After being sidelined by the worst natural disaster in the region's history, community sports groups across the Northern Rivers are trying to get back on the paddock.
At the first netball carnival of the season in Mullumbimby, netballers celebrated with a mass dance to Nutbush City Limits.
But those who lost their possessions in the floods were also testing out some unfamiliar footwear.
A shoe drive is being coordinated by the Ballina Netball Association to help players to get back on the court.
"With retail the way it is, decimated in areas as well, we didn't want them (players) to have the problem of being able to go shopping," coaching coordinator Selina Atkinson said.
"So we put a call out to other outside areas as well as internally to get second-hand shoes."
And it worked.
Players have received shoes from netball clubs across the state, as well as the Gold Coast Titans.
"We just really wanted kids to physically access getting back on the court," Ms Atkinson said.
Baseball stronghold looking for 'normalcy'
The Far North Coast Baseball Association, a stronghold for the sport, has suffered significant damage.
The facilities at Albert Park in Lismore were being upgraded when the flood hit, and a relatively new set of batting cages were flattened by the water.
Association commissioner Craig Scheibel said a lot of gear was lost.
"We've basically lost the bulk of our equipment … all of our grounds equipment, a lot of our pitching machines, gloves, balls, all those sorts of things," Mr Scheibel said.
"It certainly hurts."
Baseball Australia, which stores equipment for the national team at the site, also had losses.
"We've had teams and people reach out from all over Australia because we host so many tournaments here. We've hosted international games here, national tournaments," Mr Scheibel said.
The local season has been delayed, but Mr Scheibel said the association was keen to get players back on the diamond.
"We understand a lot of people have lost a lot of their homes and everything else but there's still a big drive from a lot of families to want to get back on the ground and get some sort of normalcy back," he said.
"A lot of the families here have been coming here for generations. There's generations of family that have played here so there's that sense of family around this ground."
Mental health a driver for footy players
Aussie Rules club the Lismore Swans is in a similar position to the baseballers.
Although player registrations have dropped as people focus on rebuilding, club president Ken McPherson is confident the club will field both a men's and women's team this season.
"We'll have a more enjoyable social season rather than have that 100 per cent competitive style that we're renowned to be like," he said.
Training has already begun two nights a week.
Mr McPherson said people wanted to get back to the game to improve their mental wellbeing.
"It's the camaraderie of the family and members inside the club that sort of builds that mentality back and gives these guys that have lost everything in this flood that strength to keep moving on."
However, the club is currently without a playing field to host matches due to contamination.
A spokesman for AFL North Coast said other clubs had already indicated they were willing to be flexible to help accommodate the teams affected by the floods.
Mr McPherson said people wanted to return to their sport to build and draw upon the community's strength.
"It's just that mental connection and a break away from where their life's changed."
