With our 2019/20 season ending prematurely on Saturday 9th March, this end of season Chair’s report is little light on notable basketball events that we usually see at the end of a full season. Nonetheless it wouldn’t be right to miss out congratulating the u16’s  team who topped their regional pool and the NL Womens team who were once again set to make the playoffs, along with all players, coaches and Team Managers in all teams on their hard work and commitment.

WIth Basketball England's decision to cancel basketball activity for the remainder of the 2019/20 season way back in March it might be thought not much has been going on. In normal seasons the summer sees the Committee, Coaches and Team managers take a just a little time away from their usual roles. The abrupt end to this season has however seen the Committee busier than ever.

We would like to on behalf of all members express an enormous thank you to all the Committee Members for their extra work and commitment during this time. Without this effort it is fairly certain the club’s future would have been in doubt. With this in mind, the support of members in their understanding of the financial position the club found has been invaluable. The work of Deb Scott (Administration and Membership Secretary) and Dave Aukland (Treasurer) deserve special thanks as this ensured we have been able to start offering basketball for the 2020/21 season within the current guidelines.

During the 2019/21 season the work of the committee developing the club, the support of members along with that of Basketball Sussex allowed the club to be nominated for and win both the South East Region Basketball Community Club and  Basketball England's Community Club of the Year. This is a fantastic acknowledgement of the combined efforts of many many people. It is not however just an achievement from the work this year but an accumulation of a number of years of which many people have been part of. As Chair’s we would particularly like to thanks Jon and Gina Lloyd and Nick Stevens for their part in getting the club to position to win this award 

No one currently knows when organised basketball as we know it, will start again and what even a part season for 2020/21 will look like. As a club we will continue to follow advice from Basketball England making sure we are ready to make the most of that opportunity when it comes. In doing this the Committee will continue to look to provide as much basketball as it can support, without risking the long-term future of the club. 

The limited basketball we have been able to provide so far this year has already involved a lot of work and we need more volunteers to help share the load so we can continue to offer basketball to as many people as possible. 

The club remains as popular as ever, even in these challenging times, receiving more requests to join than teams have places to offer. Given time we know the committee have some exciting plans to offer more basketball to the different levels of players we have at and wanting to join.

Thanks to the work done in front of a PC and in the gym we survived the first problems the pandemic presented The committee are under no illusions, difficult decision and more work will be needed, so finally we ask for members patience and support as things change over the coming months.

Thank you and best wishes.

Karen Perrier and Sean Jupp

Co-Chairs Brighton Cougars Basketball Club