GET ready for the return of the Tiger cubs.
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After making the decision to withdraw from Group 10 Junior Rugby League competitions last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oberon Juniors will be back in 2021.
Around 30 kids participated in a free holiday clinic on Monday at Oberon as interest in the coming season builds.
"It was a good turnout, it was nice to see the same kids who have played footy before, but also some new kids," Oberon Juniors president Spiro Kavalieros said.
"It was a great effort from Dave Elvy and his crew to come out and support the kids and help build interest in the game in Oberon."
For 2021 Kavalieros is aiming to have between 80 and 120 Tiger cubs in action. The plan is to field six teams in minis competitions as well as an under 11s, under 13s and some league tag outfits.
"We made the decision not to join in the comp last year and I still feel that was the right decision for our town, we are such a small community," Kavalieros said.
"We are hoping this year that we can get back into the football and don't have as many problems as last year and get as many kids out there and running around on the park as we can.
"We manage to get kids in the minis pretty easily, the real problem for small towns like this is that as you start to get in the older age groups, you need bigger squads.
"You need a squad of 18 or 19 kids to make a competitive squad and there's just not that many kids around, it's just the way it goes."
The main aim for Kavalieros and what he describes as his "really committed little committee", is to see as many kids as possible enjoy the sport.
The minis have the prospect of taking part in 24 games for the season which are held in a cluster format between Oberon, Lithgow and Bathurst venues.
"They all get the opportunity to play two games on a Saturday. It really changes their skills, you can see how the kids improve with more touches with the ball - you see minis who can't catch at ball at the start of the season be able to catch it, run it and pass it by the end," the president said.
"What we try and do is make sure the minis have some fun and enjoy playing footy, there's no NRL mentality here at our club. It's about kids enjoying sport and we try and get as many as we can to play."