AN increase in attendance numbers from 500 to 3000 has eased the pressure on the NSW Touch Football Association ahead of the NSW Junior State Cup in Port Macquarie.
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The relaxation of government health restrictions prior to Christmas provided the association with more leeway after they scrambled through the NSW Senior State Cup in December.
General manager Dean Russell confirmed the 2021 event will still go ahead with the northern conference competition on February 19-21.
There will be no under-8 division and affiliates will only be able to field one team in each age bracket.
"To only have 500 people would have been a real handful, but the 3000 is still in vogue which does make it a lot easier for us even though there are restrictions in Greater Sydney," Mr Russell said.
"We can only plan ahead and hope everything falls in our favour."
Mr Russell said the association has handed in a submission to the state government regarding the possibility of welcoming 3000 people across four different zones.
"It would be great if we could have that, but I'm not holding my breath with everything going on," he said.
"NSW Health are under a heap of pressure to manage the outbreaks in Sydney, so I don't know where our submission sits in the pecking order."
"To only have 500 people would have been a real handful, but the 3000 is still in vogue which does make it a lot easier for us."
- NSW Touch Football Association general manager Dean Russell
The competition will run under a different format to previous years with the NSW State Cup system of arrive, play, leave expected to again be required.
"With the Senior State Cup we had 99 per cent positive feedback on the structure of players coming in, playing and then being finished for the day.
"Only one person told me they didn't like it."
Mr Russell admitted it was an ongoing challenge to prepare for an event that could change at the last minute.
"The biggest challenge is what the virus does and the government's reaction; if they reduce numbers for the venue that will be a massive challenge for us," he said.
"But we're pressing ahead and if COVID gets a bit out of hand and changes the outlook, then you've got to roll with that."
Team nominations close this Friday.
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