Inaugural Surrey Unified Basketball League brings neurodiverse and neurotypical students together

The Frank Hurt Hornets won the first-ever Surrey Unified Basketball League earlier this month, a coed three-on-three league for neurodiverse and neurotypical students to play together, build connections, demonstrate teamwork and promote inclusivity.

A new secondary basketball league is creating opportunities for neurodiverse Surrey and White Rock students to participate in sports while connecting them with neurotypical peers in a celebration of inclusivity, teamwork and the love of the game.

Earlier this year, the district piloted its first-ever Surrey Unified Basketball League, dedicated to creating a supporting and engaging environment in which every player – regardless of their neurological background – can thrive and enjoy playing basketball. The coed three-on-three league was inspired by a similar initiative in Port Moody and was organized by the district’s inclusive working group that includes an administrator from every secondary school.

“At the end of last year, the group visited the Coquitlam School District and they talked about how the kids played basketball, it was amazing,” said Student Support District Principal Kristen Pawar. “[North Surrey Secondary vice-principal] Courtney O’Brien and [Frank Hurt Secondary vice-principal] Dianna Alvarro came back and said, ‘Let’s start this.’ They had a few meetings to learn a bit more and then we sent out the memo and 12 schools signed up.”

Students from Clayton Heights, Fleetwood Park, Frank Hurt, Fraser Heights, Grandview Heights, Johnston Heights, École Kwantlen Park, École Panorama Ridge, Queen Elizabeth, Semiahmoo, Sullivan Heights and Tamanawis secondary schools participated in the five-week season, culminating in a five-game round-robin tournament. In the spirit of inclusion, the league requires that two neurodiverse students and one neurotypical student are on the court at all times to ensure everyone receives a fair opportunity to play.

In a feverish finale, a Frank Hurt student sunk four three-pointers to lead the Hornets to the inaugural championship, with Tamanawis placing second and Panorama Ridge finishing third. Every student also received a medal for participating in the league, and Grandview Heights Secondary took home the Spirit Award.

“Frank Hurt went home with a banner because in all Surrey Schools sports, they get a banner that’s hung in the gym, and now there’s a Unified Basketball banner that will go up as well,” said Pawar.

Pawar said the league was well-received at all levels: from students, staff and especially parents, who showed their support and school spirit from the sidelines.

“We had parents showing up to every practice, filming the whole thing, wearing their school spirit shirts,” said Pawar. “It’s something their kids haven’t really had access to that most kids in schools get to be a part of, and the parents were really appreciative.”

Of all the ways the district works to make schools more inclusive, Pawar said this is one of the more unique initiatives, and it’s proven to be a good one. As a result of the tournament, all of the students have been invited to attend the 2025 Semiahmoo Thunderbirds Athletic Banquet, where a new athletics award – the Thunderbird Spirit of Sport Award – will be presented to the school’s 2025 BASES Unified Basketball team, recognizing their growth, efforts and achievements.

Additionally, plans are already underway for the next basketball season, with a few other ideas for the rest of the school year.

“Next year, we would like to do unified leagues with four sports,” said Pawar. “We want to do bocce, track and field, and indoor soccer. It was so obvious how needed this was and how much kids and families and teachers loved it, and we need to make it accessible throughout the year.”

A huge thank you to Dianna Alvarro, Courtney O’Brien and the inclusivity working group for unifying Surrey and White Rock students through the love of basketball!