The 2022 FIBA Basketball and 2023 FIFA Football Women’s World Cups have shone a light on the rise of female participation in sports. SA Church Basketball brings girls and women together to play basketball in a community that supports them.
Lighthouse Community Church Basketball has had a rich history in the competition. Member of Lighthouse and coach for the Holdfast Embers Ruth Purdie explains that connections are formed off the court in addition to the on-court basketball action provided by the Community Competition and Club throughout the week.
“Lighthouse has been incredibly supportive of growing the Holdfast Heat basketball family to provide outreach to women and girls across all our teams.” Ruth said.
“As a junior coach and support to Tristan, my heart has been to see these girls and women changed through involvement in these teams. I’ve seen the supportive environment and competition this place is for women to participate.”
Tristan Prentice manages and coaches women’s teams in the community competition, including the SA Church Stars Women’s Program, which had only one team before the
pandemic. It was necessary to regrow both participation and culture.
“I decided to pause playing for the club to focus on the mission of the Women’s program – I desired to to have more women involved in coaching, playing, managing and participating at all areas across church basketball.” Tristan shared.
“Our women’s community competition has NBL1 players, beginners and old scholar teams and offers a pathway to our representative club – you see women involved in one or the other or both for seasons of their lives.”
“We care and provide a supportive, adaptive environment while still upholding our club values from the Bible verse 1 Timothy 4:8 – “Physical training is good, but training for godliness (character development) is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”
As a result, many women who have come through this pathway who had expressed a lost interest in basketball, have been rejuvenated not only on-court but in their purpose, lives, and families.
We now have teams back in the Basketball SA district competition in Division Three and multiple teams in Division Four with room to grow more junior girls, youth women’s and senior women’s teams.”
SA Church Basketball Association is inviting interested women and girls to come and play for churches, schools and community groups within SA Church Basketball.
Commencing in 1950 and continuing today – SA Church Basketball values Community, Faith and Basketball and has an exciting future ahead playing a role in Basketball South Australia’s Female Participation Strategy.
Ways to get involved include introductory basketball programs and camps, the opportunity to become an official and playing juniors or seniors in the SA Church Basketball community competition.
The competition has multiple venue locations across metropolitan Adelaide on Saturday afternoons and Tuesday nights.
There is also the opportunity to become a player or coach for SA Church Basketball’s district club, the Stars, who participate in the Basketball SA district competition.
SA Church Basketball is about ‘more than basketball’ and encourages the spirit of community and teamwork. For more information and to get involved, visit www.sachurchbasketball.com.au
