Liz Ellis: Super Netball start date beyond welcome after such awful uncertainty

The announcement of a start date for Suncorp Super Netball is beyond welcome.

It has been frustrating watching the rugby league season get underway and the AFL plan for their start whilst still being in the dark about when we might see some netball.

The sport has looked like the proverbial duck in recent months, with everything seeming calm above water – the players responsibly and calmly took pay cuts, and everyone toed the line and trained in isolation – but the fact of the matter is that everyone has been paddling like mad underneath.

From the players who have had to stay in a holding pattern in terms of training, trying to stay fit without burning out, to the coaches whose job has suddenly become one of endless zoom meetings and long distance relationships, to administrators who are trying to get a full competition up on resources that would barely scratch the surface of the two big football codes.

While the clubs have made a good show of coping with isolation, putting out some pretty impressive social media content and keeping fans engaged and entertained, the story has been very different behind closed doors.

Players have had to suddenly become individual athletes, largely training alone in improvised home gyms. For people who are used to the team environment, and the fun and banter that goes with it, it has been a crushing readjustment.

It has been no easier for coaches. Used to planning the season down to a matter of minutes, they have been left guessing for months about what they need to do with their charges, both physically and mentally. Figuring out how to keep them fit, focused and motivated has been a huge challenge, as well as remaining empathetic to the affect of isolation on their mental health.

Having said all that, whilst the waiting game has been frustrating, it has been done for good reason.

Unlike the NRL and AFL, netball simply cannot afford to charter planes to get around border restrictions. As a true national competition, the closures of the Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia borders have a major impact on the sport.

The August start date buys Super Netball the time to perhaps see teams travel to and from games, and save the huge costs associated with playing out of a hub.

Finally though, the players can train towards something, even if it is from home. Coaches can prepare for competition and administrators can start to figure out how to make it all work.

Sometimes a little certainty goes a long way.