Sporting clubs in the Hunter Region are keenly awaiting a NSW government decision on when they can return to normal training and competition.
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With some COVID-19 restrictions lifted in NSW on Friday, those involved in sport are hoping to be next in line.
A NSW government website - nsw.gov.au - said the eased restrictions allow people to "train outdoors with up to 10 people", but social distancing must be maintained.
"Get tested and stay home if you are unwell," it said.
Asked if this meant training for community sport could occur, a NSW Office of Sport spokesperson said: "NSW residents can exercise in maximum groups of ten in public, complying with physical distancing measures".
The NSW public health order that halted community sport because of COVID-19 was originally put in place until June 29. Sport participants are hoping these restrictions may be lifted sooner.
The government is weighing up the staged return of community sport, amid concern about the possibility of a winter coronavirus outbreak.
National Cabinet has established principles for the return of community sport.
The national principles state that the resumption of community sport "should take place in a staged fashion", with an initial phase of training in small groups of less than 10 people in "a non-contact fashion".
Children's sport was given priority for the "initial phase", but the principles further state that: "All individuals who participate in and contribute to sport and recreation will be considered in resumption plans".
The federal government has also established a three-step framework for sport's return.
Step one involves outdoor sport of up to 10 people and step two involves up to 20 people.
Step three allows all sporting venues to operate with gatherings of up to 100 people. Under this step, a full return to competition will be considered.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the National Cabinet's goal was to get through these steps by July. But state governments will determine progression through these phases, taking account of "local epidemiology, risk mitigation strategies and public health capability".
Cardiff Hawks AFL Club president Damian Charleson said when sport gets the green light to return "everybody will hit the ground running".
"We'll be back into it with a shorter season," he said.
"There might be a fair bit of fun around it as well - maybe not as serious. Well, they will try to win, but I'm sure everybody will be happy to be back and around each other."
Life without sport had been "a challenge for everybody".
"It's a big part of people's lives," he said.
The club had been "urging players to keep fit".
The NRL is due to return on May 28 and the AFL on June 11.
If any professional sporting players contract COVID-19, forcing a team into quarantine, some fear a start date for community sport may be pushed back.
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