MOVES towards an upfront charge for junior basketballers and netballers at the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre has been described as a “payback” for an ill-fated bid to introduce a $2 spectator fee five years ago.
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Albury Council’s community and cultural committee backs plans for a seasonal court hire charge requiring an upfront $100 for junior basketball and $80 for junior netball from the start of July.
Albury Indoor Netball Association president Trish Cerminara was at the forefront of the opposition to the failed spectator fee proposal in 2008.
She fears parents would be forced to make a choice between what sports they played at the stadium and numbers could drop.
“I am really concerned about the poorer families we have with children playing netball,” she said.
“We have reluctantly agreed to this and we understand this is our payback for the spectator fee.
“We are concerned for people who can’t afford to play multiple sports — I know of families who will have to make a choice because they won’t be able to do both.”
Registered players must also pay Netball Victoria $60.
Junior netballers are also shifting from the game-by-game ticket system of $6.50 a game.
Association officials are proposing a 16-week season, including three weeks of finals.
Average cost for a full season will be $5 a week under the altered system.
Sports centre advisory committee chairman Cr Ross Jackson said the upfront payment system — up for full council approval on April 28 — was a “suitable alternative” to a spectator fee.
“Week-by-week payments are no longer standard practice at major sporting centres or junior sporting competitions and the process is labour intensive,” he said.
“It was a system that also meant the centre and sporting associations were financially vulnerable to forfeits and cancellations.
“This way we all have some certainty over income and will be able to provide better competitions overall.”
It would “streamline the payment process and reduce our operating costs without having to charge families anything extra.”
“Parents also have the added benefit that if their child plays in a higher grade or fills in for another team, then that game will be at no cost.”
Parents with several children who may have difficulty paying upfront may work with associations, now investigating flexible payment options.
