We would like to remind all members of our commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone involved in our community.
We have recently been made aware of an incident at one of our stadiums involving a neurodiverse young person being teased by children from an opposition team. While we understand that situations such as this can occur when coaches or other adults may not be in close proximity, it is important that we all work together to ensure every participant feels safe and respected.
As an association, we do not tolerate behaviour that excludes, ridicules or targets others. We encourage all clubs to continue promoting understanding, empathy and respect within their teams and their club communities.
We ask that you please share this email with your coaches and team managers so we can continue working together to foster inclusive environments for all children and young people. We also encourage coaches to address negative or disrespectful comments when they arise and use these moments as opportunities to reinforce empathy and respectful behaviour.
Basketball Victoria recently partnered with Aspect Australia to deliver an Autism Awareness Training webinar. The session provided practical strategies that clubs, coaches and volunteers can implement to help ensure children feel safe and supported while participating in basketball.
Autism Awareness Training Webinar
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBKbYfPWmXo
We appreciate your support in helping us create a positive experience for all members of the SBA community.
Regards,
Southern Basketball Association