Latest news with #SportingChance
The South African
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Sporting Chance founder Brad Bing dies
South Africa's sports development community is mourning the loss of Brad Bing, the founder and managing director of Sporting Chance, who passed away following a battle with cancer. Bing launched Sporting Chance in 1990 with a vision to use sport as a vehicle for positive change. Over the past 35 years, the organisation has grown into one of the country's leading sports coaching and development platforms, touching the lives of hundreds of thousands of young South Africans. To date, Sporting Chance has reached over 280 000 children, trained more than 18 000 coaches, and supported over 70 under-resourced schools, leaving a lasting legacy in communities across the country. In a heartfelt tribute, the organisation praised Bing's tireless energy, deep passion, and unwavering commitment to youth development. 'Brad's boundless enthusiasm and dedication inspired everyone who had the privilege of knowing and working with him,' the statement read. Bing's impact on sports development in South Africa was profound, with many coaches, athletes, and educators crediting him for empowering them and opening doors to opportunities through sport. Further details regarding memorial arrangements will be announced by the family in due course. With the Heaviest of Hearts It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our Founder and Managing Director, Brad Bing, after a courageous battle with cancer. Brad was more than a leader – he was a visionary, a pioneer, and the heartbeat of Sporting Chance. What began in September 1990 with an answering machine and a bag of cricket balls has grown into an organisation that has impacted hundreds of thousands of lives across South Africa. His passion, unwavering dedication, and boundless energy inspired all who had the privilege of knowing him. His legacy will live on in every child and coach who gets a Sporting Chance! Our hearts are sore, and the void he leaves is immeasurable. We stand with his family, holding them close during this incredibly difficult time. Brad built something truly special, and the team he mentored and nurtured over the years is committed to honouring his vision and ensuring Sporting Chance continues to thrive. Rest peacefully, Brad. You will always be our 'Bingo' and your impact will never fade. We will share details of his memorial service in due course. Post your condolences below, by … Leaving a comment below, or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Guardian
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Blackburn forced to withdraw from WSL 2 on ‘sad day for women's football'
Blackburn Rovers have confirmed their withdrawal from the WSL 2 and will re-enter at least two tiers below, with the owners unwilling to provide the funding to meet the division's new minimum licence requirement. Players and staff were told on Tuesday afternoon of the decision. The Guardian revealed last week that the club were considering dropping out of the second tier and that the players had been left anxious, angry and feeling as if they were in a state of limbo awaiting a formal decision. It is understood that WSL Football, the governing body of the WSL and WSL 2, is working with the Professional Footballers' Association and Sporting Chance to support players and staff. In a statement posted on the club's website, Rovers said the decision had come after a 'comprehensive review of the evolving demands placed on second-tier clubs, which have become unsustainable under our current model'. The intention is still for the WSL 2 to operate with 12 teams next season, although any club joining the league will be required to meet the minimum standards. They are viewed as vital to the further professionalisation of the game as they protect the welfare of all participants and maintain competition integrity. Nikki Doucet, the WSL Football chief executive, said: 'This is a sad day for women's football and our hearts go out to the players, staff and fans at Blackburn Rovers FC Women affected by this decision to withdraw from the Women's Super League 2. We have been working with the club all season to prevent this outcome and we are disappointed it has come to this.' Operating on what was understood to be a comparatively low playing budget, Rovers finished 10th last season, second from bottom, in the women's second tier this term, five points clear of danger. The minimum requirements to take part in the renamed division (it was called the Championship in 2024-25) are being increased this summer in a bid to raise minimum standards for the players involved, with WSL 2 sides expected to essentially operate full‑time, professional teams. The list of criteria is believed to include requirements for clubs to commit to appointing a head of women's football, marketing manager, head coach, assistant coach, physiotherapist or sports therapist, doctor, a strength and conditioning coach, a goalkeeping coach and several people in specific safeguarding and player-welfare roles within one month of the new season kicking off. WSL Football said in a statement: 'In line with recommendations for the long-term future of women's football, every club is asked to comply with the minimum standards as part of their membership of the leagues and a compliance and development review is carried out as standard ahead of each season and monitored throughout.' Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Rovers said: 'The growing financial and operational constraints tied to Tier 2 status, including the requirement to move to a fully-professional model, have reached a point where they can no longer be sustained under the club's current financial framework. 'Key factors influencing this decision include the significant rise in minimum criteria set by the league, including extended contact hours for players and the requirement for a full-time professional contract model, an increase in staffing levels, leading to further escalating wage costs, and a greater strain on training ground and stadium facilities.' The club partly blamed the lack of a 'noticeable upturn in home attendances', despite playing all their league games at Ewood Park last season, and the lack of matchday commercial revenues and sponsorship as a result. Where Blackburn Rovers re-enter the pyramid is yet to be determined. An FA spokesperson said: 'We are in ongoing discussions with Blackburn regarding what level of the women's football pyramid they can enter for next season, and a decision will be confirmed in due course.'
Glasgow Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Kick It Out urges support for trans players after exclusion from women's game
The football associations updated their policies in light of last month's ruling from the UK Supreme Court, which clarified that the word 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act meant biological sex. Previously, transgender women had been able to compete provided they reduced testosterone to accepted levels. The FA's new policy comes into effect from June 1. Charities such as Sex Matters have welcomed the change, calling it 'long overdue', but members of the trans community have expressed concern that trans women could now turn their back on the game. Kick It Out chief executive Samuel Okafor says it is vital to ensure trans women are still made to feel included within football. Kick It Out chief executive Samuel Okafor has urged football to work with the trans community following a change in policy (Kick It Out/PA handout) 'A month ago the FA updated its trans inclusion guidance and they engaged us in that outcome, so we were really clear on that,' Okafor told the PA news agency. 'You then had the Supreme Court ruling and that policy has changed, we believe for legal reasons. 'I think it's a real blow to the trans community and I think more has to be done to show solidarity and support to the trans community. 'That's really important. What we also have seen is a significant increase in discrimination towards this community, and I think it's really important for us as an organisation and for others that we continue to send a clear message that there is no space for discrimination. 'I know the FA put some support in place through Sporting Chance. I believe that there's a huge knock-on impact to (the trans community). An update following the Supreme Court ruling. — The FA (@FA) May 1, 2025 'Not being able to play is significant, and I think it's so important we continue to support that community and continue to just send a clear message that there's no space for discrimination towards this community, or any other community.' PA understands one avenue that may be explored is an expansion of mixed inclusive football, where the FA is currently running a pilot scheme, but that too will not be without its challenges. Only a small number of transgender women – around 20 – have been able to play in the English grassroots game this season. Natalie Washington, a campaigner with Football v Transphobia, told PA earlier this month she was concerned trans women could now turn their backs on the game. 'The people I know that are talking about this are saying, 'Well, that's it for football for me',' she said. 'Most people clearly don't feel that they can go and play in the men's game for reasons of safety, for reasons of comfort. 'I know the FA have made some sort of overtures to say that there are routes for people to stay in the game. But I don't see that too many of those are terribly practicable for most people.' The FA, in announcing its policy change, said: 'We understand that this will be difficult for people who simply want to play the game they love in the gender by which they identify, and we are contacting the registered transgender women currently playing to explain the changes and how they can continue to stay involved in the game.'
Metro
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Metro
The FA stopped me playing football because I'm trans
This morning, I received an email from the Football Association (FA) – along with approximately 19 other trans women football players – that means I can no longer play the game I love. Instead, they offered me six free sessions of online talking therapy, then suggested: 'You might be willing to consider moving your enjoyment of affiliated football into coaching or being a match official.' It came about after the organisation announced it was banning transgender women from playing women's football in England, starting from June. Obviously, the first feelings that came was pain, sadness, and finally anger – fuelling a desire for change. The FA's ruling is wrong, hypocritical, and a return to the dark ages when women's football was mistreated or even banned. I came out as trans six years ago at 24. Coming from a Catholic family in France, it was quite hard at first, but my partner at the time and my siblings supported me greatly. Eventually, my parents came around too and are now fully supportive. I started hormones a little later and, today, I feel like my body is in a good place and I like the person I see in the mirror. With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! Dear Fae, We are writing to you today because we have made the decision to change our policy regarding your participation in women's football. We have considered the Supreme Court's ruling and taken legal counsel, the outcome of this for the FA means that transgender women can no longer play in the women's game in England from the 1st June 2025. This is not a decision that we have taken lightly, and we know that this news will be deeply disappointing. In the immediate aftermath of this news to help support you through this, we have partnered with Sporting Chance to provide you with free, fully confidential, online talking therapy with specially selected therapists, should you wish to do so. Up to six sessions can be provided to you and to do this you simply need to contact Sporting Chance by email at support@ It is our hope that you will still want to stay involved in the game. Our mixed football format is currently being developed, whilst it is in this phase there are several pilots taking place and depending on where you live, we may be able to help you get involved with these. We are hopeful that from the season after next this format will be more readily available across England. Or you might be willing to consider moving your enjoyment of affiliated football into coaching or being a match official, we welcome that and there are routes to do this. If you are interested in such opportunities, please speak to your local County FA who can discuss these opportunities with you. We do understand that this will be difficult for anyone who simply wants to play the game they love, so if you would like to speak to us about this, and explore further support, then please do not hesitate getting in touch by replying to this email. The FA Around 11, I fell in love with football during the 2006 Champions League Final, where Arsenal took on Barcelona in Paris. A couple of months later, I subsequently watched France heartbreakingly lose the World Cup final to Italy. My love of the game translated to the pitch and I started playing then too. I moved to the US and found myself playing there throughout my teens and early 20s, mostly for fun. But when I started transitioning, I stopped altogether. I became really uncomfortable playing with men and I was really scared of joining a women's team for fear of rejection. I just wanted to play a game I loved, for fun with my peers, but I was hesitant. Eventually, after moving to the UK in 2019, I discovered Clapton Community FC in London in a mixed community tournament who told me about Open Access, an amazing inclusive space for women and non-binary people who are beginners or returning to football. I jumped at the opportunity. It felt so good to play again in a judgement-free and supportive environment. Eventually, I joined the Clapton CFC women's team and played with their development team, until my hormone levels were in the right place for first team football. I then moved to Hackney Women's in the same grassroots division, the London and South East Division One North where I truly thrived as a player. Throughout it all, no matter what team I've played with, or who I play against, my teammates and my opponents have always been extremely supportive of me as a trans woman. I have never had a remark or issues with anyone on the pitch. Then I got the email this morning that will change my life. The FA told me that transgender women can 'no longer play in the women's game', offering to provide 'free, fully confidential, online talking therapy with specially selected therapists'. The most dreadful part was suggesting I consider becoming a coach or a match official while a 'mixed football format is currently being developed'. It's clear to me that the FA didn't speak to women football players. It also didn't ask trans women – or the cis women that play with them – how they felt, but instead used a single court decision to cave pressure from politicians who use my identity as a political football. It could and should have shown moral leadership instead. As far as I know, there are only 20 FA-affiliated trans women players in England out of 2.5million women players. It is a ridiculous number. I say to everyone who thinks we are a threat or taking up undue space: how come there are only 20 of us, and how come we don't all play for the top teams in the Women's Super League? It's because – like any other player – trans women come in all shapes and sizes, strengths, and abilities. For me, this decision is yet another example of how society refuses to see us as the women we are. The time has come for people to actually open their eyes and see that there are trans women in all parts of society and that we pose a threat to no one. We want to live our lives, to be accepted for who we are, and not who you think we should be. More Trending I hope that the FA will be able to recognise that this decision was taken in the heat of the moment and change their minds. At the end of the day, banning trans women is something I don't see from anyone who is actually playing the sport. It is deeply harmful to every woman who plays football and does nothing for the benefit of the game we all love. In 1921, the FA banned women's football for 50 years, so we know that 'For All' doesn't always mean it – let's not go back to that dark time. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: Gossip about Sydney Sweeney and her co-stars is sexist MORE: Best things to do in London this long weekend including Cinco de Mayo celebrations MORE: America's place in the world has crumbled with shocking speed under Trump
