“In the last 10 years, we’ve sort of averaged around about 80-85 teams weekly, so that’s across our cricket, netball, volleyball and soccer,” arena manager Greg Sparke said. 

The indoor sport season is three weeks from its semi-finals, for volleyball, netball, soccer and cricket, with a new comp season set to begin at the end of February or early March. 

Greg said despite the holidays, they have a good number of people participating in the teams. “You’ve still got the people that stay in town, that don’t go away on holidays; they still continuing on with the competitions,” he said. “

“Basically, you can get a sub-player for that person or persons, depends on how many’s away, but your competition doesn’t really change much in that time. 

He said the popularity of all the sports ebb and flow, depending on the national profile of the sport. “It goes in a bit of a fad, I think, it really depends on what’s going on on the TV and what’s going on around Australia at the time. 

Greg explained there are four graded levels, such as in volleyball, which allow for a range of participant competition and ability. “That sort of gets the novice, who comes in and just wants to muck around and have a game, and you’ve also got volleyball there who want to play at a really high level.

“Everybody sort of sees volleyball as, ‘Yeah, it’s pretty easy,’ but it’s a very co-ordinated game, so not a lot of young ones get involved in the volleyball. There’s a lot more in volleyball that what it looks.”

Greg said children as young as six are involved in the cricket competition, and there is no upward age limit on any of the sports. Individuals can come along and try any post as a reserve player to get a taste, and find out about joining a team.

For more information on the team schedules, find them on Facebook or their website: Inverell Insports Arena or phone 6722 4866.