MANNING Hockey will start a 10 week competition from July 18, finishing with grand finals on Saturday September 26.
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Clubs will have until June 1 to renominate teams for the start of the season.
Association president Debbie Monck said registration fees would also be reduced by Manning Hockey and Hockey NSW. She added that Hockey NSW had indicated registrations for this year will also cover 2021.
Ms Monck and other association presidents from around the State met with Hockey NSW via video conferencing earlier this month to map out a season that has been savaged by Covid-19 restrictions.
"We'll be offering players a minimum of 10 games,'' Ms Monck said.
"And we'll also play a modified two week finals series. Teams on top of the ladder after the competition will go straight into the grand final with sides finishing second and third playing off for the the other spot.''
Ms Monck said the September 26 finish is just a week later than the original date for the grand final.
She said the association didn't consider extending the season into October.
"We don't want to clash with summer sports or the school holidays,'' she said.
"After people have been locked up for so long they'll be looking to get away in the holidays if that's possible. We don't want to interrupt their plans.''
Ms Monck expects there'll be one double header played during the season to get the 10 games in, although the specifics haven't been worked out yet.
She stressed that hockey will comply with all directions from the government and Hockey NSW regarding social distancing and crowds.
This could include playing some games on the grass fields at Taree Recreation Centre to avoid people congregating around the association's clubhouse.
Ms Monck has spoken to the presidents of all hockey clubs to outline the plans to start the season. She said all were supportive.
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Ms Monck confirmed that Port Thunder men and Camden Haven women would be playing in the Manning division one competition. Port Thunder had previously withdrawn from division one women.
She added the junior competitions will also start on July 18, with the season to be determined by the number of registrations.
"But we'll work with what we have. We want to start a competition for the kids,'' she said.
Ms Monck said Hockey NSW has been supportive of grassroots hockey.
"All the State championships have been cancelled. But they'll be back next year,'' she said.
"Hockey NSW wants to get grassroots hockey up and running as soon as possible.''