Albany Basketball Association players and coaches ready for mask-wearing rule to keep season bouncing

Basketballers are prepared to do whatever it takes to keep their season going as the wearing of masks inside the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre becomes a requirement from this week. The return of the Albany Basketball Association season was pushed back a week because of the uncertainty of the latest State Government directions, including providing proof of COVID-19 vaccination which came into effect at indoor venues on January 31. ALAC is the venue for all ABA games, and initial advice was all patrons inside the building would be required to show proof of vaccination. However, that was clarified at the weekend, with the ABA still falling under the community sport exemption, and proof of vaccination is not required to play. However, anyone entering ALAC and the indoor courts will have to wear a mask, including players, coaches, referees and spectators. The only people exempt from wearing a mask will be the 10 players on the court and the referees officiating in each game, but when players come to the bench they will be required to wear one. Sonics Basketball and Sporting Club president and A-grade coach David Arthur said people would have to adjust to wearing masks. Arthur also referees for the ABA. “I think it will be testing to start off with,” he said. “It’s just one of those things in the pandemic, there’s always going to be changes so we just have to learn to adjust and look after each other and back each other up and get through it. “I think it’s just one of those factors that people are going to adjust to. I don’t think it’s going to affect the game too much itself. “We have got to keep the kids on the court and active, so we are happy to do this to keep the season going.” Sonics A-grade women’s player Aleesha Narkle said players would adapt to substituting off the court and putting masks on. “You would rather play than not,” she said. “We will all try and help each other out and help remind them.” Basketball will get its first taste of the new mask rules when junior and senior competition resumes at ALAC on Monday night.