For many of us, that is community sport. Whether you are a player, a past player, a coach, an umpire or referee, a trainer, a club official, a family member, a supporter or simply a spectator, sport is a massive part of the lives of thousands of Tasmanians.

It is played and enjoyed across every corner of our state, on every weekend and most weeknights, by juniors and seniors, be it for fun or for keeps. Or, at least, it was until the COVID-19 crisis forced the shutdown of so many things we hold dear.

With its sudden loss, the true significance of the role it plays in our communities became clear.

In many senses, community-based sporting clubs and associations represent the rich tapestry of our lives. Clubs are composed of people from all walks of life, regardless of politics, location, religion or ethnicity and, in many communities, they are the glue that binds us together.

Some of my best memories and strongest friendships have come from my time spent in sporting clubs - with teammates, club volunteers, their families, those officiating and, of course, those I competed against.

Its loss is felt deeply. We miss it - and not just the game, the ritual, the physical exertion and the connections. We miss it all - the smells of the cut grass, the food at the canteen, the laughs and the blood, sweat and tears.

In fact, for many people who rely on sport for the connections it brings, the loss of that physical and emotional support will have a heavy toll on their mental health.

We all understand why the restrictions have been necessary. There is nothing more important at the moment than saving lives.

But with restrictions easing, we need to consider what it means to return to normal. Sporting clubs will be among the places many of us will want to return to first.

And, if that is to happen, we need to include sporting clubs as an essential part of the recovery process.

As well as Tasmania's businesses, the financial impact of the restrictions is also being felt by the hundreds of community sporting clubs across the state.

The revenue base for many clubs comes from player subscriptions, small sponsorships attached to profile raising and access to memberships, gate receipts, bar takings, canteen fundraising and the various raffles, quiz nights and events that clubs run.

Many clubs carry debt from one season to the other and rely on games or events that bring people together to raise the funds to pay off these debts and keep the club's heart pumping.

With social distancing now a part of our daily lives, this fundraising has stopped completely or at least been severely curtailed. And, that means many of these clubs will be fighting for their financial lives.

So, if we value our community connections and the sporting clubs that embody that spirit, we need to make sure they receive enough support to stay afloat in a reconnected world.

Individual clubs will need targeted support and sporting associations will need assistance to identify the key issues for their codes. And local councils must be included in the conversation around facilities and clubs' needs, and ensure the removal of barriers to sports participation in our most impacted communities.

Labor would like to see any savings from the disruption to the AFL ploughed into community sporting clubs to help with their survival.

Failing that, the COVID-19 Sport and Recreation Grants Program should be expanded to provide more support. In addition to covering wages, consideration should be given to expanding eligibility, covering club debt, and providing extra resources to clubs to fill the fundraising gap.

The recovery from this pandemic involves more than business and the economy. As we come out of this, we will be reaching out for the things we once took for granted and it would be a tragedy if they were no longer there.

We must be thinking now how to best provide the support these clubs need to survive. This will be an investment in our community - and it is essential to the re-building, recovery and healing of Tasmania.

Our COVID-19 news articles relating to public health and safety are free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.