'It's all gone': ACT grassroots sport funding fight just beginning

The Australian Sports Foundation has published the results of a nation-wide survey to determine the impact of the virus shutdown to the sporting industry at all levels.

The foundation estimates Canberra clubs large and small will need a $38 million reboot to help them recoup the losses of this year. Nationally, the foundation say 70,000 clubs have lost an estimated aggregate of $1.6 billion because of COVID-19.

The ACT government allowed contact sports to resume in the capital last weekend, giving participants a chance to return to the field for the first time since March.

Most clubs requested spectators stay at home for round one to help them manage new restrictions, resulting in no canteen or gate revenue opportunities.

Foundation chief executive Patrick Walker said "the return of sporting activity does not mean the crisis is over".

The foundation - a non-profit sports fundraising organisation - is calling for a coordinated approach is needed to help clubs avoid a "national crisis" over the next six months.

ACT Dragons volleyball president Dean Turner said the club had exhausted its cash reserves of $18,000 to ease the financial burden on members this year. The cost of that is being unsure about the future as the Dragons try avoid going into the red.

The Dragons player numbers are down by 20 per cent due to a combination of financial and some wanting to avoid extra virus risks during the uncertain times.

"We're offering greater flexibility with progressive payments for our fees this year," Turner said.

"We've lost somewhere in the order of $20,000 in sponsorships this year. We've had to forgo applying for certain ACT grants this year because we can't meet the requirement of matching it dollar for dollar.

"We couldn't hold on to our sponsors because they had to survive themselves. That chewed up our cash reserves ... the current administration took over two and a half years ago and we were in the red then.

"We were heading in the right direction, but it's all gone now."

MORE CANBERRA SPORT

The foundation launched its survey two months ago with the aim of gathering as much data as possible to shine a light on struggling community clubs.

One in four respondents feared their clubs would be insolvent, with more than 16,000 clubs across Australia thought to be at risk of closure.

All amateur competitions in Canberra will go ahead, but some teams have been forced to withdraw after the virus exacerbated player number and financial problems.

"Even though we're getting back to sport, it doesn't mean the end of the crisis. A lot of clubs are telling us it's going to take three or more years to recover from this," Walker said.

"Clubs have dipped into savings and they don't have a lot to start with. They were OK, but a big financial jolt like this really makes it difficult.

"We certainly don't expect government or anyone to write one big cheque and hand out the money. That's not what we're saying. But we're saying it's a big problem and it affects every community in Australia.

"The only way to solve it is for everyone who cares about the role of sport in our society ... charities, philanthropy and all levels of government can help. Maybe a more collaborative approach is what we need.

"There's a long, hard slog to go because sponsors of clubs are under pressure as well. One Canberra club we spoke to said 20-25 per cent of members would drift away because of this."

Walker fears the loss of sport as an outlet in society will have a major impact on community health and well being after several clubs.

The Dragons started their social competitions on Monday night and will continue this week, albeit in a different world to the one they used to know.

Players have to wait in a holding zone before they enter the facility to allow for previous users to depart and all balls are swapped out between timeslots to allow for cleaning.

Turner said the Dragons had also hoped to set up a junior league this year, but plans have been put on hold because of the associated venue hire costs and a lack of funds.

"The funds we put aside were chewed up. We're at the point where we know we need to run it because we need to build participation, and eventually it will pay for itself," Turner said.

"The problem is there are a lot of parents financially struggling now, so we don't know what the affordability benchmark is now.

"We're keeping a very close eye on things. We don't want to go back into the red if we can avoid it, but if we do we need a clear plan to get back out. If we don't get another [coronavirus] wave in Canberra, hopefully we can get something go in summer. But it's all hope."