Basketball England's Gender Participation & Eligibility Policy was updated and published in July 2025.
You can read the policy HERE.
The Policy sets out the Eligibility Criteria (see below) for Participants taking part in Basketball England Competitions.
The Policy applies to all Participants and Participant Support Personnel competing and/or participating in Basketball England Competitions.
Yes. If you are under 18, you are still subject to and bound by the Policy.
No. The Policy only applies to Basketball England Competitions.
No. All Participants are eligible to compete in Basketball England Competitions, subject to the Eligibility Criteria within the Policy being met.
All Female Participants are eligible to compete in Basketball England Competitions in the female category regardless of their Legal Gender and/or Affirmed Gender under the following conditions:
Participants who have previously used testosterone as part of female-to-male gender-affirming hormone treatment but are no longer following that treatment if they can establish (a) the testosterone was used for less than a year in total; and (b) their testosterone levels in serum (or plasma) are back to pre-treatment normal, and any associated anabolic effects have been eliminated.
All Male Participants, are eligible to participate in Basketball England Competitions in the men’s category regardless of their Legal Gender and/or Affirmed Gender.
All Participants under the age of 12 are eligible to participate in Basketball England Competitions in any category (Male, Female and/or Mixed), regardless of their Sex, Legal Gender and/or Affirmed Gender.
Yes. Non-Binary Participants are eligible to compete in Basketball England Competitions in the Sex category which aligns with their birth / biological / chromosomal Sex, or in the Mixed Basketball category.
No.
Only Participants under the age of 12 can compete in Basketball England Competitions in any category (Male, Female and/or Mixed) regardless of their Sex, Legal Gender and/or Affirmed Gender.
Basketball England will address any issues arising which are not foreseen in the Policy in a manner that protects and promotes the objectives identified within the Policy.
Basketball England will review the Policy periodically to ensure its ongoing compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
A girl can play in a team if it is advertised as an open/mixed session or U12s.
She cannot play in a boys' team.
This presents an opportunity for the club/league/region to develop opportunities for girls.
We are developing game-day processes for referees to employ due diligence and ensure all players meet all eligibility criteria.
If you are a referee deployed in the Senior NBL you will need to take a fitness test which is calibrated differently for men and for women.
In order for us to monitor diversity and representation in our sport we ask some questions that are anonymised for statistical and reporting purposes. We share these reports and statistics with Sport England and publish some statistics publicly. The answers you provide are anonymised for reporting purposes. The insight generated from your answers is used to help us continue to make Basketball an inclusive and accessible sport.
Contact the Basketball England Integrity team HERE.
Please click the link below from the charity Mind providing support and expertise in this area
