Basketball Victoria COVID-19 Update

17/3/2020 – Update

Due to the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation in Victoria, the decision has been made by the Victorian Department of Health & Human Services to postpone This Girl Can Week and subsequent activities planned by event partners.

This means that the Basketball Victoria Come and Try event that you have registered to attend on March 27 at Casey Stadium has now been postponed.

We thank you for your understanding during this difficult time, however your safety and wellbeing is our priority.Further updates about Basketball Victoria activities, events and programs will be provided as information comes to hand. Please check our website (insert link) and social media channels for these updates.

For more information about COVID-19 and ways to keep yourself and your family protected please visit https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

16/3/2020 – Update

On Friday 13 March, Basketball Victoria made the decision to suspend all Basketball Victoria related activities, leagues, programs and events to help reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Today, Monday 16 March, the Victorian State Government has also declared a State of Emergency for four weeks in response to this pandemic.

We continue to regularly consult with key stakeholders including the Victorian Government, VicSport and Basketball Australia, as well as listening to our members which assists us in providing the appropriate guidance, information and updates on the continually unfolding COVID-19 situation and the effect on the basketball community.

We understand that basketball is a large part of many people’s lives, which will be missed at the moment, however our current priority is to make decisions that ensure the health and wellbeing of all players, coaches, officials, staff, volunteers and all of our families are maintained.

At this stage, the suspension of all related Basketball Victoria sanctioned activities, programs and events will continue through the state of emergency period. This date may change, and we will continue to provide updates on a weekly basis.

We have been listening to the questions and concerns of our community. Please see below for clarification on certain matters:

Training

Basketball Victoria considers formal or organised team training to be part of basketball related activities, programs and events. As such, we highly recommend training sessions are postponed until further notice.

VJBL

VJBL games are postponed until at least April 17. Further updates will continue to be provided on a weekly basis.

Big V

Big V games are postponed until at least April 13. Further league specific communications will follow in the coming days.

NBL1

League specific communications will follow in the coming days.

Country Championships

The Under 12 and Under 14 Country Championships due to be played between now and April 13 will be postponed until further notice. We will provide updates as soon as they come to hand.

Under 14 Skills Days

Upcoming Skills Day events scheduled to be held this weekend at Dromana, Ballarat, Bendigo, Bellarine, Hamilton, Korumburra, Swan Hill, Traralgon and Wangaratta are postponed until further notice. Additional information will follow as soon as it comes to hand.

Aussie Hoops

The Aussie Hoops program in Victoria is suspended until at least April 13. Further updates will continue to be provided on a weekly basis. In addition, Term 2 Registrations are also suspended.

Tribunal

Tribunal matters or hearings are to be deferred until further notice, unless there is an urgent matter. For any queries – please contact: Gerry Glennen on 03 9837 8000 or gerry.glennen@basketballvictoria.com.au

BV Awards Night / BVC Awards Breakfast

At this stage, both the BV Awards Night and the BVC Awards Breakfast are postponed until further notice, a future date has not yet been decided. We will continue to provide updates as further decisions are made.

Winners for all categories have been decided, we will not release winner’s names or the recognition of service award winners yet until further decisions have been made for potential celebrations later in the year.

Further updates about Basketball Victoria activities, events and programs will be provided as information comes to hand.

For more information about COVID-19 and ways to keep yourself and your family protected please visit https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

We will continue to work together to ensure we all get through this challenging time as best we can.

Nick Honey

Basketball Victoria CEO

13/3/20 – Update

Basketball Victoria has made the decision to suspend Basketball Victoria related programs, events and leagues from now March 13, until further notice. This includes ALL VJBL games, Big V games and the Country Championships being held in Ballarat this weekend.

As this is a rapidly evolving situation, we would like to thank everyone for their understanding and patience as we work through this difficult period. This is a decision we don’t take lightly and want to reassure the basketball

community that we will continue to work with the Victorian Government and other health authorities to ensure the health and wellbeing of our players, coaches, referees and staff are maintained.

Further updates will be provided in the coming days and weeks.

12/3/2020- Update

If a person is supposed to be in self-isolation/quarantine because of the existence of COVID-19 in a workplace, school or elsewhere, our advice is that the individual must not participate in basketball activities, whether or not they have any symptoms, until the isolation period has expired. Playing or attending basketball does not constitute isolation.

The situation is being closely monitored and as of today, Thursday 12 March, Big V, VJBL and the Country Championships will go ahead as scheduled for this weekend (Friday 13 March – Sunday 15 March).

For any specific enquires please contact League Managers or Country Championship event organisers.

10/3/2020 – Update

We want to reassure the Basketball Victoria community that we are in close consultation with the Victorian Government, VicSport and Basketball Australia, among other key stakeholders, and are tightly monitoring the public health situation and any possible impacts regarding COVID-19 (otherwise known as “coronavirus”).

As of Tuesday 10 March 2020, all scheduled Basketball Victoria events and fixtures – such as this weekend’s Country Championships in Ballarat, VJBL game nights and the upcoming first round of Big V – will go ahead as scheduled.

We understand our communities concerns and we will continue to monitor community needs and consult with government and other key stakeholders and make assessments as necessary. The health and well-being of our participants is our highest priority, but it is important that people remain calm and act on the best health advice available.

In regards to domestic fixtures, please keep in contact with your association to stay on top of information as it arises. In addition, we ask everyone to practise high levels of hygiene health which are widely considered by health experts to be a key to disease prevention and management.

We ask that the basketball community follow the directions and information on COVID-19, issued by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) which can be found at: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus.

For sport specific advice, please refer to the AIS webpage, dedicated to providing evidence based, real time advice, including travel as well as FAQs relating to COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

We will continue to provide information as it comes to hand.

Nick Honey

Basketball Victoria CEO