About Us

You do it because you love children and you want to give them the rich experience associated with participating in team sports. 
 - James Sidgwick, Founder of BSA


The Brussels Sports Association (BSA) was established in 1958 to provide competitive team sports opportunities for children of the international community. We now partner with several international schools to provide 4 sports to all children from ages 4 - 12.

As a volunteer organization, BSA promotes fair play, skills development and fun for children and their families.

The BSA does not merely operate a sports program for children. It seeks to teach, through the direct interaction of adult commissioners, coaches and team parents, certain values associated with team sports, particularly values of fair play, team spirit and mutual respect. In BSA's philosophy, each child's efforts are to be maximized and praised, regardless of innate athletic ability. Sports Commissioners and Coaches seek, through basic skills evaluations, to balance competing teams, so that to the extent possible, a rough parity may be achieved.

  • To provide an opportunity for children of the international and local communities in Belgium to participate in team sports.
  • To instill basic athletic skills, a sense of fair play and team spirit via sports competition.
  • To ensure that BSA sports programs are structured via established international guidelines to allow participating children to advance to high school, collegiate and International Olympic Committee programs.

The critical component of the BSA philosophy is that winning is NOT everything. Participating and effort are the keys and children are taught by the example of the BSA volunteers that losing a game or a season is far less important than the enjoyment one has in playing as well as one can. The joy of winning is the easy part; learning to lose gracefully is an equally valuable lesson for the children to learn. The BSA Board is careful to ensure that those who administer the sports programs practice the precepts of this philosophy.

About the BSA

The critical component of the BSA philosophy is that winning is NOT everything. Participating and effort are the keys and children are taught by the example of the BSA volunteers that losing a game or a season is far less important than the enjoyment one has in playing as well as one can. The joy of winning is the easy part; learning to lose gracefully is an equally valuable lesson for the children to learn. The BSA Board is careful to ensure that those who administer the sports programs practice the precepts of this philosophy.

Structure
The BSA was initially structured as a volunteer-run, non-profit organization in 1958. Due to the rapid growth in membership and the expansion of sports programs the Association established a Board of Directors and filed for and received official status as a non-profit organization within the Kingdom of Belgium in 1984. This status is represented by the a.s.b.l. designation after our name.

Organisation
The BSA operates through the dedication of its managing director as well as members who volunteer their time to serve as board members, coaches, officials, team managers and supporters. The Board of Directors consists of an managing director and volunteer officers. Directors representing the seasonal sports (soccer, lacrosse, basketball, and baseball) guide the sports programs aided by the managing director, numerous league commissioners, coaches, schedulers and other volunteers.  In total, over 200 parents volunteer their time to make our programs possible each year.

BSA is largely a volunteer organization. We depend on parents and other family members to coach our teams and organize our sports programs. Volunteering for BSA is a great way to meet families from all over Brussels and a wonderful way to use your skills or learn new ones. Please consider volunteering for one or more positions when you register your child.

Funding
Since its conception,  proceeds from BSA Corporate sponsorships, membership fees and sports participation fees have been used to purchase equipment and uniforms, recognition awards, provide certified referees and officials, as well as to improve, develop and maintain sports facilities at the various school locations within the Brussels area.

The History of BSA

James Sidgwick established the BSA in 1958 in order to provide competitive team sports for the children of the international community who could not participate in the limited sports programs provided by the International Schools. When asked why he dedicated his time to starting this program, Jim responded "You do it because you love children and you want to give them the rich experience associated with participating in team sports".

The Association has expanded many times since its conception. It has grown from the original charter in 1958 of baseball only to include soccer (added in 1970) and basketball (added in 1979). Lacrosse clinics were offered for the first time in 2009. Membership has grown from 200 families in 1958 to more than 800 families representing more than 48 different nations today.

The BSA is open to everyone and has children from over 45 different schools participating in its programs. Most of its activities are carried out at facilities made available by international schools.

BSA Sports
Youth Sports in Brussels since 1958

Brussels Sports Association 

Kattenberg 19, 1170, Brussels, Belgium
 office@bsasports.org

    


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