In a statement this afternoon, Basketball Ballarat confirmed the season had been finished early.

"After continuous work behind the scenes by Basketball Victoria, this afternoon following the State Government announcements, we have since received the news that the 2021 NBL1 South Season has now been cancelled," it said.

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"Basketball Victoria looked at every option available to finish the season within reason but given the current and ongoing restrictions the difficult decision was made to end the season.

"This is no doubt, disappointing on all fronts. Our focus right now is to continue checking in on the welfare of our players, coaches, volunteers and staff while we remain closed during the current lockdowns and furthermore get in touch with all our corporate and community partners.

"We understand many partnerships are unique in their own way across the elite teams and community competitions, but we will be in contact soon in relation to the next steps here."

EARLIER: STATE league's involving metropolitan based clubs look likely to have no options but to call time on their winter seasons after the state government extended Melbourne restrictions until at least September 23.

it means competitions such as basketball, hockey, soccer and rugby all look set to have their seasons ended with little hope of being able to resume, even if restrictions ease after that date.

For many, it will mean a greater than six-week shutdown which would require competitions to need two weeks of training before play can resume, thus taking them well into October and crossing over with summer sports such as cricket, tennis and lawn bowls.

The situation looks equally perilous for indoor sports such as basketball, with NBL1 clubs now unlikely to be able to play, even if they are allowed to.

For example, the Ballarat Miners and Rush have a number of players who are based in Melbourne and of those who are based in Ballarat - such as Matt Kenyon, Alicia Froling and Jasmine Simmons - they will all soon take-up contracts with NBL and WNBL clubs, and in Simmons' case AFLW club Adelaide.

Even Miners coach Brendan Joyce expects to depart the country to take up his new position in Taiwan in early October.

A number of the major organisations including Hockey Victoria, Football Victoria and NBL1 Basketball were working though the parameters on Wednesday afternoon with announcements expected in coming days.

Whether premiership teams will be declared or not in a number of those competitions is to be decided as will be promotion and relegation positions, which affect a number of Ballarat-based clubs including WestVic Hockey, Ballarat City FC and Sebastopol Vikings.

The one bright spot on the state government's announcement on Wednesday was a flagging of restrictions being eased in regional Victoria next week, provided there are no more outbreaks.

Should Ballarat remain free of infections, there is every chance competitions such as the Ballarat District Soccer Association and all regionally-based competitions such as hockey will be able to resume, however, it is unlikely at best that indoor sport, such as basketball, will be able to resume.

The state government was unable to give clarity on what those potential easing of restrictions could mean over the next week or so, but it is unlikely that indoor sports will be able to return in any great number in the short to medium term.