Date of Release: February 9th, 2024

As President of the Community Basketball League (CBL), it’s with deep disappointment that I address the unsettling incident that occurred at the Joseph H. Firth Youth Center on February 3, 2024. The altercation among spectators following a basketball game compels us to confront issues within our community that we hope never to face.

The core of the CBL’s mission is to provide a safe, nurturing environment where our young athletes can grow, compete, and enjoy the spirit of teamwork. It’s disheartening to see this vision tarnished by the actions of a few, detracting from the positive experiences we aim to create for everyone involved.

In response to this incident, we, as the Governing Body of the CBL, express our full support for the new spectator policy put forth by the Firth Youth Center. This policy, which limits spectator attendance to three per player and mandates a sign-in process, is a measure aimed at preventing future disturbances and ensuring the safety of all attendees. While the CBL itself is not adopting this policy across the entire league, we stand in solidarity with the Firth Youth Center in their decision to implement such measures.

It’s unfortunate that the actions of a few can lead to restrictions that affect our entire community. However, the safety and well-being of our players, their families, and supporters must always come first. We encourage our community to respect and adhere to these new guidelines when attending games at the center, recognizing them as necessary steps toward maintaining a secure environment.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of our shared responsibility to uphold the values of sportsmanship, respect, and community that are the foundation of the CBL. As we move forward, we are committed to working closely with the Firth Youth Center, the Steele Hill Youth Organization, and all our member organizations to ensure our sports events remain safe and enjoyable for everyone.

We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our community as we support these changes. It’s in times like these that our collective commitment to the positive development of our young athletes is most crucial. Thank you for standing with us in fostering a safe and supportive environment for all our participants.

Nathaniel Kober
President, Community Basketball League