Basketball brothers help kids of all abilities
To play the sport you love, with your best friend for life, and help change the lives of children for the better?
Kye Bentley is already achieving all of the above as a 21-year-old growing up in Shailer Park, by starting his own business with his brother that revolves around combining a passion for basketball and work in the field of disability care.
Kye and his younger brother, Caden, 20, are the dynamic duo with heart behind their own business All Inclusive Activities.
They deliver basketball sessions for children of all abilities, with the goal for people to enjoy all the things about sport that Kye and Caden love as well – the self-confidence, physical enjoyment, team spirit and finding new friendships.
Both men grew up on the game, playing club basketball at Logan, with Caden currently a development player for the Logan Thunder NBL 1 team.
When Kye began disability support work in 2022, he began to realise the need for supportive sporting programs for young people living with disability.
‘When I noticed the minimal number of local programs, I decided to create my own,’ Kye says.
His best friend Charlie Johnston helped him set up the business and soon Caden joined the team.
Now children with disability living in City of Logan have begun reaping the benefits of the brothers’ methods of coaching – to ensure that no matter what level of ability or disability, every child can enjoy learning the game.
Above: Caden and Kye Bentley are the best friends and brothers behind All Inclusive Activities, running basketball sessions for Logan kids.
This includes a Basketball Slam! Program held earlier this year, which was an 8-week community initiative in partnership with Logan City Council that focused on promoting disability inclusion through sports in the City of Logan.
Children with disability from Beenleigh State School and Beenleigh Special School took part, with the brothers adapting each session to ensure every child felt comfortable with their level of participation.
The children reported enjoying the physical activity as well as socialising with friends.
Parents who watched the sessions also praised the program, with feedback including their child asking for a basketball hoop to be installed at home so they could keep practicing shooting hoops.
One parent said from the sidelines: ‘They’ve made great friends, they all cheer each other on and stop to help each other, especially if someone from the special school scores.’
Kye says it’s on the court where you really see the magic happen.
‘Just seeing the work that the kids put in each week, paying off at the end, was the coolest part,’ Kye says.
‘At the start the kids would get frustrated when they couldn’t make their shots, and some wanted to sit out and give up, but getting them to keep trying to make it through to the last week when they play a game together and then make the shot, is all worth it.
‘Seeing the parents cheering for them, and being able to show them that if they can keep tyring then they can reach that goal at the end, is the best feeling – it’s awesome and there is nothing really I can compare it to.
‘It’s why I want to coach basketball and give the message to all children that everyone can do it at their own level.’
‘An inclusive community looks and feels like everyone having an equal opportunity,’ Kye says.
He is pleased to have also joined forces with Reclink Australia – ‘a charity that work on community engagement and getting people into sport and recreation for free or low cost.’
‘If kids or parents want to contact us, we can direct them to the session we think will fit them best, whether that be charity sessions or sessions in connection with Logan City Council through the Active and Health program,’ Kye says.
The next basketball sessions by All Inclusive Activities will be $5 weekly sessions for teens aged 12 to 18 years, running from 13 January to 30 June from 5 pm – 6 pm, each Monday at Woodridge Adventure Park, through the Active & Healthy Program.
‘Kids can be at any level and turn up at any session without booking,’ Kye says.
He hopes the sessions will help bridge the gap for many children who may find it harder to get involved in mainstream sports.
‘They can have that experience of being told what to do by a coach and also interact with other kids as a team and then after that step they may hope to join the local clubs.
I also think with the Paralympics coming up in Australia in 2032 there is the opportunity for these kids who are growing around Logan and we can start to get them involved now.’
Photo at top: Shailer Park brothers Kye and Caden Bentley from All Inclusive Activities share their knowledge on the court with Beenleigh children.
To find out more visit All Inclusive Activities | Facebook.