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Available from January 2026

Introducing Pause and Play: A New Way to Stay Connected to Basketball

Life doesn’t always run on a basketball season calendar.

Sometimes a sprained ankle needs a couple of weeks to heal.

Sometimes university exams pile up.

Sometimes a long-awaited overseas trip finally comes around.

And sometimes… life just happens.

For years, members have asked us for the same thing:

“Can I temporarily pause my membership without losing it?”

And now, for the first time in basketball, we can say YES.

The Story Behind Pause and Play

Over the past year, we’ve spent time listening to families, players, referees, coaches, and volunteers. A common theme kept coming up:

“I love being part of basketball, but sometimes I need a break, without losing the value of what I’ve already paid for.”

Working closely with our technology partner, World Sport Action, we began shaping an idea that put flexibility back in the hands of our members. The result is something simple, practical, and genuinely game-changing:

Pause and Play – launching January 2026.
  • A feature built for real life.
  • A feature that respects commitment.
  • A feature that gives members control.

How Pause and Play Works

Participants who purchase their membership through the Basketball Connect app will now have the power to temporarily pause their membership directly from their phone.

It’s designed to be effortless:

  1. Open the Basketball Connect App & Log In
  2. Tap More in the bottom right
  3. Got to My Profile – parents may need to switch profile at the top to pause their child’s membership
  4. Go to My Membership
  5. Scroll to the right on your membership and tap the 3 dots under action, then Request Pause
  6. Answer the relevant questions and hit submit.
  • No forms.
  • No emails.
  • Just flexibility, exactly when you need it.

Depending on your membership type, you can pause for:

  • Up to 2 weeks on a 6-month membership
  • Up to 4 weeks on a 12-month membership

Perfect for short breaks, exams, family events, minor injuries, holidays, you name it.

Something Extra for Our Most Loyal Members

Some members stay with us year after year, renewing their 12-month membership without interruption. They turn up in the rain, they volunteer at carnivals, they support their local association, and they are the heartbeat of the basketball community.

For them, we wanted to offer something special.

Participants with continuous 12-month memberships can now pause for up to 3 months

This extended option is ideal for:

  • Overseas adventures

  • Parental leave

  • Recovery from longer-term injuries

  • Extended work commitments

It rewards loyalty with breathing room, without breaking their connection to the game.

FAQ's

Q. I'd like to pause my membership, how does that work?

A. From January 2026, Pause and Play will be available for participants who have paid their membership fees through the Basketball Connect app, allowing them to temporarily pause their membership directly in the app.

Eligible members can pause for:

  • Up to 2 weeks on a 6-month membership

  • Up to 4 weeks on a 12-month membership

You can use Pause and Play for situations such as injury, exams, or extended holidays. As long as your fees are up to date and you haven’t used a pause during your current membership period, you can submit a request in the app and resume your membership at any time.

Pause and Play is not available to participants who are currently serving a suspension.

Q. I’m heading overseas, can I request a longer pause on my membership?

A. Yes. Participants who have paid their membership fees via the Basketball Connect app and hold continuous 12-month memberships are eligible for an extended pause of up to 3 months. This option is ideal for longer breaks such as overseas travel, injury recovery, or parental leave.

You can submit your request through the Basketball Connect app. It will be reviewed, and you will receive a response within 48 hours.

Please note: the extended pause is a separate request and cannot be combined with the standard 4-week pause available under Pause  and Play.

Extended Pause and Play is not available to participants who are currently serving a suspension.

Q. Can I use part of my pause now and the rest later?

A. No. Once a pause request has been approved, it must be used in full. You cannot use one week at one time and the remaining week at another time.

Q. Can I revoke my pause request?

A. If you submitted a pause request by mistake, you must email info@bnsw.com.au within 24 hours to cancel the request.

If you wish to return to basketball during your pause period, you can do so at any time by logging into the Basketball Connect app and revoking your pause.

Please note: any days already used before you revoke your pause are forfeited and cannot be applied later.