Welcome

Sefton Stars join the Womens Premiership

The Sefton Stars have entered the Womens Premiership Division. Their fixtures will be added over the weekend, with their first game commencing from 22nd October 2018.

MABL Registration Cards

Can all Coaches, Players and Officials please ensure they have registered with BE (preferably via GREATER MANCHESTER area) and emailed a copy of their registration/photo(s) to cards@mabl.co.uk to ensure you have your cards in time for the season starting on 1st October.

Our Lady's are recruiting BIGS

Our Lady's are looking for some skilled big men to compliment their team for the coming season.

For further information please get in touch with Dean Uddin.

Basketball England Officiating Gameplan

Officials are an essential element to any competitive basketball game. By following the (world governing body) FIBA rules, interpretations and mechanics, it is their job to manage a game and ensure it's played in a fair and safe environment. As such, Basketball England (BE) is responsible for ensuring that there is an adequate number - and appropriate standard - of officials for all our competitions.

Over the past two years, BE have been working on the Basketball Development Model (BDM) - a research project focusing on the player pathway from all perspectives. The plan has also received input from officiating experts and the basketball community, who have been consulted throughout the process. The outcomes of the BDM are the basis for this game plan.

BE's' plan focuses on the current position and context of officiating in England and presents the vision, strategic themes, objectives and targets for officiating during the period 2018-21. You can download this here: Basketball England Officiating Gameplan.

Regional Officiating Conferences

For the first time, Basketball England, with the support of the Regional Management Committees, Regional Associations, Clubs and Leagues, have organised 19 regional officiating conferences throughout the country.

The conferences are free to attend and we expect those officials who did not make the National Game Conference to attend in preparation for the coming season. Referees who did not attend the National Game Conference and wish to be considered to officiate in the NBL competition are required to attend and complete a rules test & fitness test.

Basketball England Regional Officiating Conferences.

2018-2019 Fixtures Online / BE Registration Open

The fixtures for the coming 2018-2019 season are now available online. A copy will be sent to all team contacts along with the MABL handbook which will familiarise teams with how the league works.

The BE Registration Portal is open for teams to start registering their players/coaches/table officials. A guide to registering your club and players on the Basketball England Registration Portal can be found at the following link: http://www.mabl.co.uk/downloads/club_registration_guide.pdf.

Can teams please ensure players are registered as early as possible so the league can produce and distribute the required player registration cards before the league starts.

David McLean

It is sad to learn of the recent death of David McLean. He was a prominent member of the MABL committee (as secretary) from 1971/72 through to 1989/90.

He gave up a lot of his time to successfully furthering the cause of basketball in this area and it is quite possible that some of you reading this may remember him.

He was a founder remember of the team 'Shop Local Independents' and spent much of his time there as player and coach.

More recently he returned to Manchester to be closer to his sister and took up a coaching role at Reddish with Stockport. He was not able to settle properly back in the area and returned to whence he came. He became ill and passed away shortly after.

He will be remembered as a 'gentleman player'.

MABL on YouTube

Videos of the 2017 Playoff Finals held at Amaechi Basketball Centre are available on our YouTube Channel.

• Mens Premier Division - Blackpool vs Tropics
• Mens Championship Division - Tameside Timberwolves vs Myerscough College
• Mens Division 1 - Cheshire Hornets 1 vs Oldham Titans
• Mens Division 2 - ESSA Academy Hurricanes vs MMU Cheshire
• Womens Premier Division - Stockport Lapwings vs Manchester Lynx 1

MABL are looking to offer local companies the opportunity to sponsor our league.

Benefits of Sponsorship

Basketball is one of the few sports in the UK where participation levels are increasing year in year out. Last year the number of people playing basketball rose by 21,800 to 152,900 each week (source Basketball England).

In Manchester and the North West in particular the sport is extremely popular, with several professional and semi-professional teams in the area and with the development of the new Basketball Performance Centre at Belle Vue all having a positive effect on the sport within the region.

By sponsoring MABL potential sponsors will become involved in one of the fastest growing sports in the UK and gaining access to the potential that the popularity of the sport can provide.

Ways to support the league

• Sponsor the League
• Sponsor the Tournaments
• Donate Products/Services for Tournaments
• Sponsor game officials development programmes

Other ways to sponsor

We welcome your suggestions and thoughts on sponsorship and would happily discuss any creative ideas you have.

For more information download our Sponsor Information Pack (PDF).