An Open Letter: Coaching Compliance

To Our OBA Members,

As we approach the conclusion of the 2025–2026 OBA Championship season, we want to update our membership about coach compliance, the work that has taken place throughout the year, and the decisions that have impacted team participation.

Ontario Basketball remains committed to providing a safe and fair environment for all athletes. Our coaching requirements, certification, evaluations, and background screening, are not new. They are standards designed to protect athletes and ensure a consistent, high-quality experience across all affiliated member clubs.

Throughout this season, OBA has prioritized a collaborative and supportive approach to compliance. This has included:

  • Providing clear expectations and timelines well in advance of key deadlines.
  • Offering guidance to clubs, coaches, and administrators.
  • Working directly with organizations to identify non-compliance and provide solutions.
  • Granting extensions and flexibility where possible, particularly when organizations demonstrated a commitment to meeting requirements.
  • Maintaining ongoing communication to support progress and prevent issues from escalating.

Our goal has always been to help every team and coach reach compliance so that athletes could participate fully in the Championship.

At the same time, these standards must be applied consistently and fairly across the province. In situations where coaching requirements remain incomplete despite extended timelines, multiple follow-ups, and clear final deadlines, we have taken action. These decisions are difficult, particularly when athletes and families are affected, but they are necessary to uphold our policies, protect athlete safety, and maintain fairness for every affiliated club that met the same requirements. Allowing exceptions beyond reasonable accommodation would create inequity and undermine the standards all clubs are expected to meet.

We want to be transparent. Teams have been removed from OBA Championships this season and more removals are possible. Every one of those decisions came only after sustained efforts to support compliance, clearly communicated deficiencies, real opportunities to correct outstanding items and advance notice of consequences. None of this was abrupt. None of it was unexpected.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to earlier and more proactive compliance processes next season, stronger internal tracking at the club level and continued support from OBA staff. We recognize the passion and investment that go into every season, from athletes, families, and coaches. Our responsibility is to ensure that experience is delivered safely, fairly, and consistently for everyone involved.

We appreciate the continued efforts of our members in meeting these standards and supporting the integrity of basketball in Ontario.

Yours in Basketball,
Mike Barbin
VP, Basketball Operations