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CURRENT LOCATIONS AND TOURNAMENTS

Click here to see our Midnight Basketball communitites and tournaments.

 

 

'Playing In The Shadows'

A film about our Midnight Basketball youth participants was selected for the 2008 Sydney Film Festivaland screened on ABC.  About a group of players from Woolloomooloo in Sydney, it was produced by the much nominated and awarded Marco Ianniello & Sascha Ettinger Epstein and focuses on some of the players along with coach and workshop facilitator, Bassi, who decided after the Woolloomooloo Midnight Basketball tournament, to setup a game against arch rivals Redfern, held on the Grand Final night of the Redfern Midnight Basketball tournament. While not showing the Midnight Basketball program, it nevertheless captures beautifully the spirit of the community and participants.

WELCOME TO MIDNIGHT BASKETBALL AUSTRALIA

Midnight Basketball is a diversionary programme for “at risk” youth by getting them into a basketball stadium on Saturday nights when they are most at risk of harm, including self-harm, or anti-social behaviour and when other community services are not available. 

Australia’s first Midnight Basketball program was launched in the Redfern / Waterloo area in February 2006 with great success. Midnight Basketball is open to all local youth, aged 12 to 18 years.  During the tournament season, matches are played on a Saturday night between 7.30pm and Midnight.

 

THE PROGRAM

Midnight Basketball runs in selected communities for 8 weeks per tournament with up to 2 tournaments a year. Night includes:

Volunteer Briefing:  The Tournament Manager briefs all volunteers and youth workers, professional referees, security, police, bus
drivers, and many more – typically around 15 volunteers per night.

Dinner: In order to stay focussed and energetic for the night ahead, players arrive at 7:30pm and are fed a nutritious meal.

Workshop: In keeping with our motto “No Workshop, No Jump Shot”, players must attend the workshop in order to participate in the basketball competition. Building on essential life skills, these compulsory life-skills workshops deal with real and relevant issues and can include:

  • Health – nutrition, substance, emotional and physical abuse including self-harm, domestic violence and sexual health
  • Decision Making & Problem Solving Skills
  • Making Positive Choices
  • Financial Literacy
  • Conflict Resolution & Communication Skills
  • Self Esteem & Confidence
  • Impulse & Anger Control
  • Getting a Job

Basketball: With the workshop complete - the basketball competition begins with players participating in at least 3 matches of basketball per night. Basketball is a crucial element to the success of the program due to its unique qualities as a team sport. It provides an opportunity to build leadership skills, encourages team work and improves fitness and focus.

Midnight Bus Home - Safely Home: Finally, at the end of the night, a bus takes the players safely home (to the front door).

 

For current tournaments see Locations. 

ENROL AS A PLAYER OR VOLUNTEER IN A TOURNAMENT

Registration is open to all local 12 to 18 year olds  and costs nothing to enter.  If you are interested in either playing or volunteering, please email your local tournament on the email addresses above and ask for a registration form.

For information about other tournament locations, please contact the National Tournament Manager Sue Hogan:  webresponse1@midnightbasketball.org.au

 

MIDNIGHT BASKETBALL IN YOUR COMMUNITY

If you’d like to see Midnight Basketball in your community, please email us and we will send you a Midnight Basketball Community Pack. (Email Sue Hogan: webresponse1@midnightbasketball.org.au)