At this time of year Jim Auld isn't meant to be spending his weekends at home.
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He's a fixture at the Lady Cutler ovals during the winter season, from first thing on Saturday morning through to the final whistle on Sunday evening.
Like everyone else he's currently stuck in a waiting game but the Dubbo and District Football Association secretary-manager is doing all he can to have teams get on the field this year.
Auld, a staple of football in the western area for a number of decades now, has been part of Football NSW meetings twice a week recently to help plan a return to play.
Last week's national cabinet meeting and reveal of a staged easing of restrictions may have created a little more uncertainty, but Auld is remaining optimistc.
"At the moment we've got a plan in place to start the competition in July but without all the parameters on when we can start training and playing it's a bit hard," Auld said.
"We will definitely have some kind season. We're looking at 12 weeks but there are other options. We could add more games by having some nights games or something like that."
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Like most other sports, crowds and the number of people allowed at venues is the biggest question hanging over the Dubbo FA.
On a normal Saturday of junior football action there would regularly be more than 1500 people at the Lady Cutler complex throughout the day.
When announcing the planned easing of restrictions last week, Prime Minster Scott Morrison said he was hopeful stage three would be reached by July.
That stage would allow 100 people in a venue but Auld said he and Football NSW has been working hard to find out the exact details of that.
"There's the AIS guidelines as well but that's too restrictive," Auld said.
"There was talk one scenario could be one parent with each child and then when the game finishes the team leaves immediately.
It probably won't suit everyone but we will try and offer what we can.
- Jim Auld on 2020 season
"But we don't know how many can be involved, if it's 100 to a pitch or 100 to an area. We could spread out because we have a good number of fields.
"We can have roughly between 1500 and 1800 people at the ovals on a Saturday and we're small compared to those in Sydney so it really would help all concerned if an iron-clad plan was put out each month so everyone could work through this."
While describing the current climate as "frustrating" Auld said the NSW Office of Sport had been working with Football NSW as much as possible.
"It's just about trying to get concrete answers and that's not from a lack of trying," he said.
"Once we get all the pieces in front of us we can formulate the most practical way to run the competition.
"It probably won't suit everyone but we will try and offer what we can."
A 12-round season is the current goal but extending the season past the originally scheduled grand final day in early September is difficult for the Dubbo FA as junior cricket representative tournaments are contested at the Lady Cutler grounds soon after.
Shifting to the Hans Claven or Lady Cutler East grounds could also provide the opportunity for more rounds.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
