I’m writing today with a message I wish I didn’t need to send.
After the Association proudly won Association of the Year for the first time in 25 years, we walked into the office on Monday morning to more than 40 incident reports from Saturday’s Junior Domestic games. These included technical fouls, referee abuse, and poor behaviour from players, coaches and spectators.
We have been extremely clear heading to this finals series:
There is zero tolerance for poor behaviour.
Double penalties apply for any breach of our Codes of Conduct.
As we head into the final two weeks of the season, our message is simple, and I don’t say this to be condescending:
Please behave like adults.
- Cheer for your children positively.
- If something frustrates you or you feel strongly about an issue, take 24 hours, then email your club.
- Do not engage with opposition supporters.
- Do not engage negatively with referees.
- Support your children, enjoy their efforts, and then go home and enjoy your day.
Nothing good comes from aggressive, argumentative or disruptive behaviour. This week alone, the DVBA has issued over 25 weeks of suspensions across players, coaches and spectators, not including pending tribunal reports.
To our players:
Please don’t argue with referees. Focus on the next play.
To our coaches:
Lead by example. Move on quickly, teach resilience, and support your team.
It’s finals basketball, emotions run high, calls won’t always go your way, and one team will lose.
That’s sport. How we conduct ourselves is what matters most.
This weekend, let’s come together and show why Diamond Valley is the best place to play basketball. Let’s prove to ourselves, and to every visiting family, that we can uphold the values that earned us Association of the Year.
At the end of the day, this is junior basketball. Let’s remember that, and let’s protect the positive, safe environment our kids deserve.