Benefits and standards to make your local league operate at a high level

Basketball England is further investing in Local League basketball by launching a Benefits and Standards package.  

On the back of exceptional growth in the sector in the 2025/26 season, the amount of affiliated Local Leagues has grown to 69.  

Our new set of standards are aimed at supporting Local Leagues to have strong governance structures, which will in turn help provide high quality basketball playing opportunities to members. 

The standards have been developed to align with the Sport England Tier 1 Code for Sport Governance, meaning leagues which meet them will also be in a strong position to meet the code.  

These standards will not be compulsory to affiliate with Basketball England.  

But by meeting the standards, local leagues can become a Level 1 Accredited League and will receive a range of benefits.

Benefits: 

• Subsidised league website through the Basketball England provider 

• 6x Level 1 Refereeing Course places and 6x Level 1 Table Officiating Course places (12 total)

• Funding support - 1x one-hour bid-writing training (leagues can invite their clubs) - see more below

• Co-development of 1x external funding bid  

• Support in accessing coaching courses  

• Discounts and special offers through the Basketball England shop  

• Access to League Standards logo  

• Eligible for Local League awards at Basketball England Awards 

• Visibility on Basketball England website 

• Marketing and communications support  

• League profiling through Basketball England social media 

Basketball England’s Senior Officiating and Regions Manager Simon Unsworth said:

“It has been a landmark year for the Local League sector and we want to continue to invest in supporting our Local Leagues. 

“They are the heartbeat of basketball at grassroots level and have been identified as a priority area for our organisation. If our leagues can meet these standards, it will set them up for sustainable growth for many years to come.” 

Apply for Level 1 status

To meet the standards and receive the associated benefits, leagues must have:  

• Annual General Meeting: League has an AGM where members are given the opportunity to vote. League must upload their AGM agenda and minutes. 

• Committee: League has a governing committee consisting of a minimum of four people, with the roles of chair, secretary, treasurer and welfare officer filled. 

• Committee documentation: All committee members must fill in a declaration of interest form with conflicts managed by the league chair. The committee must also complete a board skills matrix to showcase committee skillset 

• Committee Meetings & Minutes:?The league holds a minimum of three committee meetings per year and takes and uploads meeting minutes. 

• Constitution and Development Plan: League is governed by a constitution and sets out its goals with a development plan. 

• Safeguarding: League onboards a Welfare Officer who completes all relevant Basketball England Safeguarding Training.  

• Dispute Resolution: League appoints a Dispute Resolution Coordinator who enforces league rules and deals with player and club conduct. 

• Disciplinary Code: Local leagues understand and adopt the Basketball England Disciplinary Code and are aware of the support available to regions and local leagues. 

• Membership: All participants, coaches and officials are required to be members of Basketball England to participate in any regulated league activity. 

• Policies and Procedures: League adopts five key Basketball England Policies (ED&I, Data Protection, Safer Recruitment, Whistleblowing, Safeguarding). 

• Junior Clubs & Teams: All junior teams competing are part of a Basketball England affiliated club.  

• Bank account: There must be two signatories that don't live together on official documentation.  

• Finances: League showcases income and expenditure yearly accounts 

We have developed a range of template documents and Job Descriptions to support our leagues in their applications: 

Find all templates here

Apply for Level 1 status

Funding support

Sport England Movement Fund

The fund has invested more than £1million into basketball programmes, with leagues developing successful bids to deliver Level 2 officiating courses, Level 2 coaching courses, start junior girls and mixed competitions and social basketball programmes.

The fund was developed to help Sport England achieve the implementation stage of their long term ‘Uniting the Movement Strategy’. Research showed there were deep-rooted inequalities in sport, with clear evidence showcasing the need to focus on giving the below groups more opportunities to be active:

• Women and girls
• Low socio-economic
• People from Black and Asian backgrounds
• People living with disabilities

Affiliated organisations can apply for a grant of up to £15,000. The fund is focused on getting new or lapsed participants involved in the game, so your bid will need to focus on delivering an initiative which does not currently exist.

Affiliated organisations can list Basketball England as their nominated NGB throughout their application and work with our club development team to co-develop a bid.

Contact us to arrange a meeting

Basketball England Development Grant

Each year, Basketball England distributes funds back into the community through our Development Grant. Over £100,000 is reinvested into the basketball economy via our regions, working with affiliated leagues and organisations.