CTA president Ryann Byrne said an announcement by Tennis Victoria on Friday regarding statewide playing conditions for the sport could still change the start date.
“We met on Wednesday evening with the clubs and decided with the November 5 roadmap date for a ‘full state release’ that it would be a good chance to get started,” Byrne said.
“But we will be waiting on Tennis Victoria’s announcement (today, on Friday) to finalise that plan.”
The redevelopment of the Echuca lawn tennis courts is another challenge for the association ahead of the fast-approaching season.
Several ideas were shared at a meeting of clubs, including the potential for Friday night tennis, or for games to be relocated away from Echuca.
“Nothing has been locked in at this point. It will be more of an arrangement with clubs, rather than a locked-in fixture,” Byrne said.
The final hurdle is the cross-border competition as Victorian clubs, Echuca Lawn, Colbinabbin, Lockington Bamawn United, Rochester and Elmore, plan for games on the Rich River courts in NSW.
Regulations for NSW, in regard to vaccinated participants in sport, won’t be eased until December 1.
That could mean at least three weeks of vaccination requirements for Victorian players travelling for competition.
“With only one club in NSW it may be a little easier for us,” Byrne said.
“Whether Rich River travel to Victoria for all their games hasn’t been finalised.
“Echuca has a large number of teams and they can only use 10 courts during the development of the courts.
“Friday night tennis could be an option for some rounds.
“We will need to be flexible, but this is more just brainstorming for now.
We will know more after today and in the coming week.“
Elmore, Rochester, Echuca Lawn (3), Rich River and Lockington (2) will field eight teams in division one this year.
Colbinabbin is in division two, among five teams, with Rochester, Rich River and two Echuca teams.
There will be three junior divisions, A, B and C-grade, with three Echuca sides in the top grade, along with two Lockington sides and one from Rich River.
B-grade has 12 teams, four Echuca, four Elmore and two Lockington teams, with Rochester and Rich River having one each.
C-grade has 11 teams, three from Echuca, Lockington Bamawn United, Rochester and Colbinabbin each have two, Elmore and Rich River have one each.
“Overall it is fairly similar, in terms of the number of teams entered,” Mr Byrne said.
The draw is expected to be released a week before the start of the season.
“It was a very positive feel to the meeting, despite some challenges that face us. Everyone was pretty keen to get the season started,” he said.
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