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JULY 2026 Report Card

An overview of integrity, conduct and member protection matters managed across NSW representative basketball during July 2026.

Across July, 655 representative games were played across senior and junior leagues throughout NSW.  Consistent with June, 96% of games in July were played in the right spirit.  This result reflects the ongoing commitment of players, coaches, officials, parents and spectators to upholding the positive behaviours and standards expected across our basketball community.

Where conduct fell short, Basketball NSW acted. The summary below outlines the matters dealt with this month at a high level. Sharing this information openly is part of our commitment to transparency, education and continuous cultural change through Respect The Game.

655
Representative games played in May
96%
Played in the right spirit with no BNSW intervention required
26
Matters dealt with (fewer than 1 in 25 games)

JULY 2026 – Matters dealt with

Type of Matter Cases Outcome Summary
Tribunal Matters 16 Outcomes ranged from cautions and behaviour agreements through to suspensions of between 1 and 5 weeks.
Zero Tolerance Complaints 8 Outcomes ranged from formal warnings to bans of between 1 and 2 months.
Member Protection Complaints 2 Outcomes ranged from 1 unsubstantiated complaints and a 1-month ban.

Key headline outcomes

From the 26 matters dealt with by Basketball NSW in June, the most significant outcomes included:

9
Suspensions
6
Bans imposed
0
Referrals to NSW Police
0
WWC clearance barred
A note on spectator behaviour

While the overall picture in July remained positive, Basketball NSW continues to be concerned by instances of inappropriate spectator behaviour.  Our referees, coaches, players and volunteers – many of whom are young people have the right to participate in a safe, welcoming environment that is free from intimidation, abuse and unacceptable conduct.

Respect The Game applies to everyone in the venue.  Basketball NSW will continue to take appropriate action where expected standards of behaviour are not met and encourages every parent, family members and supporter to play their part in fostering a positive and respectful basketball environment.

Where spectators fail to meet these standards, Basketball NSW will impose venue bans.  As spectators are not registered participants, spectator bans remain the most appropriate sanction available to address unacceptable behaviour.

June vs JuLY – at a glance

Measure May 2026 June 2026
Representative games played 1,050 655
% played in the right spirit 96% 96%
Matters dealt with 39 26
Suspensions issued 16 9
Bans imposed 9 6

The headline: With the representative season drawing to a close and fewer games played during July, behaviour across the sport remained encouraging. The proportion of games played in the right spirit was maintained at 96%, while the number of matters requiring intervention continued to decline. Suspensions reduced from 16 to 9, bans imposed fell from 9 to 6, and, importantly, there were no matters referred to NSW Police or resulting in a Working with Children Check clearance being barred.

These results indicate that, despite isolated incidents of unacceptable behaviour, the vast majority of participants and spectators continue to contribute positively to the game.

JULY highlights

  • Free online Respect The Game seminars delivered to the community:
    • Parents seminar presented by Jo Perkins – 39 participants registered.
  • 32 Member Associations have now adopted Respect The Game as part of their domestic basketball competitions. Basketball NSW continues to support Member Associations with branding, education resources and training to embed consistent standards at the local level.
From our Interim CEO, David Simpson

“July’s results demonstrate the positive culture that exists across basketball in New South Wales, with 96% of games played in the right spirit and no matters this month requiring referral to NSW Police or resulting in a Working with Children Check clearance being barred.

While these are encouraging outcomes, the most significant behavioural challenge we continue to face is inappropriate conduct from a small number of spectators, particularly parents. The overwhelming majority of parents are positive role models who encourage and support all participants. However, a small minority have directed abuse and intimidation towards referees, coaches and young players, and that behaviour has no place in our sport.

Basketball NSW will continue to hold individuals accountable where standards are not met, but creating a safe, welcoming and respectful environment is a responsibility shared by everyone. Every comment from the sideline contributes to the experience of the young people on the court, and I encourage every parent to consider the example they are setting for the next generation of our game.”

Reporting an incident

If you have witnessed or experienced behaviour that does not align with our standards, we encourage you to report it. All reports are managed confidentially and reviewed by Basketball NSW’s Integrity team.

Report an Incident