Building Better Basketball: Recent Episodes
Basketball Australia Coaches
A Basketball Australia Podcast for Coaches and Volunteers in clubs and associations around the country to hear some interesting discussions from people all over the world talking about issues that directly relevant to them to give them some new ideas or confidence to keep putting their hand up.
An international flavour to tip off Day 2 of the National Coaches Conference with @ericmcalister of the @dallasmavs taking the coaches through his job as an International Scout and talking about the art of evaluating talent.
Closing out Day 1 of the National Coaching Conference was @distrang who took the coaches through a structure to help them not only understand but also provided some tools to let them build their Coaching brand.
Our last on court presentation of Day 1 is @mickdowner sharing all his international coaching experience to talk to the coaches in attendance about building your team defence with the assistance of the @basketballauscoe male athletes.
Our first on court session of the National Coaching Conference 26 is a Coach returning to her roots at the @basketballauscoe , very apt off the back of Retro Round! Coach @renae_garlepp of the @sydneyflames has the @basketballauscoe girls running through a series of skill development exercises on Offensive development building from passing right through to finishing.
Enjoy this recording of our first presenter of the National Coaching Conference 26 @shanemac4 from @insidewaiswho shared his experiences and suggestions on how to manage a Bespoke Player Development environment.
Enjoy this recording of a presentation done at the recent Australian Junior Championships.
This was a classroom style presentation by Australian U19 Men’s physio Toby Conroy and General Manager of the COE and Performance Pathways Peter Lonergan and focused on “An Integrated Approach to Practice Design”.
It focused on the intensity modification process devised by Toby, Aneeka Smith and Bridie Duggan, which is being rolled out across the Performance Pathway. A great opportunity for coaches to understand the proccesses and planning that go into the National Performance Camps and the Centre of Excellence.
Today on Building Better Basketball we’re joined by Tom Garlepp - a coach who has built a strong reputation across Australian basketball through player development, high-performance coaching, and his work within national team pathways.
Tom has worked with athletes across multiple levels of the game and has recently come out of camp with the Australia Sapphires as their head coach. This gives him a unique insight into what selection, development, and high-performance environments really look like in Australian basketball right now. Literally, it finished yesterday!
In this episode we dive into what coaches often miss when it comes to player development, what actually matters at national team level, the role mentoring has played throughout his coaching journey, and what life is like in a household where both he and his wife are coaches.
Today on Building Better Basketball, we’re stepping slightly off the court - but staying right at the heart of what makes great coaching.
Because if we want more young people - especially teenage girls - to stay in the game, enjoy the game, and grow through the game… we need to better understand their experience.
Our guest today is Fiona Sanford - a facilitator, speaker, and advocate who has worked with more than 30,000 young people across Australia. Her work focuses on identity, confidence, leadership, and helping young people find and use their voice.
With a background as a semi-elite gymnast and now delivering programs across schools, communities, and sporting environments Fiona brings a really practical lens to the challenges coaches face every week.
She’s also deeply involved in anti-bullying work, helping young people understand team dynamics, build empathy, and take responsibility for the environments they’re part of - something that translates directly into sport.
In this conversation, we’re going to explore what’s really going on beneath the surface for teenage girls in basketball… where coaches sometimes get it wrong… and most importantly, what you can do about it in your very next session.
www.fionasanford.com.au
Today’s episode steps slightly outside the lines of basketball - but very much into the heart of coaching.
I’m joined by Don Singe, who works with the North Queensland Cowboys as their Head of Leadership and Culture.
Don’s work sits at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and science-based wellbeing. He partners with corporate leaders, elite athletes, and coaches to build what he calls leadership capacity - helping people take ownership of themselves, their environment, and their process, while maintaining the mental and physical health needed to sustain performance over time.
What stood out to me in Don’s approach is that it’s not about quick fixes or surface-level motivation. It’s grounded in practical, actionable processes - and built around clarity, honesty, and the ability to adapt and progress along your own pathway.
For those of us coaching in community basketball, that’s highly relevant. Because whether you’re coaching juniors on a weeknight or working in high performance, the challenge is the same, how do you lead people effectively, and how do you create an environment where they can thrive?
This is a really thoughtful conversation that will challenge the way you think about leadership, wellbeing, and what it actually means to perform at your best.
Today we’re joined by Maddie Borg, someone doing outstanding work in a really important space of our game. Maddie is the Head Coach of the Queensland Ivor Burge Women’s team, working within the intellectual impairment pathway, a space that continues to grow, evolve, and most importantly, provide meaningful opportunities for athletes to represent, compete, and belong in our sport. What stands out about Maddie’s work isn’t just results, it’s the clarity of purpose. The focus on effort, attitude, and creating an environment where players can thrive and be challenged at the same time. In this conversation, we explore what it takes to coach in that space, the balance between performance and inclusion, how you build connection with your athletes, and what coaches at all levels can learn from working in the Ivor Burge program. There’s a lot in this one, whether you’re coaching representative athletes, grassroots players, or anywhere in between. National Coaches Conference Tickets - Register here
Early bird tickets are now on sale at $200. Secure your spot today before prices increase and be part of Basketball Australia's biggest coaching event of the year.
Today on Building Better Basketball, we’re joined by someone operating right at the intersection of performance science and high-performance leadership - Rodney Siegel.
Rod is currently the High Performance Manager for Wheelchair Basketball at Basketball Australia, where he leads the performance environment for national teams with a clear focus on international podium success.
Before stepping into basketball, Rod spent years across the Australian high-performance system - including leadership roles with the Australian Institute of Sport and the Victorian Institute of Sport - driving connection across performance support networks and working across sports like rowing, athletics, sailing, and more.
He’s also been on the ground at the highest level of global sport, playing a key role in athlete preparation and recovery for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
What makes this conversation unique is Rod’s lens - he’s not coming from a traditional basketball pathway, but from a system-wide, interdisciplinary performance background.
So today, we dive into what basketball can learn from the broader high-performance system, how coaches can better connect with performance staff, and what it really takes to build environments that maximise athlete potential.
Today’s guest on Building Better Basketball is Adam Forde - one of the most respected and thoughtful coaches in Australian basketball.
Adam is currently the Head Coach of the Cairns Taipans in the National Basketball League, where he has built a reputation for developing players, fostering strong team culture, and getting the very best out of his group. His coaching journey has taken him through a wide range of roles giving him a deep understanding of the game from both a development and high-performance perspective.
Adam is also heavily involved in the growth of the game beyond the traditional five-on-five format, including being the Head Coach of the Australian Mens program in the rapidly growing world of 3x3 basketball. His experience across different formats of the game gives him a unique perspective on how coaches can help players think, adapt, and make better decisions on the court.
In today’s conversation, we’ll dive into Adam’s coaching journey, his thoughts on player development, the lessons coaches can take from 3x3, and some practical ideas that community coaches can use with their own teams.
Today on Building Better basketball, we're joined by our newest face at the Centre of Excellence - Myra Donkin. Fresh into her role as Assistant Coach in the women’s program, Myra is now working at the very pointy end of the national pathway, helping shape the next generation of Australian talent alongside Head Coach Mel Downer. But what makes Myra’s perspective so valuable is the journey she’s taken to get there - from a long-time captain and leader in Cairns, to head coach in the NBL1 North, to leading performance pathways at Basketball Western Australia. She’s seen the game at every level in Australia - and now sits in a role where development, performance, and people all intersect. In this episode, we dive into what it really takes to prepare athletes for the Centre of Excellence, what coaches across the country should be focusing on, and how we can better connect the pathway from grassroots to green and gold. This is a conversation packed with insight for any coach working with developing players.
Today on the Building Better Basketball podcast we’re joined by someone who has carved out a really unique path in the game. Marena Whittle is one of Australia’s leading 3x3 basketball players, representing the Gangurrus on the international stage and competing against the best players in the world in one of the fastest-growing formats of the game.
Marena’s journey through basketball is a fascinating one - from traditional 5-on-5 pathways through college and professional basketball, to embracing the speed, creativity, and tactical demands of 3x3. Along the way she’s developed a reputation for her competitiveness, skill, and ability to adapt her game to different environments.
In this conversation we’ll dive into the differences between 5-on-5 and 3x3, what makes great 3x3 players and teams, and what coaches and players at the community level can learn from a format that demands decision-making, toughness, and creativity on every possession.
Today on Building Better Basketball, we’re joined by Bonnie Deas, one of the most exciting young Australian players currently coming through the system. Bonnie is currently playing her college basketball at the University of Arkansas, after coming through the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, where she developed a reputation as a tough, competitive guard who plays the game with real edge and intent. Her journey from the CoE to the NCAA gives her a unique perspective on development, daily training environments, and what it actually takes to make the jump from Australian pathways into the U.S. college system. She’s lived the process - the good bits, the hard bits, and the stuff coaches don’t always see. Today we’ll talk about her experiences, what helped her development most, and the lessons she’d pass on to young players and coaches trying to build better basketball environments.
Today, we’re joined by someone whose work sits right at the intersection of high performance, coach development, and athlete wellbeing. Lauren Soderberg is a highly respected coach, consultant, and leader in the sport space. She’s coached internationally, led national programs, and helped athletes and teams achieve success on the world stage including guiding programs from no ranking to international podium finishes. Beyond performance, Lauren is the founder of Progressive Coaches, a platform dedicated to supporting coaches at every level and using sport as a vehicle for positive change. What makes Lauren’s perspective so valuable for basketball coaches is her ability to translate elite-level insights into practical, human-centred coaching -the kind that works just as well at community level as it does on the international stage. In this episode, we’ll talk about what good coaching really looks like, how coaches can better support athlete wellbeing, and the small changes that can make a big difference in the environments we create.
Today we’re joined by someone from outside the basketball world — but whose insights might just change how you think about leadership, teamwork, and high performance.
Benjamin Northey is one of Australia’s most respected conductors and musical leaders. He’s the Chief Conductor of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, the Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor for Learning & Engagement with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and a Professor of Conducting at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He has spent more than two decades leading elite ensembles on some of the biggest stages in Australia and around the world.
Recently, Benjamin presented at the Australian Institute of Sport High Performance Conference, where he explored the striking crossovers between conducting an orchestra and coaching high-performance teams — the role of clarity, communication, trust, shared leadership, emotional control, and the pursuit of excellence under pressure.
Today, we’re diving into all of that and more. What can coaches learn from a world-class conductor? How does an orchestra build culture? How do you lead a group of highly skilled individuals toward one performance in perfect sync?
It’s a fascinating conversation, and I’m thrilled to have him on the show.
Today, we’re joined by someone who has been at the centre of our new Coach Development Framework which is going to launch in 2026 and someone who is living the game at a seriously high level: Abbey Ellis.
When the framework launches and you get the chance to see all the new online learning content, for the favorite part of coaches, the technical ideas and drills you will see Abbey’s influence. She’s been pivotal in shaping the content, ensuring the voice is player centered, and the learning experience to make it clearer, more practical, and genuinely coach-friendly.
But Abbey’s not just a brilliant learning designer - she’s a legit baller. A standout junior, a dynamic guard who carved out an impressive college career in the US, and a player known for her IQ, decision-making, and ability to compete at both ends of the floor. She brings that lived player experience into every conversation, every module, and every piece of coach education she touches.
Today, she’s here to take us behind the scenes: how she got involved, what coaches can expect, why this is such an important step forward for our sport and we will talk a little bit about her game too!
Today on Building Better Basketball, we’re joined by Sagalee Omer—Director of Shooters Shoot, a Melbourne-based charity basketball organisation. Through his events, Sagalee has raised over $100,000 to fund therapy, journaling programs, and even bicycles for young people’s mental and physical wellbeing. His leadership earned him Entrepreneur of the Year and the Minister for Youth Award at the 2024 Multicultural Youth Awards. He’s a powerful voice for community, creativity, and belonging—and I’m thrilled to welcome him to Building Better Basketball.
https://www.shootersshoot.com.au/
Welcome back to another episode of Building Better Basketball, the podcast for coaches who want to make a bigger impact on the game and their communities. I’m BA Community Capability and Educations Manager, Neil Gray, and today we’re talking about one of the most important areas in sport — making sure the game we all love is safe, fair, and inclusive for everyone.
To help us explore this, I’m joined by Lauren Halliwell, Basketball Australia’s General Manager of Integrity and Security. Lauren leads the work that ensures basketball in Australia is built on strong foundations — from child safety and safeguarding, to risk management, integrity policies, and creating environments where players, coaches, officials, and parents can enjoy the game with confidence.
In our conversation, we’ll talk about Lauren’s journey into this role, what a week looks like for her and her team, the systems and safeguards in place across the sport, and most importantly, the practical things coaches and clubs can do to make sure their environments are child safe and aligned with best practice.
So, whether you’re coaching juniors on a Friday night, leading a club program, or supporting athletes at the national level, you’ll walk away with clear takeaways on how to help protect the integrity of the game while keeping basketball fun, safe, and inclusive.
- BA Play – Child Safety Resources hub (Children & Young People; Coaches/Officials; Clubs/Associations). play.aus.basketball
- Reporting options & STOPline details: https://www.play.aus.basketball/child-safety/how-to-report
- Safeguarding Children in Basketball online course: (enrol via etrainu) - https://basketballaustralia.etrainu.com/training/?event=course.purchase&bundleID=3E3FE4E8-21FF-42BD-8D3F-734C9514FE79&secret=5E2104A0-BE72-CB0A-62F8BC01C42F51F2
- National Integrity Framework - https://www.australia.basketball/about/national-integrity-framework
Today on Building Better Basketball, we’re joined by someone who is leaving a real mark on the game through his work both on and off the court — Nick Haywood. Nick has built a reputation as a coach and leader who not only understands the technical side of basketball, but also the people side — the culture, the relationships, and the development journeys that make this sport special. From grassroots to high performance, he’s been at the heart of creating environments where athletes and coaches can thrive. We’re going to dig into his experiences, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and what he sees as the biggest opportunities for our game moving forward.
https://www.nickhaywood.com/
On this weeks episode of the Building Better Basketball podcast, we’re joined by someone who has become a respected figure both on and off the court. Angus Glover isn’t just known for his play in the NBL and with the Boomers — he’s also admired for the way he carries himself as a teammate, leader, and genuine contributor to the basketball community. Angus has built a reputation for his humility, his work ethic, and the positive energy he brings into every environment. In this conversation, we’ll dive into his journey, what drives him as a player and a person, and the lessons coaches can take from his approach to the game and to life.
In this Coaching Roundtable episode, Basketball Australia’s Neil Gray sits down with Jarrod Moore (Basketball NSW), Rob Coulter (Basketball Victoria), and George Robinson (Basketball Queensland) to unpack what goes into a high-quality Under 12s training session. The panel shares their philosophies on balancing skill development with fun, the importance of small-sided games, and how to maximise limited court time. From creating an engaging learning environment to setting age-appropriate challenges, the discussion covers practical tips coaches can use straight away. Whether you’re a new volunteer or an experienced mentor, you’ll leave with fresh ideas to make every session count.
BQ Passing Video- https://youtu.be/WgaZG5fBvNs?si=-zZYouv7-v7schfv
Loving the game versus loving to coach ?
In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to welcome a special guest who brings a powerful mix of research, coaching, and lived experience to the table — Craig Harrison, founder of the Athlete Development Project.
Craig is one of the leading voices in youth athlete development, and he’s worked with coaches, parents, and athletes across multiple sports to answer a simple but important question:
How do we help young athletes thrive – not just in sport, but in life?
From foundational movement to motivation science, Craig is all about the long game – developing robust, resilient, and well-rounded kids who stay in sport because they love it.
So whether you’re coaching U12s at the local stadium or leading a junior program for your club, this conversation is packed with insight, real talk, and ideas you can apply right away.
Basketball Australia's Head of Athlete Wellbeing, Rhian Bird, presented on ‘re- imagining load management’; applying a holistic lens to the athlete (and coach) in load management, for performance and retention. as a keynote presenter at the 2025 @BasketballAus National Coaches Conference, June 2-3.
Full video and slides of this presentation will be available via BA Coaches website in upcoming weeks
Washington Wizards G League Assistant Coach Liam Flynn was a keynote presenter at the 2025 @BasketballAus National Coaches Conference, June 2-3. This is the lecture theatre component of his presentation on Skill Acquisition.
Full video and slides of this presentation as well as his on court session will be available via BA Coaches website in upcoming weeks
Australian U17 Women’s team physiotherapist Bridie Duggan presented on physical management of young athletes as a keynote presenter at the 2025 @BasketballAus National Coaches Conference, June 2-3.
Full video and slides of this presentation will be available via BA Coaches website in upcoming weeks
Welcome back to Building Better Basketball, the podcast where we explore the people, ideas, and innovations shaping the game at every level. I’m your host, Neil Gray, and today, I’m thrilled to be joined by someone who has spent years championing the development of coaches, athletes, and communities—Jason Sacks.
Jason is the President of the Positive Coaching Alliance and a nationally respected voice in youth sports development. With a background that spans grassroots coaching, nonprofit leadership, and national advocacy, Jason brings a unique blend of practical experience and big-picture thinking to everything he does.
In this episode, we’ll dive into how to build positive, player-first environments, what great coaching really looks like beyond the Xs and Os, and why character development belongs at the heart of sport. Whether you're a coach, parent, or administrator, you’re going to walk away with tools and insights to help you build better basketball in your own backyard.
https://positivecoach.org/
Welcome back to Building Better Basketball, the podcast where we dive into the people, ideas, and stories shaping hoops across the country.
Today’s guest is someone who’s done it all—on the court and beyond. We're thrilled to be joined by Renae Garlepp, a name that fans of Australian basketball will instantly recognize.
Renae’s playing career speaks for itself: two time WNBL Champion, Australian representative, and one of the league’s most reliable scorers during her prime. But it’s what she’s done after her playing days that really sets her apart. As a coach, Renae has continued to make an impact—developing talent, building inclusive pathways, and inspiring the next generation of players and coaches.
In this episode, we’ll explore Renae’s transition from elite athlete to Coach, the lessons she's learned along the way, and what she believes makes a truly great coach—at every level of the game.
So whether you're coaching under-10s or just love hearing from passionate basketball minds, this one’s for you.
If you only remember one thing from this weeks episode - Feel the fear and do it anyway.
https://www.australia.basketball/news/4252689/selection-camp-for-gems-ahead-of-u19-fiba-womens-world-cup
Today, we’re incredibly excited to be joined by one of the most respected coaches in Australian basketball — Shannon Seebohm.
Shannon is the current head coach of the Townsville Fire in the WNBL, where he’s led the team to multiple finals campaigns, including a WNBL Championship. Known for his high-performance mindset, attention to detail, and ability to build strong, connected teams, Shannon has also played a pivotal role in the development of young athletes, with a strong track record at the junior national level, including coaching Australia’s U17 and U19 women’s teams on the world stage and his role as Assistant Coach with our Olympic Medal winning Opals.
Whether it's creating a winning team culture or mentoring the next generation of talent, Shannon brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to everything he does — and today, he’s here to share his journey, his coaching insights, and what he believes matters most when it comes to building better basketball in Australia.
Joining us on this episode is Kylie Cox, the founder of The Healthy Athlete Project. Kylie is a physiotherapist and female athlete health educator who has been at the forefront of raising awareness around key health considerations for young women in sport. Through her work, she’s helping athletes, coaches, and parents understand the unique challenges female athletes face and how we can better support their development both on and off the court.
In this episode, we’ll explore health related challenges, practical coaching applications and how coaches can create environments that promote both high performance and long-term health.
Joining us on this episode is Michael Inglis, a Sport and Performance Psychologist and the Co-Founder of The Mind Room, a leading wellbeing and performance psychology clinic in Melbourne. Michael has worked extensively across multiple sports, including AFL, Basketball, cricket, rugby, and football, helping athletes, teams, and coaches develop the mental skills needed to perform at their best.
We’re going to chat about the role of mental skills in basketball, how coaches can support players in this space, and some practical strategies to help athletes manage pressure, improve focus, and build resilience.
Today, we’re joined by someone who’s making a real impact on the way coaches think, teach, and engage with their players.
Jack Rolfe is the founder of The Coaching Lab, a globally recognized resource dedicated to making learning more game-like, engaging, and player-centered. Through his innovative MatchPlay Cards and creative approach to coaching, Jack helps coaches of all sports challenge traditional thinking and create environments where athletes can develop decision-making, problem-solving, and adaptability on the court.
We’ll be talking about the role of constraints, questioning, and creativity in coaching, and how basketball coaches can apply these ideas to help their players thrive.
Today we’ve got a great episode lined up with not one but two special guests from Basketball New South Wales.
Returning for his second appearance on the pod is Jarrod Moore, a key figure in coach development at BNSW, who’s always got a fresh take on how we can improve the way we teach the game. Joining him is Macs Monk, a fellow coach developer at BNSW, who brings his own insights from working with coaches and players across the state.
Jarrod and Macs recently went on a basketball study tour through Europe, exploring how Greece and Serbia develop players, structure their programs, and build a basketball culture that consistently produces elite talent. We’ll be diving into what they learned, the biggest takeaways for Australian coaches, and how we can apply some of those principles to our own basketball landscape.
today we’re diving into the world of sports management, leadership, and high performance with an incredible guest.
Joining us is Samantha Macpherson, the General Manager of the Perth Lynx. With a career spanning roles in basketball, cricket, hockey, and swimming, Samantha brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. She’s a proven leader, a strategic thinker, and a champion for athlete development and organizational growth.
From managing elite teams to driving participation at all levels, she’s seen it all.
Today, we’ll explore Samantha’s journey, her approach to managing a professional basketball team, and her vision for the future of the game.
Today on the Building Better Basketball podcast, we’re thrilled to be joined by someone who’s been instrumental in shaping a more inclusive and equitable future for basketball—Dominique Holland.
Dominique is the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager at Basketball Australia, where she’s leading the charge in creating a sport that welcomes everyone, no matter their background, ability, or identity. Her work focuses on ensuring that basketball reflects the rich diversity of our community while fostering a culture of respect, understanding, and belonging.
In today’s episode, we’ll dive into Dominique’s journey, the challenges and opportunities of embedding inclusivity in sports, and some of the incredible programs she’s been involved with. We’ll also discuss how coaches, players, and administrators can play a role in making basketball more accessible for all.
https://www.australia.basketball/news/4197745/hoops-for-all-basketball-australia-launches-new-workshops-and-online-education-for-inclusive-basketball
We’re thrilled to welcome Rohan Short, a veteran of the sports industry with an impressive career spanning over two decades. Rohan is currently the Head of Operations at South East Melbourne Phoenix, where he oversees everything from live events to community engagement and team logistics. His expertise in operational planning, stakeholder engagement, and event management has made him a driving force behind the success of the Phoenix in the NBL.
Beyond basketball, Rohan has held key roles in prestigious organizations like Athletics Australia, the Victorian Institute of Sport, and the Commonwealth Games Australia, where he contributed to major events and high-performance programs. With experience as a high-performance coach and a background in education, Rohan brings a unique perspective on leadership, team management, and community development in sport.
We’re looking forward to diving into his journey, exploring what it takes to build basketball at all levels, and learning more about how he’s shaping the sport in Australia.
Rhian is an accomplished leader in sports management, currently serving as the Head of Athlete Wellbeing for Basketball Australia where we were very luck to get her from her previous role of High-Performance Wellbeing Manager for Archery Australia. With her role focused on supporting athlete mental health and resilience, Rhian brings a vital perspective on creating a balanced approach to high performance in sports. Rhian’s commitment to holistic athlete support is inspiring, and we’re looking forward to diving into her insights on managing mental well-being and performance
Today, we’re thrilled to have Jacob Chance on the podcast—a name well-known in basketball circles for his strategic mind and multifaceted experience. Jacob is currently an assistant coach with Melbourne United and as of yesterday, the newly announced Boomers Head Coach for the upcoming FIBA window. His resume spans a wide range of roles, from the Tasmania JackJumpers to the Hawkes Bay Hawks in New Zealand’s NBL, as well as several years with the Perth Wildcats.
Jacob’s journey is a testament to the power of combining traditional coaching techniques with modern analytics, and today, we’ll dive into how he’s leveraged both to enhance player development and team performance. From building a team culture with the JackJumpers to developing youth talent with the WA Metro State Team, Jacob’s insights are sure to inspire coaches at every level. Join us as we explore his experiences, philosophies, and the lessons he's learned along the way.
Todays episode is going to be a little different as I have finally decided its time to reply to some of the questions that have come through via our social media channels which are Building Better Basketball on Instagram and BBALLAU_Coaches on twitter. I’ve picked the 7 I like the most and tried to get a mix across the country, I always love hearing the feedback from everyone and the things that have resonated from them and what they want to learn more about so please reach out!
So, let’s jump back into the mail bag and see what we got.
Welcome back, everyone! If you caught our last episode, you know we’re in the middle of a great conversation, and I’m excited to bring back our guest for round two. We couldn’t fit everything into the first session, so we’re diving back in today to continue where we left off.
For those just joining us, let me reintroduce Alex Lascu. Alex, or as she calls herself, a 'skill acquisition amateur,' is an Adjunct at the University of Canberra (look that one up!) and a Learning and Capability Specialist at WA Cricket. She works in the space between research and practice in sports coaching, with the aim of merging those two worlds one day. What makes her so interesting is her generalist background—she’s worked across 15 sports and explored research from two faculties covering eight different topics.
So, without further delay, let’s jump back into it discussing Skill Acquisition in Basketball: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice and Talent Development: Building a Pathway for Success
We are going to do something new here on the podcast. We are going to have a guest on for the first time, but right out the gate we are saying, they are coming back for a second episode cause we are not getting it all done this morning! Podcast fanatics will know her name, the crazy band of people who like hearing me talk (shoutout my mum) will know her from when I appeared on her podcast and some of you I guarantee will have read one of her papers or like one of her tweets duting her love hate relationship with that platform!
Alex Lascu is, and these are her words; a skill acquisition amateur, Adjunct(get that dictionary out) at the University of Canberra and Learning and Capability specialist at WA Cricket. She exists in the gap between research and practice in sport coaching, in the hopes of one day bringing these worlds together. The reason I love talking to Alex and we exchange some random messages I promise you is she is a generalist, both in sport (15 different sports) and research (2 faculties, 8 topics).
All that said and done, welcome to what is the most unstructured episode of building better basketball in history!
Finishing off the Olympic theme we reached out to someone international who had a lot of interactions with all 3 Australian sides in Paris. Today we are joined by Ron Yeung of Basketball Canada. Ron has been heavily involved in the sport of basketball for over 10 years.Over this time, he has served in a number of important roles responsible for the strategic development and implementation of grassroots basketball in communities across Canada.Ron worked with the Toronto Raptors from 2000-2006, where he was responsible for the successful growth and operation of the Raptorball Youth Leagues and JR. NBA/WNBA. In 2007, he was commissioned by Canada Basketball to design and develop Steve Nash Youth Basketball (SNYB), a national youth development program aimed to grow the game at the grassroots level. Now Ron is the Head of Domestic & 3x3 Development.
Some of you will know todays guest from her work on the Basketball court with the Geelong Supercats but we have her on today to talk about the amazing work she is doing off the court with Welcoming Australia. One of the key programs is Welcome to the Game, a program dedicated to support children and young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds who live with disabilities, autism and additional support needs to access and feel a sense of belonging in their local community sport settings, along with their families.
Kate Thomas- NCC Presentation https://youtu.be/v-4e5bPpp9Y?si=zzw5RI9aSBhISPjG
Inclusion Graphic- https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/cvzg3as8t46vgduuv3fzp/Inclusion.png?rlkey=cjby1fds00vxh2tn9hfx18glq&st=ybixezgm&dl=0
Welcoming Clubs - https://welcomingclubs.org.au/
Welcome back to the new season of Building Better Basketball, the Basketball Australia Coaches Podcast. We took a little break for the Olympics but we are back and we needed to have a guest that was on the ground. We needed a guest with profile. A guest who like Madonna and Prince is known by just one name. We needed Junior! Junior is the Team Lead and Manager of the Boomers to give him his full title but his job actually covers much more than just those 3 words as we are about to find out.
Boomers Assistant Coach and San Antonio Spurs Assistant Coach Matthew Nielsen presented at the BALLIN Coaching clinic on offensive spacing.
Full Video available on Basketball Australia YouTube https://youtu.be/sHQyZwXP488
Opals Assistant Coach and Townsville Fire Head Coach Shannon Seebohm presented at the BALLIN Coaching clinic on team defensive principles.
Full Video available on Basketball Australia YouTube https://youtu.be/sHQyZwXP488
Rounding out the on-court element of the 2024 @BasketballAus
National Coaches Conference with our international guest @JoerikMichiels
talking developing shooters
A video recording of the session will be released later. Other oncourt sessions will be released over the next few weeks.
Aneeka talks about physical preparation for young players and her experience with the COE and the national teams in this lecture theatre session.
A video recording of the session will be released later. Other oncourt sessions will be released over the next few weeks.
6-time @NBL champion and two-time Olympian @CJBruton talking all things shooting.
A video recording of the session will be released later. Other oncourt sessions will be released over the next few weeks.
Former AIS Basketball Athlete and now working for The Center for Healing and Justice through Sport, Kate Thomas presented in this theatre session on Healing through sport
A video recording of the session will be released later. Other oncourt sessions will be released over the next few weeks.
COE Women's Assistant Coach Mel Downer took the coaches in attendance through an on court session focusing on defensive transition.
A video recording of the session will be released later. Other oncourt sessions will be released over the next few weeks.
Mens COE Head Coach Robbie McKinlay recording of his oncourt session at the National Coaches Conference 2024 running through an efficient practice and drill session.
A video recording of the session will be released later. Other oncourt sessions will be released over the next few weeks.
Please enjoy the audio recording of the first oncourt session from the National Coaches conference and International Presenter Joerik Michiels.
Joerik Michiels – Founder, Elite Athletes Belgium
- Drills alone can’t mimic the complexity of the game
- The 7 types of constraints for practice – player limitations, space, scoring, tactical, defensive, tools, time
- Embrace the mess
- Don’t be a “PlayStation coach” – you can’t control every action or decision like a video game
- Managing your interventions as a coach – rewind, remind, demo, question
A video recording of the session will be released later. Other oncourt sessions will be released over the next few weeks.
You might know him better as one of the voices of the Talking Split podcast but at Basketball Australia he is our u17 Crocs coach as well as the preacher of the Master skill, the consumer of any and all Basketball content and one of the best chats for coaching in the Business. Enjoy this conversation with Neil and we look forward to seeing you at the National Coaches Conference or you jumping online to register for youth other upcoming Coach Development seminars, happy National Volunteers week!
Join Lauren Jackson as she goes one on one with only the second female coach in NBA History and WNBA Championship winning Coach Becky Hammon.
For more from the She Hoops Series make sure you are following their feed She Hoops on Apple Podcasts
Mike Thibault coached the Connecticut Sun and the Washington Mystics in the WNBA. In 2013, he became the WNBA's most successful all time coach with 212 victories. Lauren Jackson caught up with this ICON of the game to chat about his career, coaching philosophies and the sport he has dedicated his life to.
For more from the She Hoops Series make sure you are following their feed She Hoops on Apple Podcasts
Thie week Neil is joined by Jacqui Dover who brings with her a celebrated career and wealth of knowledge and experience in the referee space. Beginning at the grassroots level with Gold Coast Basketball she’s gone on to referee in the NBL1 (formerly QBL), WNBL and is currently the only on court female referee in the NBL.
Jacqui’s career has taken her around the world, notably spending 18 months in the United States at the NBA's referee development program. Along with this Dover recently officiated the Bronze Medal games at the Under 17-and 19-Women’s World Cup in Hungary and Spain respectively. As well as being part of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in Sydney.
Jacqui is determined to leverage her own experiences to encourage more people to take up refereeing as a valuable pathway within the sport and also offers a fascinating insight for coaches into the Officials mindset and process.
Usually, we would write a blurb here introducing Crystal Kaua. Crystal might be known to some of you as a coach that Codey Royle worked with in his Second Set of eyes book. She is a kiwi rugby coach but in this episode she covers so much that has nothing to do with rugby. Crystal has a very powerful coaching philosophy, a very strong sense of self as a female coach in a predominantly male sport and arguably the most though provoking answer to the Podcast question of what would you ask a coach. Enjoy.
Neil is joined by someone who fills a vital role in sport which is uncommon in Basketball currently but on the rise. A 3 time WNCL winning support staff member, a soon to be one time Sheffield Shield winning staff member hopefully, Emma Doherty is the player Development Manager for Cricket Tasmania and she is going to share with us some insight about her role and hopefully give you some ideas about areas we could investigate in basketball
His twin brother has been on the pod before he left our BA team for the Apple Isle and the Jackjumpers and he was someone I have been trying to get for a while! Now he is full time with BA as our Executive GM - High Performance & National Teams I finally managed to get 3 x NBl champion, 2005 NBL MVP, 2 time Olympian and former Boomers captain Jason Smith on the podcast. Jason is someone who is a very big supporter of coaching and coach development and has played a big part in the increased access we have been able to share with you in the recent years with the national teams when they are in Australia
Today is a bit of a special episode, Neil is joined by the 2023 Ford Aussie Hoops Coach of the year, Mackenzie Stewart from the Cockburn Cougars in Western Australia.
I’m just going to include the section from the nomination form that got Mackenzie the award, and then you will hear my chat with her and hopefully you are as impressed as I am by a young lady with a very bright future in coaching basketball if she wants it.
Mackenzie continues to focus on providing high quality programs that offer development of basketball skills, fundamentals and gameplay understanding for all junior skill levels. Meaning our programs meet both participation and performance needs for our community.
She actively researches other sports introductory programs identifying new concepts, variety of coaching styles, different sporting contexts, training regiments, and social
environments that may have a positive influence on our programs for our athletes.
As Mackenzie continues her coaching pathway, she is invested in providing high quality leadership and mentoring to our developing coaches, ensuring opportunities for all and
fosters a life-long support for the game.
She is a harmoniously passionate coach, who ensures all participants experience happy emotions whenever she is involved in coaching the Aussie Hoops program. She has
great satisfaction when she sees participants gradate from our Aussie Hoops programs into our Domestic Competition and other programs.
As a dedicated volunteer, she aims to teach people how to play the game and compete. She recognizes there is a need to support other volunteers within our community with high quality, consistent, accessible coaching and upskilling. This is fundamental to the development of players, coaches, pathways in sport and of the game in Australia.
Neil is joined by Jarrod Moore, the Coach Development Manager from Basketball NSW. The discussion covers nurturing confidence, balancing development levels and the age old debate is there a difference between teaching and coaching!
In today's episode, we are thrilled to delve into the inspiring journey and expertise of Opal Sami Whitcomb, a dynamic force in the world of basketball. With an impressive career spanning both domestic and international arenas, Sami's unique insights, skillset, and dedication to the game make her a standout figure in the basketball community. Join us as we explore her experiences, insights, and the invaluable lessons she brings to the court, offering our listeners a wealth of knowledge for building better basketball skills and strategies.
Welcome back to season 4 of Building Better Basketball. Neil Gray Game Development Manager at Basketball Australia is joined by Tyrone Thwaites from the Cockburn Basketball Association in Western Australia. Cockburn are an association with 336 teams, the largest Aussie Hoops program in Australia for 2 years running and home to a Womens NBL1 Championship side and an NBL 1 Coach of the year who also happens to be their Chief executive Officer! No prizes for guessing that’s Tyrone!
Our first return guest on Building Better Basketball and he is back to talk about one of the biggest issue that coaches face, PARENTS!
He has a fantastic new book out called the Sports Parent Solution and in this episode he dives into the questions, the solutions and the experiences in that book across the vast spectrum of parent involvement in the game.
A must listen for any coach working with young athletes!
Todays guest is Mark Alabakov, the NBL1 Championship winning coach with the Bendigo Braves. Mark has also had significant involvement at the WNBL level with the Bendigo Spirit, Melbourne Boomers, Townsville Fire and the Sydney Uni Flames as they then were as well as an understanding of Basketball at the community level with Diamond Valley Basketball Association.
On this episode, we'll talk about the incredible season Mark and the Braves have just had and the secrets behind the championship success.
Todays guest is David Herbert, the Centre of Excellence Women’s Program Head Coach. David has over 25 years of experience within the Basketball Australia pathways having coached in the NBL1, WNBL, National Junior Championships and as a national team's Head Coach. David is the current head coach of the Ballarat Miners NBL1 women’s team. David has received numerous coaching accolades including WNBL Coach of the Year, Coach of the Year Victoria and Queensland and the SEABL coach of the year
Todays guest is Nick Cox, the Director of Academy at Manchester United. Nick Cox is renowned for his commitment to developing a holistic approach to youth development, focusing not just on technical skills, but also on character, education, and personal growth. His dedication to building a strong foundation for the future of Manchester United has earned him the respect and admiration of football enthusiasts worldwide.
Throughout his career, Nick has had the privilege of working with some of the brightest young talents in the game, shaping them into the stars of tomorrow. Under his guidance, Manchester United's youth teams have achieved remarkable success, with numerous players progressing to the first team and representing their countries at the highest level.
On this episode, we'll delve into the intricacies of talent development, the challenges faced by young players, and the importance of creating a nurturing environment for them to thrive.
Georgia Koopmans is a current NBL1 Player, a 3 time Vic Country representative and two time captain, the new Helping Hoops Charity Shootout Champion and one of the most passionate Junior Coaches you will hear! Neil and Georgia talk about her comeback from a significant knee injury, her history with Helping Hoops and her amazing record breaking performance and her coaching philosophy working with young kids in country Victoria. Georgia also pays it forward with a question for our very own David Herbert in the traditional podcast question!
Helping Hoops - Home - Helping Hoops
Neil is joined by the founder of Canberra’s only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander focused Basketball Club the Winnunga Warriors. The club organises the NAIDOC Basketball Tournament as a way to create an awareness of NAIDOC week within the ACT Community and to also demonstrate how their club is committed to the motto of reconciliation in action.
The 2023 Tournament will be held from 7 - 9 July 2023 and due to the size of the competition will be held at multiple venues around the ACT.
Neil and Dion talk about the journey of the club, the success of the tournament and the learnings it brings the players and the families away from the court. They also discuss the needs for the tournament this year and the vision moving forward. A great listen for the passion of volunteering in community Basketball and the importance of understanding Naidoc week and its significance in Australia.
Warriors Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/atsiwarriors.com.au
ABC Canberra footage of the 2022 NAIDOC Tournament
https://fb.watch/ehLFf-lZu1/
NBA player, Dyson Daniels, on playing with the Warriors
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cACnm15nACg
This weeks guest will be no stranger to you if you went and did the @asc Reflection Course last week. Lauren Robinson is coaching with @knoxbasketball at multiple levels including @nbl1 , @basketball_vic within the Wheelchair program and is leaving on Sunday in her role as manager with the @ausgliders . On top of that for a young coach she has an incredible amount of knowledge from her own studies. This is a great episode for coaches of all levels to get an insight on reflection and the coaching journey!
Link to Aus Sport Reflection course- How you improve | Australian Sports Commission (ausport.gov.au)
Link to etrainu resources https://basketballaustralia.etrainu.com/
Link to Mojo Coaching App Basketball Australia Community Coaches x MOJO = Game Changer | Basketball Australia Coaching Resource
We are recording this weeks podcast bang in the middle of National Volunteer Week (NVW) Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteers. The theme for National Volunteer Week 2023 is The Change Makers, representing a celebration of our power to drive change and ensure volunteering is inclusive of all members of the Australian community and celebrate, thank and recognise the significant contribution of the 3 million sport volunteers. To have a chat about that Neil is joined by Scott Tutton. Scott is currently the Head of Clubs and Volunteers at Cricket Australia. Originally a Sydney boy he has spent time with the ACT Government, Clubs NSW and Netball Australia before spending the last decade in cricket across Cricket Victoria and Australia. The main reason Scott is here though is due to his role on the Sport Australia, Sport Volunteer Coalition, a panel made up of experts from the sports industry, government and volunteering, who will work together to transform the sport volunteer experience and promote the value of volunteering in sport.
Lisa Alexander AM coached the Australia national netball team from 2011 to 2020. Alexander coached the Diamonds for 102 test matches, becoming the most capped Australian coach of all time. She oversaw gold medal successes at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2015 Netball World Cup. As Australian coach Alexander won 83 of her 102 test matches, an impressive 81% winning record.
In this episode just sit back and listen to one of the best Australian coaches in any sport talk knowledgeably about mental health, success, player development, what she learned from Basketball and the deepest response to the "Ask the Coach" question we have ever had.
Ben was a determined but mediocre youth athlete and later a bench-warmer on his high school basketball and volleyball teams. But life got better when Ben gave up competitive sports. Most recently, he worked as co-chairman of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney ABC Television. Before that, he was president of ABC News and executive producer of Good Morning America. A bestselling author of four books, he is also an avid coach of his two boys in various sports. And that is where Ben's Australian story starts as the CEO of MOJO Sports. Mojo Sports are the newest partner of Basketball Australia and the creators of the exciting new Coach Development app free for all Basketball coaches in Australia. In the episode Neil and Ben run through all the amazing things the app can do to make a coaches life easier, improve the quality of practices, engage the players so in some cases they might want to practice more then play and help future coaches be volunteers instead of Voluntolds!
You can download the app here, MOJO Sports on the App Store (apple.com) . Remember to set your State or Territory as your main organisation (e.g. Basketball Victoria) so you can receive all the relevant coaching news!
MOJO FAQ’s | Basketball Australia
Just a special solo quick shot with Neil to run through the amazing schedule for the Upcoming National Coaches Conference which you can read about and sign up for here Schedule Announced for National Coaches Conference | Basketball Australia Coaching Resource . Neil also teases a big announcement for Community Coaches next Tuesday at midday, keep your eyes peeled!
Todays guest has more stamps in her passport than anyone we have ever had on the podcast before as Basketball has taken her all over the world! Priyanka Karunakaran is the Head of Operations for the Rollers, Gliders, Spinners, Devils and all National 3x3 teams! If that wasn’t enough in a normal year she is also working with a focus to the Paris Comm Games in 2024! There are so many different ways Pri has involvement with coaches and also a unique perspective across all the different formats of the game!
Second to their players, Coaches probably have the most communication with referees on game days, rightly or wrongly! So we thought it was important to get an insight into how that communication works from a referee's perspective, the challenges they have on the floor, how they review and improve and the age old art of communication. Neil is joined by Caitlin Grove, Technical Officials Development Officer from Basketball NSW. Caitlin has been a ref since she was 14 years old and is a familiar face at recent Footlocker National Championships.
If there was one mental skill set you would want a basketball player to have young or old, Resilience would be high up there. Neil is joined by Martin Heppell from the world famous Resilience Project to talk about all his learnings working with young people about resilience, his experience both as a professional athlete, a parent and now someone working in the mental health space and finally perhaps the most passionate selection of a coach you would want to ask a question too on record!
Bec Allen has been a fan favorite all around the world in the WNBL, WNBA and Euro Basket! With her defensive ability and Sharp shooting skills it’s easy to see why she is often one that catches a watching coaches eye for ideas on how they can get their players to come close to replicating her talents. Neil and Bec get stuck into her philosophy on shooting, the coach who said it was defense or bench and plenty of chat about the importance of whats going on between the ears!
This weeks guest needs no introduction to the Basketball public in Australia! Opals captain, WNBL champion, role model for basketball fans everywhere, Tess Madgen. We are going to touch on her amazing playing career which still has lots of time to had to her accolades but what some people might not be aware of is the power of work that Tess is doing on the other side of the sidelines as a coach with the Melbourne Boomers academy and her She Hoops Masterclasses with Madgen. Tess discusses the coaches that shaped her career coming through, the battles with her brothers and what that taught her and the importance of the captain-coach relationship.
Covering off a wide range of topics from South Australia Country Basketball & Basketball New Zealand , Mel Downer joins Neil to talk her unique coaching journey, advice she gives to coaches she works with, her strong belief on balance & the future Opals player/coach in her own house!
Fiona is a Sports Psychologist who has worked with numerous athletes, coaches, officials and parents across a large number of sports, at all levels from local level to international level. Providing support and information for sporting parents is a true passion for her. Helping parents to understand how to assist their sporting child reach their full potential and enjoy their sport is a key area of her work. This has lead to the creation of a series of resources with the NSW Office of Sport. Parents, Guardians and Carers | NSW Government
Neil and Fiona dive deep into the parent and coach relationship and hopefully share a few helpful ideas!
Todays guest will be no stranger to all of you and I’m sure you are all wondering why it has taken till now for him to make an appearance as his name is synonymous with Basketball Coach Development in Australia. Peter Lonergan is the Director of High Performance Coach Development for Basketball Australia. Peter is an influential coach educator impacting coaching development around the world. He has been an Australian Opals Assistant Coach, a highly successful State Director of Coaching in Victoria and New South Wales, and an international clinician for FIBA. In the last year I have lost count of the number of clinics Pete has presented at or resources he has produced or Basketball tournaments he has attended
Trying to describe todays guest could take many turns as Leigh Ellis is known for many different reasons to the Australian Basketball community !.
You might know him from his work on NBA TV ? You might know him from the global podcast smash that is the Starters. You might just randomly have started following him on twitter as his shotting competition with Steph Curry, yes THE Steph Curry came across your timeline!
Before there was Ben Simmons, Dyson Daniels et al there was Leigh Ellis, arguably the Australian most well known to the American basketball general public! Now he has a new project, which anyone who loves basketball, will I’m sure as they put their head to the pillow at night, dream about, touring the world just playing pick up hoops and learning about the people and the game!
Follow Leigh on Instagram https://t.co/I70XXu94EE
Follow Leigh on Youtube https://t.co/eVsiQzwSdH
Follow Leigh on Twitter Leigh Ellis (@LeighEllis) / Twitter
Support the International Pick up tour here https://t.co/jOBvb0en4r
Neil is joined by Sydney Masters the Mental Skills coach at the Arizona Diamondbacks in Major League Baseball. Sydney has experience in Sports Psychology and cognitive performance! Suffice to say Sydney has a lot of experience seeing how athletes brains work when things are going well and probably most importantly when things aren’t! I can confidently predict this pod will leave coaches with plenty to think about and hope you enjoy this discussion! We will take a bit of a break now for Christmas and the New Year and be back in February for season 3!
Neil is joined by an Australian who has been part of one of the NBA’s biggest franchises and worked with Doc Rivers and Joel Embiid but not many of you will know her name! Carmen Colomer started off her working career with the AIS before moving into the world of Rugby with the Brumbies and the Brisbane Broncos. In 2021 she then got the opportunity of a lifetime to join the Philadelphia 76ers as the Director of Sports Science before returning home very recently to take up the position of the Head of Performance at the Perth Glory football club.
Article discussed in episode Momentum in the Six Nations – is it real? - Rugby World
Lisa Middleton is one of Australia’s most experienced Sports Dietitians. With over 20 years spent advising some of the nation’s most elite athletes, Lisa has built expertise in reaching optimum levels of performance in sport. Lisa has an unparalleled history of working with teams at the top of their game. In her role as Sports Dietitian, Lisa has advised the Essendon, Hawthorn, Collingwood, Melbourne and St Kilda AFL Football clubs. Melbourne Vixens Netball, Melbourne Storm Rugby League, Melbourne Victory Football club and Melbourne United Basketball club. Lisa currently consults to South East Melbourne Phoenix Basketball Club, Basketball Victoria, Collingwood AFL,AFLW Football club and Collingwood Magpies Netball.
Neil is joined by a coach who has gone from the top of Australia in Cairns right down to the bottom in Tasmania! Nic Martin is currently the State Head Coach and Development Manager at Basketball Tasmania. Nic is also just recently returned from Guam where he was one of the Assistant coaches of the Gold Medal winning U15 Australian Girls team! Nic's coaching journey started with him shooting his shot in Townsville, a great message and journey for all young coaches!
Neil is joined by one of the most exciting players in the WNBL Steph Reid ! Steph played College basketball in the US for the University of Buffalo, picking up MVP honours and being part of their first ever NCAA tournament run! Back home in Australia she has played for the Dandenong Rangers/Southside Flyers and now with the Townsville Fire and made her Opals debut this year against Japan in Sydney! But Neil, I hear you ask Steph is a player, not a coach? Just wait!
Darren Smith (CEO Basketball Australia Pathways) was a player himself which we will touch on but we have him on to talk about the US College pathway which is growing increasingly popular for Australian players looking to be able to gain further development of their skills, education and life experience. Darren has been through this experience himself as a player but most recently Darren has also been through it with his daughter Alanna as she secured a scholarship at Stanford University.
Today is the crossover episode you have all been waiting for, the OG’s of the Australian podcast game, Talking Split from Basketball Victoria. We were lucky enough to have Jenni Screen on at the end of season 1 and now we get two more of the set! I’m really excited to have the Brains and Voices of that show in High Performance Coach for Basketball Victoria Country Women Zoe Carr (@ZoeCarr85 on twitter) and Rob Coulter, Coach Development Coordinator for Basketball Victoria @RobCoulter on twitter
Alex shares team and player development ideas for coaches, teams, federations, and organizations all around the world. Alex’s focus is on helping coaches stimulate their thinking by combining their personal and practical experiences with the empirical evidence which exists within the research world. Many of these evidence-informed coaching ideas that Alex shares are based upon the Constraint Led Approach (CLA) underpinned by Ecological Dynamics (EcoD). Alex specializes in helping coaches make sense of the research, putting this into basketball-specific examples so that coaches can immediately integrate these ideas into their practices. He consults for NBA, NCAA and professional teams, while also serving as Player Improvement Specialist for Paris Basketball in the EuroCup and Head Coach of College Prep in Borgomanero, Italy
Brent has an honours degree in Exercise Science, is a full time Exercise Physiologist and Strength and Conditioning coach. You might have seen Brents face on your tv’s and wondered who he was as he has roles with the Townsville Fire, Heat and Flames and the Australian Opals. Brent is the brother of Paul Goriss, one of the current assistants of the Australian Opals. We are really excited we have been able to grab a window in his busy schedule to pick his brain about creating and maintaining a body for basketball success!
Todays episode is a going to be a little bit different, a little bit more serious but you know as coaches sometime we have to deal with the tougher conversations and our guest today is going to help arm you with what you need to look out for and how you can best handle the situations in the event that something does happen to a player under your care.
Joining me today is Damien Morris, the Head of Integrity at Basketball Australia. Damien is no stranger to Basketball having held a role on the board at Knox Basketball for the last 5 years alongside roles with Tennis Australia and a 27 year career with the Vic Police.
Howard Beck is an American journalist. Beck has covered the National Basketball Association for the Los Angeles Daily News, the New York Times and more recently, Bleacher Report. Since December 2020, he has been an NBA senior writer for Sports Illustrated, where he also cohosts The Crossover podcast with Chris Mannix.
On the podcast Howard gives us his own insight into how the global nature of the NBA is changing, the role of the coach in that and shares some great NBA stories.
Dee had an AIS scholarship at 16 and made history winning the first and only WNBL championships with an AIS team. Dee as well as representing the Opals also played professionally in Spain and Italy and after 13 years in the WNBL was awarded life membership. Dee swiftly moved into coaching and has had numerous senior roles in Victoria both at Club and state level as well as coaching the Australian U19 Gems at a World Championship level.
Dee joins Neil to talk about her role as Official Scout for FIBA at the recent Womens World Cup and the trends she observed! A must listen for anyone who got behind the Opals Girls at the recent tournament
Elite Player, Excellent Coach, Quality commentator and Super Mum ! Jenni Screen joins Neil to talk about her return to coaching, her coaching philosophy and supports and the Womens World Cup which is right around the corner!
Peter is Founding Director of The Inclusion Club and Manager of Play by the Rules – a national initiative to promote safe, fair and inclusive sport. Peter has worked for over 25 years in the field of inclusive sport, disability sport and physical activity including 17 years managing the Australian Sports Commission’s Disability Sport Unit. Peter joins Neil to talk inclusion both in coaching and in sport in general.
Neil is joined by Alex Auerbach the Senior Director of Wellness and Development at the Toronto Raptors in the NBA to talk about his role at the highest level, how it can transfer down to community sport, his partnership with a previous guest and most importantly the Question of the Podcast!
A special double header episode spanning the whole globe. Neil talks to AFLW superstar Sarah Rowe about how she has become an elite multi sport athlete, her work off the field mentoring and supporting both coaches and athletes and how Australia fairs in terms of sport especially for young girls from her perspective. Then Neil is joined by Zach Schwartz who's face many of you will have seen on multiple NBA social media sites and Zach talks about the different way social media is used in sport in America at all levels and for our community coaches who are probably running the socials themselves this could be full of gold!
In 2017, JP initially started Thrive On Challenge as a blog, and it grew into a sports consulting business in 2017. He has served coaches, athletes, and parents across the world, at every level and in every sport you can name. Regardless of their sport, level, or country, he knows that all coaches need support. Listen in for another fascinating chat about Basketball and Coaching
Helping Hoops started over a decade ago, as an idea to provide children and young people with a different pathway to access basketball. Helping Hoops is collaborative and ambitious in their approach to community. The programs may still only operate in Melbourne, however their mindset and standards are of a global nature, partnered with Nike and Ben Simmons Foundation. We are lucky enough to be joined by Executive Director Clinton Meehan to talk about the program and their journey past and present
This weeks guest started at the roots of the grassroots and last season reached the top of the tree with the Tasmanian Jackjumpers in the NBL. Jack Fleming talks with Neil about his journey, what’s stayed the same regardless of level and what he has had to change. He touches on how he continues to develop himself as a coach and gives a glimpse into the work that went into starting a successful NBL culture from scratch!
Owen Eastwood is a performance consultant and author who’s book ‘Belonging’ many coaches have devoured recently. Topping the charts around the world, it’s crammed full of story telling and take home messages for coaches at any level.
Owen has worked with some of the very best teams and organisations both in the UK and abroad so look forward to a real enjoyable listening experience.
Jason is an expert in communication. A lifetime spent talking to a camera will help with that! Jason is also a passionate volunteer sports coach and has worked with a number of high performance sports teams in his native New Zealand. In this chat with Neil, Jason talks about shares his tips for unconfident communicators, how to make what you say really engaging and most of all to remove any fear of talking and sharing what you know in your head with those you want to improve.
There is not much Peter Eddy has not seen in the world of Basketball, from Volunteer to CEO to Life Member to now being a Councilor involved in significant government decisions around the infrastructure of Basketball.
Peter shares some of his tips and insights into working with volunteers, engaging with local government and creating strong and healthy clubs and associations for the betterment of the sport.
Neil is joined by Cam Tradell to talk about the new courses and resources being created by Sports Australia, the challenges of being a community coach and some tips on how you can improve yourself. Cam touches on his experiences coaching and educating coaches across the world in a number of sports and also shares some insights from some icons of Australian sport.
Brooke Hepburn from Speak Up Stay Chatty joins Neil to talk about the fabulous new Junior Sports Program they are offering in Tasmania as well as her experiences as a sportswomen across Basketball and Cricket and the important messages players, parents and Coaches need to hear when under stress on the court or sidelines!
Neil is joined by American Basketball Writer and Podcast Host Jordan Ligons to talk about her Basketball journey in the US and the importance coaches and Parental support were for her, what she learned from creating coaching resources during the Pandemic, the amazing volunteers she has met and interviewed and her tips for March Madness !
Fleur is part of an small but growing group of female coaches who have gained roles in the NBL with Fleur currently serving as an assistant coach with the Sydney Kings. Fleurs journey though is where we gain some real insight as she talks about her transition from coaching into playing, role models she has had and the insight she gained from her non Basketball roles.
Cody Royle, is a experienced Coach Mentor and published author and speaker on the Coaching landscape worldwide from community through to High Performance. Listen as he joins Neil to talk about his experiences and advice to coaches to avoid burnout and how they can improve themselves whilst improving their team.
The Coach and Volunteer Development Podcast from Basketball Australia. This podcast will have an array of guests from both Australia and abroad talking about their journey, learnings and providing tips and recommendations for all the listeners to help Build Better Basketball!