7 September 2021

 

Last evening, the LVSL Board met and reached a difficult decision to cancel all football competitions for the 2021 season at both senior and junior level.

 

This decision was not reached lightly and not without extensive consultation and input from our member clubs. We are mindful that our decisions not only impact this season but have potential impacts for the 2022 season.

 

As a League we find ourselves still blanketed by uncertainty regarding what the coming weeks and months hold around restriction updates and the ability to return to competitions in a manner that is sustainable for our players and clubs.

 

The Board would have loved to have been in a position that allowed us to deliver outcomes and direction with certainty for our clubs, unfortunately that is not the case now, or in the immediate future.

 

We noted the cancellation of Football Victoria governed competitions and that they have determined not to award league championships, individual awards or promotion/relegation where applicable. We also note that the fabric of our sport is intrinsically different to others sports such as Australian rules, basketball, netball or rugby in respect to the outcome of competition seasons.

 

In reaching our determination we considered and spoke about the following;

 

• First and foremost 5 of our member clubs indicated that they could not continue with the season for valid and fair reasons, and this immediately impacted the viability and integrity of all our competitions.
• The current lockdowns will likely see at least a further two weeks removed from our competitions and impact our ability to return to play, inclusive of time to prepare and train, as a best case scenario. 
• We are aware that the state government has advised of a potential lifting of restrictions, but clarity around this has yet to be provided. There is some conjecture around the travel bubble, vaccination levels, crowd numbers etc...all of which will impact our ability to facilitate competitions.
• We are also mindful that potentially if restrictions lift in regional Victoria, they will not include the return to play of community sport. 
• Our players at present have missed 6 weeks of training and playing.
• We are also mindful that player, volunteer and club engagement has been significantly impacted due to the latest extended lockdown.
• It has been extremely difficult to balance competition outcomes against our rules of competition to reach a fair conclusion, in particular for our league championship which is contingent upon the completion of a home and away season. The facilitation of a final series has also been impacted to a significant degree.

 

As such the LVSL board has determined the following outcomes in respect to the 2022 season;

 

• No senior/junior league championships will be awarded across all competitions.
• No Cup or Finals series will be able to be facilitated or awarded across all competitions.
• No individual awards will be able to be given in a fair and integral manner.
• The LVSL understand the importance of our juniors and will be recognising their contribution in an appropriate manner.

 

I hope that all our stakeholders understand that the 2021 season has been incredibly challenging to manage with the constant stop/start of our competitions. This season has been on the back of a cancelled 2020 season. I would like to personally thank all our clubs, players, volunteers, referees and spectators for your patience over very difficult times. You have all stuck by your clubs, done your best to support each other and our game through some very trying circumstances and restrictions, for that the LVSL Board is very appreciative of your efforts.

 

The challenge to keep our players engaged begins now, we all need to work to ensure that we can come back yet again in 2022, and as a Board we will be working on opportunities as soon as we can and are able to.

 

The LVSL has a proud and strong history, we are made up of resilient people who can meet challenges and deliver outcomes. We will apply these traits as we work toward the 2022 season with dedicated enthusiasm and renewed vigour.

 

Regards

 

Allan Roberts 
President - on behalf of the LVSL Board.