running.
"We've had no negative feedback."
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While no games or team training sessions have been permitted due to social distancing laws, Earsman has been buoyed by the efforts clubs have made to keep their young players engaged.
"Some of the clubs I've noticed on Facebook and other social media platforms, they've put out challenges and that's really keeping the interest and the spirits high," he said.
"It's good to see no-one has gone 'Oh well that's the season done and dusted, let's focus on next year'. It's been refreshing to see all the stuff on the social media pages it shows people are still super keen."
While spectator limits may have to be implemented, Earsman hopes canteens will be able to run at games.
"At times like this it has been really tough on sponsors and they may find it hard to meet obligations ... so if clubs can have a canteen up and running, it will mean they don't have to put the pressure back on sponsors so much," he said.
