In her years playing competitive basketball on teams across London, Ont., Tala El Khodeir found that although her teammates were welcoming and inclusive, they didn’t quite understand her Muslim faith and its traditions.

“Being a Muslim athlete, you feel different with specific things like telling them ‘I’m fasting today’ or having to explain why I’m wearing a T-shirt under my jersey or letting them know when I have to pray,” said El Khodeir, 20.

“It’s simple things like that where it just feels like you’re not comfortable in your environment.”

It wasn’t until she joined the London Royals Basketball Club, created by a group of Muslim youths in the community, that El Khodeir “felt at home and as if she found her sisters.” That’s why she now coaches the girls team.

London Royals became certified with the Ontario Basketball Association (OBA) and Canada Basketball over the summer. The registered non-profit hosts weekly practices for its respective under-19 boys and girls teams at the London Muslim Mosque gym.

The club has and is open to players of all faiths and backgrounds, and offers subsidized pricing for low-income families. But its primary goal is to encourage more girls to take up the sport, said 23-year-old Hamdi Babeker, who co-founded the club in 2018.

Players pray together and during Ramadan, practices are scheduled for them to get home in time to break their fasts. Non-Muslim players on the team also get an opportunity to learn about the culture and everyone respects each other, said El Khodeir.

After establishing the basketball program, the club wants to branch out into other sports like soccer and volleyball, Habliza said.