Building Better Basketball

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 socialenvironments 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 andfosters 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 hasgreat 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