The BVC name has been removed from the Basketball Victoria landscape due to a restructure - but the organisation insists that the move will only benefit those players, clubs and associations based in regional areas, like the local Greater Shepparton Basketball Association and Shepparton Gators.
The News understands no BVC staff will be cut due to the restructure and - despite initial fears from passionate country basketballers and volunteers - Victoria Country teams and all country-based program like Skills Days, Jamboree, Gold Nugget, Country Championships, the Country Basketball League and the myriad of other tournaments and programs which are staged in regional areas or with regional participants will be retained.
The ability to pool resources with other areas of Basketball Victoria's operations moving forward - with three new departments created by the board-endorsed internal realignment - will lessen the administrative load on employees, according to the organisation, making all of the behind-the-scenes work run more efficiently.
"We’re proud of the ongoing efforts of Basketball Victoria staff as well as the collaboration amongst our associations and community during the COVID-19 lockdown," BV CEO Nick Honey said.
"This realignment will help Basketball Victoria provide Victorian associations, clubs and participants throughout the state with support and services, while drawing on the expertise and skillsets of all staff across our organisation.
"We recognise the challenges our associations and clubs have faced this year, so we have established a Member and Community Services department. This department will work closely with our associations and clubs throughout the state, as we return to conducting our sport under a new “COVID Normal” environment across the remainder of 2020 and into 2021.
"Players and coaches across the state will have greater opportunity through our five regional and five metropolitan High-Performance Hubs, while still being able to represent Victoria Country or Victoria Metropolitan respectively and continuing to be part of our nationally recognised pathway programs, teams and events.
"In addition, shared capabilities and skills will also strengthen our new Leagues and Competitions department to ensure everything we produce of a consistently high standard.
"We believe that, as a result of our restructure, we will be better placed to serve our member associations and clubs as we navigate our way to reactivation and recovery in 2021 and beyond."
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