As we slip back into our basketball routines I wanted to, on behalf of our Committee of Management and Office, extend a very warm welcome to all of our participants who make this game what it is – a great mix of individual and team skills, fitness, social interaction and FUN!

It goes without saying that our return to basketball this time around is not without its challenges.

Notwithstanding the policy remits of the State Government, Basketball Victoria and the Hume City Council related to access to Community Sport without reference to vaccination status, we understand the concerns of some elements of our basketball community about this position. Indeed, we have strongly advocated for the vaccination regime across the Association’s stakeholders and can confirm that all of our Committee of Management members and Office staff enjoy that status.

We believe that, to the extent that our COVID safe framework requires check in to our venues using our QR code, enforces the wearing of masks for all but those who are physically involved in the game, provides for the application of hand sanitizers and facilitates the changeover between games with minimal interaction between those participants, any perceived risk related to the directed access arrangements will be minimised. We would note that the protocol of these measures currently applies in other public indoor settings, such as supermarkets.

There have been meetings of the Association’s Junior Domestic Sub Committee over the course of the lockdown to ensure that, as soon as we were given the green light to return, a safe framework to accommodate that return was available. Given the safeguard measures noted in the preceding paragraph, we consider that, working collaboratively across the breadth of our Junior Domestic Clubs, we will achieve the benefits of physically and mentally stimulating individual and team-based experiences through this carefully managed return to training and competition.

Thank you all again for your support and understanding at this time. Please know that the Association is committed to providing basketball environments that are safe, learning focused and enjoyable so that our participants can derive high levels of satisfaction through their involvement in this family friendly sport.

Kind Regards

Peter Jackson

President

BBA Inc