Newcastle Basketball Transition To Basketball Connect

Newcastle Basketball is making a transition to the new Basketball NSW-endorsed platform “Basketball Connect” as of August 2024.  The Basketball Connect platform which is brought to us by World Sport Action has been endorsed by Basketball NSW on a 3-year partnership as the official competition management solution for Basketball in NSW.  As an affiliated member of Basketball NSW, Newcastle Basketball will start to roll over all of our competitions, programs and links to the new platform.

Basketball Connect is a new platform that provides for an improved user experience for the basketball community and our administrators, as it helps to streamline processes and enhance the overall user engagement experience.  Like most sports and experiences, Basketball Connect also has a linked app that will allow members to quickly check their fixtures, results and stats.  (Apple Store & Android) – User guide here.

The Basketball Connect match day app will offer all of our members the following:

• Easy to find matches with Google locations;
• Automated notifications when matches are postponed, cancelled, moved or forfeited;
• Ability to communicate with your entire Basketball community via notifications, email or the news feature;
• In-app chat function which can be used by administrators, coaches, and team managers removing the need for WhatsApp and TeamApp;
• Electronic match day player sign-on;
• Ability for coaches and team managers to organise training, team events and other activities in app;
• Ability for players to respond with their availability for matches and training;
• Integrated eCommerce function;
• Detail match and player statistics;
• Real-time Draw and Ladder; and
• Real-time incident tracking.

One of the immediate changes that will occur alongside our transition to the Basketball Connect app is the removal of weekly team-based payments.  The association has chosen to set up all competitions as of Senior Spring 2024 and Summer Junior with the following structure.

• Team Nomination Fee
• Individual Player Fees ($17 per game for Seniors and $15 per game for Juniors)

The table below will be what members see for our 2024/25 competition structures.

Please note that fees have been factored to include some variation should teams receive a bye or forfeit. There will however be no refunds at the season’s end for missed games.

*Teams receive the grand final complimentary.

We are anticipating that the Summer Junior Comp will open to the public around the 16th of August. Further information will be released to teams from 2023/24 and across social media when available.

The registration process for competitions will be the following:

• Team Contacts will register a team for the competition –
  • Seniors’ teams will complete the normal EOI process to then be directed into their initial grading.
  • Junior teams will be able to nominate into their preferred division directly.
• Once all teams have registered for their specific competition then team contacts will be notified to add their players to a team.

TEAM REGISTRATION INTO BASKETBALL CONNECT

1. Team Contacts will follow a link distributed or available from the association.
2. Each team contact will complete the team registration and be required to pay the team nomination fee upfront.
3. When registering a team contact must not select themselves as a player.
4. Once the team has completed their payment and registration then they will be pre-emptively accepted into that competition.
5. Newcastle Basketball will reserve the right to review all nominations including the players in the team.
6. Once all team registrations have been received then Newcastle Basketball will advise team contacts about how they register their players.

MEMBER REGISTRATION INTO BASKETBALL CONNECT

Registration into the new Basketball Connect system is easy with current financial members’ details from the Game Day platform transferred into the new system.  When registering as a new or current financial member you will select the new user option.  If you are a current financial member then you will be asked to verify that the profile matches the game day profile based on the following Information:

• Name
• Mobile phone number
• Email address
• Date of Birth
• Assigned Gender at Birth

When completing the individual member registration, you will also be given a variety of options for payment including Active Kids Vouchers.

A full guide as to how to register into Basketball Connect can be found here.

Newcastle Basketball appreciates our members and their ongoing support through this transitional period.  There will be some teething issues and Newcastle Basketball is committed to working with our members to get to the best outcome for everyone.  If you have any questions, please direct them to the appropriate department as we look to upskill our staff in the new processes as well.

Kind Regards,

Elyse Hicks
Basketball Operations Manager
Newcastle Basketball