Hockey Tasmania welcomes potential return to action

It comes after the sport's national body, in consultation with its member associations, began planning for a long-awaited 2020 season.

Hockey Australia chief executive Matt Favier said the primary focus continues to be on getting local competitions restarted.

"As Australia continues to make inroads in flattening the curve of COVID-19, there is genuine optimism and excitement about the prospect of hockey being played this year," he said.

"While we understand this is a really difficult time, that there is still a level of uncertainty and it is premature to set any specific dates on when hockey will recommence, we are excited by the progress that is being made and the direction Australia as a nation is heading in with regards to this pandemic.

"[We] have started planning for when the green light is given for community sport to resume, which has been announced as one of the Federal Government's priorities, and we are hopeful that it is a case of when and not if."

The development was well received at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre in New Town.

Hockey Tasmania chief executive Damian Smith said the organisation continues to keep an eye on the advice from the Tasmanian Government and health department as to when activities could resume around the state.

"We are engaging regularly with the competition convenors and having preliminary discussions as to what a 2020 winter competition looks like for each region and continue to update the club presidents as to the status of the sport and organisation," he said.

"We are committed to only resuming activities when it is safe to do so and will have in place best-practice guidelines that place the health and safety of our members ahead of everything else."

He urged anybody with feedback about the resumption of activities to contact club presidents.

The Hockey Tasmania board met via video-conference last week and subsequently informed members that it continues to trade in a solvent manner and was awaiting the outcome of a submission for a Sport and Recreation stimulus grant.

In a message to members, Hockey Australia stated that the resumption will be important due to the health, economic, social and cultural benefits it brings.

The Prime Minister made it clear that it will be state governments that will ultimately guide the resumption of sporting codes within their jurisdictions, providing that does not compromise the health of individuals or the community.

National Cabinet has brought forward its review of baseline restrictions to Friday, May 8.