WEEKEND sport sparked into life in all corners of the Eastern Bay on Saturday.
Young stars carved up the grass, graced the courts and sped around the turf as most junior sports began their seasons.
The Saturday morning ritual is a core part of the ethos that defines what many New Zealanders do on the weekends.
The competition for players and the never-ending struggle for funding was put aside on Saturday as netball, rugby, football and league clubs embarked on their winter journeys.
One of the most consistent Eastern Bay sports in recent years has been netball.
Nita Shannon Courts swarmed with netballers on Saturday and Netball Centre Whakatane president Storm Hale said she was rapt to see an increase in junior and senior players.
The year 1, 2 and 3 teams played in the early part of the day before the rest of the junior grades played their first games from mid-morning.
While the concentrated action of netball can be found at one place, rugby teams were spread far and wide for their first competition games.
Major changes by the Eastern Bay JAB committee this season have meant the under-6 and under-7 grades have been split into hubs.
The three hubs – Whakatane/Rangitaiki, Opotiki and Valley, have grouped clubs in geographical areas. Clubs will take turns hosting other teams from their hub and in the final three weeks of the competition, there will be tournaments at three different venues to determine champions in both grades.
Committee spokeswoman Tania Humberstone
said the new format would provide numerous benefits for the players.
“We believe this will help them get as much game time as they can and mean less travel.
There has been a drop off of kids, probably in all sports, after the first few grades so we have focused on this area.
“Feedback has been good from coaches after this week.”
The new format meant it would be easier for teams from places such as Ruatahuna and Tawera to take part.
The decline of the under-13 grade left just Paroa and Whakatane Marist registered this season and they have joined the Bay of Plenty secondary school development grade.
Another all-in venue is Stadium Horizon where young hockey players took their first steps on Saturday.
All junior grades played in a mini tournament of short games and while there appeared to be plenty willing to pick up a stick and play, Whakatane Hockey is facing challenges off the turf.
A shortage of coaches and volunteers is challenging the future of the sport for junior players.
The annual Bay Day tournament took over Rex Morpeth Park with hundreds of footballers also playing in a mini tournament.
Games took place on many different-sized fields in the traditional season opening style. It is the one time of the year all the Eastern Bay players are at one venue.
Junior league teams began their season on Sunday. The Mataatua Saddlebacks and the Putauaki Stags play in the junior grades of the Coastline competition the season began with an open day at Arataki.
The competition has a club host another club each week with all grades playing at the one venue.
