When 13‑year‑old Alexander Scott approached MCBA about joining his movement, Shoot For Kindness, Block Out Bullying, we were on board before he even finished presenting. His passion and commitment to creating safer sporting communities made the decision easy.
Alexander’s initiative empowers young people to become upstanders; those who speak up, step in, and support others when bullying occurs. With support from MCBA, Melbourne Tigers, Geelong United Basketball and NBL1 ambassadors, the campaign uses basketball, storytelling, and education to spread kindness and unity through a common love, basketball.
Some of our Melbourne Tigers NBL1 athletes filmed a special video with Alexander and Geelong United Basketball to share his message and inspire people to be upstanders.
The Melbourne Tigers have teamed up with Geelong United Basketball and the NBL1 South to highlight the importance of bullying prevention during a special themed NBL1 game on Saturday 9th of May. Together, we’re bringing Alexander’s message to the spotlight in a way that resonates with players, families, and the wider community.
As part of this collaboration, we also helped bring one of Alexander’s dreams to life: the creation of a brand‑new Upstander Award, recognising individuals who show courage and kindness by standing up for others. Alexander shared his vision for the Upstander Award. “It’s awarded to the player that shows what it means to be an upstander on and off the court. The player awarded the medal plays with respect, courage, leadership. They encourage teammates and stay positive even under pressure. When things get hard, they choose leadership over frustration and stand up for others.”
MCBA General Manager Rebecca Thorburn has commented on the values that Shoot for Kindness, Blockout Bullying share with MCBA and the Melbourne Tigers. “At MCBA/Tigers, we’ve been inspired by Alex’s message and the incredible work of Shoot for Kindness – Blockout Bullying. Kindness and standing up for others are values we strongly believe in, and we’ve loved working alongside Alex. The values of Shoot for Kindness – Blockout Bullying align closely with those of our Association. As an Operations team, we’re committed to Shooting for Kindness and encourage all our members to jump on board, share this message, and stand united against bullying.”
With young leaders like Alexander stepping forward, the future of basketball and the culture around it looks kinder, braver, and more united than ever.
