We want all Netballers everywhere around Queensland to know our hearts go out to them with the delay in taking the netball court this year. COVID-19 has disrupted all of our lives and the first priority of the Netball Queensland Board is to protect the health and safety of our netball community.
So to all of our Associations, Clubs, Volunteers, Umpires, Players and Supporters, we know as a community we will get through this if we face this challenge by uniting together. All sports in Australia are being challenged so we know we are not alone. We want you to know we are here to support you and no-one in our Netball community needs to work through this alone. We stand united with our ultimate goal to lead our sport through this crisis and remain sustainable so our thousands of members can take to the court again once it is safe and we are in recovery mode.
Over the last 14 days, the Netball Queensland Board and Management Team have had to act swiftly and decisively to implement some difficult decisions impacting our hardworking and committed team to ensure we are placed in the best position possible financially. Our CEO, Catherine Clark, has had to scale back our operations and shift the majority of staff to reduced hours or voluntary pay decreases with only a skeleton staff remaining. We’ve done this so our sport can get back on court at the earliest opportunity we can safely, and all in good health.
Getting Back on the Court
We have been scenario planning what the 2020 season might look like and this is dependent on whether we can get back out onto court in winter, spring or summer. We currently don’t know when but what we do know is we can plan and prepare for the scenario that eventuates.
We have also launched a Netball Queensland app with our partners at Inspire Sport. This app is aimed to provide connectivity to you and your teams whilst you cannot be at the courts. It contains a range of fun content, exercise programs and educational tools for your members. Phase two of the app will be launching very shortly enabling functionality for your coaches to connect directly with their teams. This will provide the ability for coaches to link training programs at an individual or team level and gives them access to a dashboard that monitors mental wellbeing during this tough time.
Government Support
Our Netball Queensland CEO is working closely with all levels of Government to ensure they are aware of the impact on our sport financially. To accurately provide the impact assessment we need your assistance. To gain financial support, the Government will require a clear case with accurate information demonstrating the impact of COVID-19 on our netball Clubs and Associations. The Delivery Network Team – Deb, Tanya, Laura and Paula and Matt – have been in contact with every Association across Queensland. Please keep them updated on your financial position and send through as much information as you can on your costs, reserves and most importantly cashflow.
The Delivery Network Team will be talking to you about the scenarios to get players back out on the court, such as a shortened season or the factors that prevent a season occurring. The information you provide will then determine our ability to build a strong case for Government support. Working in a united way, we can show how we are mitigating risks and what level of support we need to ensure netball is positioned to recover strongly. Our goal is to help your Association and Club and we need you to assist us.
Season 2020 and Member Fees
We understand there are questions about members fees and refunds.
Netball, like most other sports, is powered at all levels by the fees paid by our members and participants. These fees include a Club, Association and Netball Queensland component. Netball Queensland in turn pays Netball Australia an annual Contribution Fee to subsidise to national operations and programs. It is an integrated system which relies on having a thriving membership base.
The majority of fees collected from members stays with Clubs and Associations. The Netball Queensland fee component sustains our sport by contributing to:
- Essential support staff services for our Associations and Clubs
- Insurance for players, coaches, officials, Associations and Clubs
- Technology systems making administration more efficient and enabling customer analytics to then grow our membership
- Events and competitions including school programs and holiday clinics, State Age, HART Sapphire Series and development programs for talent, coaches, umpires and officials
- Government advocacy which is leading to support and has recently resulted in the creation of the Queensland State Netball Centre, now Nissan Arena
- Marketing, communication and sponsorship acquisition to enable continued engagement and growth in our sport
Netball Queensland made a commitment to build our business to be less reliant on member fees. We have frozen our fees for the past three years and worked tirelessly to diversify our revenue streams.
As we face COVID-19 with the mindset to adapt, improvise and overcome the crisis, we are preparing for running an adapted season. It will look different but 2020 is different. When local competitions resume for the 2020 season, we must be ready.
At this point because we are intending to find a way to get our members back out onto the court in 2020, it is premature to consider refunds. However, we understand there is anxiety and confusion. We understand that invoicing for fees (which normally starts now) may place more stress on our community. Therefore, given the suspension of community netball through to 30 June, we will defer the usual invoicing of fees until mid-June 2020. The Board will review this timeline and scenarios to get players back out on court at the 1 June Board meeting.
The reality is that Netball Queensland cannot survive this crisis without the revenue from our community funding stream. By industry standards we have good reserves however they will not be enough especially considering we may also lose all our revenue and potential revenue gained through the Suncorp Super Netball League. We are doing everything we can to sustain our sport.
We understand the profound effect this event has placed on us all, emotionally, mentally and financially. Let’s continue to look after each other, be kind, stay safe, we will get through this.
Yours in Netball,
Netball Queensland Board
#NetballUnited
