Message from Executive Officer
Dear Players, Parents, Supporters, Coaches and Basketball Fans,
I will keep this newsletter as brief as possible but still try and pass on the necessary information.
Firstly, thank you to everyone for assisting us in implementing the safe scale-down and ultimate closure of DBA in line with our peak bodies and health experts advice. We are confident that we followed our Disaster Management Plan and effectively managed our responsibilities in a timely manner. It is most unfortunate that we did not get to play finals in the Challenge season and ultimately the DBA Board decided it would be fairer to all involved if there were to be no Challenge season premiers.
With the onset of sporting venue closures we decided to do away with the proposed 3×3 competition and focus solely on the Championship season. This was due to commence initially in April and then was being pushed back until 20th July (with the seasons changing back to calendar year)
After discussions with our peak bodies and other basketball associations, the decisions are being made to set up a competition with a start date that can easily be moved without effect. The start date of 27th April (when the 3×3 was due to commence) is being used as a proposed start date for the Championship season. Obviously, no one knows if this will happen or not but it is merely a starting point to be able to set up the competition structure. We will therefore be opening registrations this week through the website darwin.basketball. REGISTRATIONS WILL OPEN THURSDAY 26TH!!
Some people will want to get registered and some wont. By opening up the registration, it allows for choice! So if you have an opinion that this shouldn’t be done, then don’t register – don’t comment and continue on with what you feel is the right thing to do! For some people, they want normality, they want to be able to use this down time to organise their lives, they want to give their kids something to look forward to, they actually just want the choice to do what they feel is right, they want to feel in control of something and even if that is one small thing like committing to a sport and registering…
I have personally been through two major disasters as the CEO of a basketball association and I can assure you, I didn’t do everything right the first time – but I certainly learnt for the second time and I am implementing that knowledge and experience here as we deal with this situation.
When the world returns to “normal” it is imperative that businesses, sports, entertainment all return to normal as soon as possible, so if we can do our bit now and be organised then some of you will be thankful.
Others will take this as an opportunity to criticise or usurp every decision that is made during this time but I can assure you all – every decision I make will be in the best interest of the sport, the members and my fellow staff! It is times like this that we have to have faith and belief in people to do their jobs and do them well. You don’t have to agree with me, you don’t have to like me, you just have to have faith that I know how to manage and administer the sport of basketball.
Our aim is to have the competition set up.
If and when people want to register, they can!
Club volunteers, if and when they want, can place players into teams.
We will be ready to run as soon as we can!
There is no penalty for those who don’t want to register.
Everyone has the freedom to choose and act in the best way they feel is suitable to their current circumstances.
There will be NO fees payable now for individual team registrations – team contacts can go on and register a team to get the team code and then distribute to players.
Clubs will not be charged team nominations until the competition commences.
Vouchers can be sent in for redemption now!
Some clubs have elected to NOT open their registrations and again this is their choice.
We send our very best wishes and support to our basketball family, stay safe and be kind to each other.
Kerri Savidge
Executive Office
