Following the UK Government’s announcement yesterday, British Wheelchair Basketball CEO Lisa Pearce has issued the following update regarding BWB’s Return to Play guidance and planning for next season.
Return to Play
British Wheelchair Basketball is currently in the process of seeking professional advice and government approval as we continue to finalise our phased road map for a gradual and safe return to the sport when it is safe to do.
All wheelchair basketball activity will remain suspended until the publication of British Wheelchair Basketball’s Return to Play matrix and guidance document on 3 August 2020. However, this is a complex process, and should there be any cause to delay the above date we will communicate immediately to our clubs and members.
We must stress, that following the recent government announcement, in the first instance we will only be providing guidance on recreational return to play and not competitive grassroots.
Our primary focus is to make sure that our participants and clubs have support from British Wheelchair Basketball throughout this process, we will therefore be offering a comprehensive training plan and workshop series over the coming months.
Immediately, to support our clubs and affiliated organisations through the detailed process of returning to play we will be delivering our first phase of online workshops for our club contacts.
These are available to book now for the following dates:
- Tuesday 4 August 2020, 7pm – Book Now
- Wednesday 5th August, 2pm – Book Now
- Thursday 6th August, 7pm – Book Now
- Friday 7th August, 2pm – Book Now
Membership Opening Date
The British Wheelchair Basketball membership renewal period will reopen on Monday 3 August, for the 2020/21 season. At the moment, this will only include individual membership (senior/junior) and club/organisation affiliation.
Based on the current situation, with regards to COVID-19, we do not envisage our national leagues or the competitive element of the grass roots game will return in the short-term. Once we have a clearer understanding of the timeline for this element of the return planning we will communicate out to clubs.
Current members will be able to renew membership via the BWB online portal bwb.playwaze.com or via the BWB App, while new members can use the same platforms to purchase BWB membership.
Given the restrictions on participation for the 2020/21 season, but the imperative requirement that clubs and participants have insurance, the membership and club affiliation fees will reflect a 40% discount. All other membership benefits will also be in place including Kitlocker Discounts, Molten Discount and more. Pricing as follows:
Junior: Normal Price £15 – 2020/21 Season £9
Senior: Normal Price £30 – 2020/21 Season £18
Club: Normal Price £100 – 2020/21 Season £60
As ever, I would like to say a huge thank you to the whole wheelchair basketball community for its continued support as we work to navigate our return to play and mitigate against the risks.
