MANCHESTER, England — Basketball England announced on Wednesday the cancellation of all non-elite competitions and Academy Leagues for the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19.
For Myerscough, the impact is felt from NBL Division 2 and Division 3, Under-18 Men’s, EABL and all other AoC Sport competitions, as well as local leagues, including the recently formed Under-14s programme.
“We have taken the difficult decision to cancel all non-elite basketball – at senior and junior levels – for the 2020/21,” Basketball England CEO Stewart Kellett said. “We have held off from this sad moment for as long as possible in the hope that some part of the traditional September-May season could be salvaged.”
Myerscough has played just three official games this season, all coming in the newly formed L Lynch Trophy. Sco finished with a 1-2 record and failed to advance to the knockout round, but played a key part of Basketball England’s Return to Play as one of the four host sites initially selected.
“It is clear that, with the rising R-rate, a new strain of the virus, the Government’s position on non-elite sport and half our season already wiped out, that this is not practical or sensible any longer,” said Kellett. “We all want our game back, but the stress and challenges on players, volunteers, parents, officials and everyone in the game to keep planning for a return has escalated to an intolerable level.
“I would like to thank players, clubs, volunteers, parents and officials for their patience and understanding in this frustrating, worrying and uncertain time and hope this decision allows for us all to plan and prepare for a return to the courts on 2021/22 and, hopefully before then, the option of some alternative form of competition later in the year, if conditions allow. Our aim is to work with you and plan to get ahead of the disruption curve so we can recover for an enjoyable and successful season from September.”
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