coaches
Reward
ideas
RECRUITMENT
Case Studies
...achieving excellence through collaboration
Administrators
Retention
Players
collaboration
referees
information
Introduction
Basketball Victoria has produced this Case Study booklet to assist its member
associations, who have had many success stories to tell about their programs and
how they work. This booklet is a collection of those ideas.
Why have this booklet?
This booklet has been produced with the assistance of those associations who have
tried and succeeded with an idea, and turned it into a successful program.
On the whole, one thing that basketball associations are not good at, is taking
someone else’s idea, configuring it to their own association and running with it. We
are constantly trying to reinvent the wheel.
Associations are becoming more and more acceptable to swapping and sharing
ideas for the betterment of basketball. When two associations are not competing for
the same piece of the demographic pie, the sharing of information seems like a
totally acceptable practice.
Who should use this booklet?
This booklet has been designed for use by all associations to plan, develop and
implement a new program. These ideas have been tried by associations with
success, and cover the major stakeholders of any association – players, coaches,
referees / officials and administrators.
An association that continually discusses and updates its plans, policies and
procedures, will be an association that will stay on top of the developing business of
basketball, and therefore stay ahead of any new trends or pitfalls that non-planning
associations fall into.
Further assistance?
This booklet is available for download from the Basketball Victoria website.
Basketball Victoria hopes that you find this booklet both helpful and informative and
sincerely thank all of the associations who have contributed to this and their
generosity in sharing their information.
Contents
Referees
The recruitment, retention and appropriate rewarding of referees and officials, is
probably one of the hardest tasks undertaken by any basketball association. Without
officials, whether they are referees, scoretable or statisticians, our game would not get
underway at all.



Referees – the Next Generation
The Refs Shake
The Female Network
Various
Warrandyte
Werribee
Players
Each year, association’s get 1000’s of players into their associations and then put them
onto the court and teach them how to shoot and how to dribble. They then continue on
through their careers until they play for the Boomers or the Opals. This is the desired path of
many, but before any of this can happen, they must first get them through the door.
How are associations doing this? How are they transitioning them from Aussie Hoops, to full
playing members?




Kids First Basketball
Slam Jam Basketball
Super A Competition
All Abilities Program
Kilsyth
McKinnon
Southern Peninsula
Southern
Coaches
Basketball Victoria has always known that the strength of any program lies within the
dedicated band of individuals known as coaches. To get a good quality coach is as
important to any association as the next 100 players that come through their ranks.
Any association will know, it is what that coach does with those 100 players, which is
important. What are the associations doing in regard to their coaches?

Coaches Mentoring Program
Geelong
Administrators
Basketball Victoria recognizes that one of the most significant resources that any
association can have, is its volunteer base. Without this dedicated band of hard working and
loyal workers, associations would be hard pressed to provide the continued level of service
that they currently do. Associations must be better placed to be able to meet the needs and
expectations of the modern day volunteer.



Hume Development Network
Re-branding the Association
Changing Domestic Season Competitions
Broadmeadows
Colac
Horsham
Background
As important as players and coaches are to our game, referees are just as important,
but for many associations, the recruitment of basketball referees into their programs,
is one that is littered with varying results.
Some associations have the knack of being able to increase their numbers of
officials with ease, while others continually struggle for adequate numbers to fill their
rosters.
It is the common belief that the representative program is the biggest untapped
‘market’ for officials. They know the game, are generally respected within the
player/coach community, they need the cash to pay for representative fees, are
generally fit and have a good way of dealing with people.
Unfortunately poor spectator and player behaviour within every sport is a common
sight, and basketball is no exception. It is hoped that with this program, players and
parents will become more aware of the difficulties involved in officiating games and
therefore will be a little bit more appreciative of the effort that is required.
Methodology
All players that are selected into the association’s U14 representative program
(both boys and girls), are to fulfil the obligation of participation in a Basic
Referees School (‘Greenshirts’ program).
Implementation
The implementation process for the program is also as simple as its methodology.
Communication is the key.
At the first try out day for the U14 representative teams, it is to be communicated to
the players and the parents, the requirement to fulfil this obligation. Once this is
spelt out, your association can promote this throughout the greater basketball
network, for being proactive in the betterment of player, coach and spectator
behaviour.
As all associations have Player and Parent Agreements of sorts, it is easy to put
this requirement into this book as well. Players and/or Parents therefore sign the
agreement as part of their playing conditions for that association.
The Greenshirts program then starts off in its usual manner, via the association’s
Referee Co-ordinator, or designated official from the State Sporting Association.
Benefits
The benefits of conducting the program in this manner can be seen from the outset.






Your association is guaranteed enough participants to run your first Referees
School for the year, every year.
The date of the first Referees School can always be included in your calendar.
It can be held a couple of weeks after your selection and acceptance process.
Your association has an immediate increase in the available referees for your
rosters and games.
Representative players usually have a couple of years playing experience
behind them; therefore have a little better appreciation of the rules of the
game.
Representative players usually have a higher level of fitness, therefore being
able to adapt quicker to the fitness levels required to officiate the game of
basketball.
The players in those representative team’s, become more vigilant of the rules,
more aware of what is involved in becoming a referee, and more tolerant of
how hard it is to officiate a game of basketball. Therefore while they
represent your association, you know that they are doing so in a manner that
reflects back positively on your association.




Parents of the players also become a lot more receptive to the pressures of
refereeing, especially when they start to see their own children involved in the
program. Ugly Parent Syndrome can drop off.
Some coaches and parents may be influenced by their team’s / children’s
commitment, that they may have a go at the Referees School themselves.
Having older mature referees is always a bonus for any basketball program.
And the bottom line is simple for the referee; there is a cash bonus for every
game they referee.
Your association will be viewed as one that is taking positive and proactive
steps toward the three areas mentioned earlier: referee recruitment, player
behaviour and spectator behaviour.
So the benefits for the association, referees, players, coaches and parents are
numerous, and with this simple recruitment philosophy, will have associations ticking
boxes in their Strategic Plans for years to come.
Conclusion
Although very simplistic in its ideology, the Referees – the Next Generation
program will enhance the reputation and respect of the association, its
representative program and its refereeing community.
This particular program has been used by various associations over the years and is
not specifically owned by one association.
Background
Warrandyte Basketball has been widely applauded for introducing The Ref Shake as
a club policy recently.
The club initiated a new policy, known as The Ref Shake, that required all players to
shake the hand of both referees after every game they played in at the 2011
Australia Day Eltham-Dandenong Tournament.
Far too often we see and hear parents sitting in the stands and abusing refs, and
that sort of behaviour rubs off on the players. It's not a good look, so hopefully The
Ref Shake gives the players an opportunity to take the lead and show others,
including the parents, that basketball is just a game and when the final buzzer
sounds you need to be a good sport and acknowledge those out on the court with
you, and that includes the referees.
Methodology
After every game that is played, domestic or representative – all players,
coaches and team officials must shake the hands of both officiating referees.
Implementation
It's a simple enough policy, but the message it sends to everyone in the stadium is
powerful. That message is once the game is finished - win, lose or draw - shake the
ref's hand.
Benefits
Not only did they want their players to learn and become better sportspeople via The
Ref Shake, they also wanted to make a bold statement to all the parents out there.
Warrandyte Basketball will now look to roll out The Ref Shake throughout its
domestic Redbacks program, while Warrandyte also believes that Basketball Victoria
should endorse the initiative across all levels of the game.
The Ref Shake could be a real winner for the game and hopefully Basketball Victoria
could look to pick it up and give it a big push. Other sports do it really well, look at
soccer for example - in the EPL the players always line up at the start and shake the
ref’s hand.
Conclusion
Warrandyte Basketball wanted to take sportsmanship to a whole new level during
the tournament and they achieved something very unique and beneficial for the sport
as a result.
If you make something like this a policy then in time it becomes a part of the game,
an accepted part of what you do every time you go out to play. The aim at
Warrandyte was to make The Ref Shake an accepted part of the way they play the
game.
the most successful plans will
only be achieved with an open
mind and a preparedness to
challenge traditional methods
and move forward without an
unhealthy attachment to the way
things were done in the past
Background
The Werribee Basketball Association has had a successful basketball referees
program for many years, with a number of outstanding referees coming out of the
area.
The Association saw a need to continue this trend, and wanted to focus their
attention into making sure that the female referees were given the same
development opportunities as their male counterparts.
The Association wanted to focus on a lot more other than just what happens on
game night, and introduced a program where female referees would feel comfortable
about their officiating experience. This was done by have a series of outside
activities to assist with this confidence building. Things such as: Guest Speakers,
Social Activities, Female only Referee Rosters, Skill Clinics and Professional
Development sessions, assisted in the development of their female referees.
Methodology
Make a targeted approach to attract more female referees to the Werribee
Basketball Association; by ensuring that it is not just about game night.
Implementation
The Werribee Basketball Association’s Referees Branch was able to secure funding
through the Women in Basketball program through Basketball Victoria. This funding
allowed for the Branch to purchase some initial equipment to use on their first night,
but also set the momentum for further activities.
The first part of the program involved having an all-female Referees Roster for one
of the female nights of competition. This allowed the opportunity for all Werribee
Branch female members to participate. They had purchased pink whistles and
lanyards to use on the night and were addressed prior to the night by the Referees
Co-ordinator and other senior female referees.
This first night built the momentum for future events, such as Development Sessions
in areas such as Conflict Resolution, Game Management and Referee/Coach
Relationships. These sessions again were conducted by senior female referees and
attended by female referees only.
An all-female ‘Greenshirts’ program was conducted and more successful referees
were eventually granted their C Grading.
Social evenings, as simple as a pizza after a game, helped to forge good
relationships amongst the female referees at the association.
Benefits
The benefits of the Female Referees Program at the Werribee Basketball
Association should not only be counted in ‘basketball’ terms, as the development of
females in society will have a greater impact as a whole.
The benefits of self-confidence, self-belief and respect are more important than
anything that could happen within the basketball stadium.
Conclusion
The Werribee Basketball Association Referees Branch enhanced its reputation to
providing a quality referee program that is admired throughout many associations in
the state.
Their ability to build upon this reputation is because they did not want to maintain
their status quo within refereeing circles. The desire to improve upon an already
good program only enhanced their reputation throughout other associations.
Background
Kids First was established in 2007 and is a school based initiative of Kilsyth
Basketball.
Thanks to the partnership the program can continue to add value to school
communities by introducing children to the great game of basketball and provide
every prep student with a basketball at no cost to the school.
Methodology
The Kilsyth Cobras conduct basketball clinics at local schools throughout
their local areas stretching from Ringwood to Warburton and distribute
Bendigo Bank/KilsythCobras dual branded basketballs to all new Grade Prep
students.
Implementation
The Kids First program has visited 65 local schools throughout the region,
conducting basketball clinics for over 75,000 children over the past four years.
Complimenting this basketball program, more than 7,000 prep students have
received a free basketball and 18,000 children have participated in a financial fitness
program set up by the bank to introduce grade 3 and 4 students to the world of
finance and banking and its importance within the community and greater society.
Benefits
Bendigo Bank and Kilsyth Basketball are both strong supporters of the local
community and share a vision for developing communities away from their core
business.
The Kids First program allows both organizations to further support entire school
communities with physical and financial fitness by introducing the basics of
basketball and banking.




Students participate in basketball clinics run by the Swinburne Kilsyth Cobras.
Free Basketballs for all prep students in the region
A complimentary financial fitness program – successfully run in 20+ schools.
A wealth of opportunities for schools to work with their local Bendigo Bank
Community Bank®
 Joint Sponsorship events whereby Cobra players attend festivals in the wider
community along with the Bendigo Bank strengthening each organizations
community presence.
 The chance for smaller schools within the Yarra Valley region to experience
an athlete visitor to the school, many of these are too far out to experience
anything of its kind before.
Conclusion
The Kids First model has created wide spread attention with organizations, such as
Basketball Australia, Basketball Victoria and the state government, increasingly
interested in the program.
Previous Victorian Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs, James Merlino,
is supportive of the initiative and was instrumental in initiating the link between
Bendigo Bank and Kilsyth Basketball.
Bendigo Bank’s partnership with Kilsyth Basketball will ensure the Kids First program
will continue in 2011 and can expand further to include the Upper Yarra Valley and
out to other local schools yet to experience the clinics.
Kids First is a partnership between Kilsyth Basketball, the Warburton, Woori Yallock & District, WandinSeville, Yarra Junction & District, Mt Evelyn & District, Montrose, Mooroolbark, East Ringwood and
Heathmont Community Bank® branches and Bendigo Bank.
For further information on this program, please contact program development coordinator Haydn Smith
at Kilsyth Basketball Stadium. 9728 1033 or [email protected]
Background
Two years ago we came up with Slam Jam as a modified program to bridge the gap
between Aussie Hoops and competition basketball with real coaches and referees in
a real game situation.
Aussie Hoops is a great skill program that we run at MBA but it became obvious to
us that once children had done a number of terms of the program, they were looking
for more of a challenge. With the children starting Aussie Hoops at an early age, and
some of the children with coordination difficulties, they were not ready to step directly
into hustle and bustle of domestic competition basketball.
Methodology
Slam Jam was set up as modified program which is designed to cater for
children that need more exposure to what is required for domestic basketball
competition to bridge the gap that exists between Aussie Hoops and the junior
domestic competition.
Implementation

Slam-Jam at McKinnon has 8 teams of 8/9 players enrolled in its program and
has a waiting list for the start of next term.

The time slot that it is played in is Friday between 4- 6pm.which at most
associations is dead court time, leading into representative basketball.

Consists of a 45 minute time slot 15 minute skills session and 30 minute game.

Eight teams in competition.

Staffing two Referee Coaches per game, parents are trained to do the scoring.

Rules are not as rigid as domestic and decisions are explained to players.

Finals night is played on the last week of each term. Every team plays finals (1
v 2, 3 v 4, 5 v 6 & 7 v 8) to give players the atmosphere of what finals is and
receive a participation medallion.

Registration includes reversible playing singlet. Cost $80 per player, reenrolment is $65.

Names are given to domestic clubs to follow up at the end of term inviting them
to play junior competition basketball.

Distribution system by which school players attend as per domestic club
recruitment plan. Each club has nominated local feeder schools.
Benefits
The obvious benefits of having young players make that transition from a skills
session into a non-competitive, non-threatening competition, is what this program
relies on.
The new players to the sport feel more comfortable in this environment and we think
that they will continue to play and enjoy basketball for a longer period because of this
developmental grounding.
Parents are also given a smoother ride into the world of competition basketball and
this is showing with their eagerness to participate in activities such as scoring and
coaching.
Conclusion
This program is well received by parents as it gives them a chance to ease into
basketball. Follow up into domestic clubs shows an 80% flow on to domestic
basketball.
Background
The back ground to implementing this merged domestic competition is to give the
strong numbers of local Big V and Junior Rep players an avenue to continue playing
in a strong domestic competition, without needing to travel elsewhere.
Over the years, all three associations (Southern Peninsula, Westernport and
Mornington), had witnessed a decrease in the level of teams and standard in their
own domestic A Grade competitions and merging all three A Grade competitions will
ensure that this standard will once again increase to a strong and entertaining level.
Methodology
The idea behind this was to simply create a league that our stronger domestic
teams could play in, rather than leaving the local competitions to find stronger
competitions. All three associations met and developed a plan for moving
forward.
Implementation
Stage 1: Media release to the local papers to generate interest,
Stage 2: Promotion within our own associations,
Stage 3: Meeting to clarify shared responsibilities
 Association (a) will conduct the admin for first season,
 Association (b) will conduct referee rosters for first season,
 Association (c) will host finals for first season,
 Weekly games will rotate evenly between all three associations.
Stage 4: Review first season on completion and make adjustments.
Benefits
The major benefits in regards to this concept would be the fact that the three
associations involved in this project did not lose their domestic teams to other
local associations or clubs, it also provided an avenue for our stronger juniors to
come through and merge the gap between juniors and seniors.
All associations involved keep the registration money for any team that registers
through their home club.
Conclusion
All three associations were forced to look at the way we each conducted our
domestic competition, we were losing teams to other local competitions and this
was costing each association money.
In order to stop our stronger teams from leaving our domestic competitions, all
three associations needed to work together and think outside the square.
Since the Super A competition has been running we have seen many of our juniors
stay at the association and continue on to play Super A.
Background
The Southern Basketball Association has been running an All Abilities program
within their Association for many years and is considered one of the best in the state.
The Association brings together players from throughout the disability community to
participate in fun filled basketball activities.
Methodology
Every Tuesday morning Sandringham Basketball runs an Access for All
Abilities Program involving disability groups and communities from around
the Sandringham area.
Implementation
Players from our senior basketball program come along each morning to
referee/supervise the games. The players involved in the program really enjoy
having that guidance and the referees encourage them to become more involved,
learn new skills and more importantly, to have fun.
At the end of each summer season, all the teams get together for an end of season
farewell after the Grand Final has been played. For most, this is the highlight of their
season.
Benefits
The program helps to promote greater levels of liveability, improved health and a
stronger sense of belonging within local communities.
Basketball is a truly inclusive sport and one that can involve all players regardless
of age, ability or size.
Conclusion
Access for All Abilities is one of the only programs of its kind in Australia. The
Southern Basketball Association is proud to support and develop inclusive sporting
opportunities for people with a disability within our local community.
the great
danger is not
that we aim
too high and
miss, but that
it is too low
and we
achieve it
Background
Basketball Geelong has not always had a clear and defined basketball pathway for
its members. Throughout the years, many efforts have been made to sync the
Junior and Senior Representative Programs, through informal partnerships with the
Geelong Supercats and their SEABL team.
With the commencement of the Geelong Ladycats SEABL team in 2011, Basketball
Geelong saw an opportunity to assist its players and coaches in seeing the pathway
ahead. By allowing greater access to the senior players, the clubs junior players
could see part of what is required to be successful at a senior representative level.
Methodology
Each of the junior representative teams, were rostered on as a special guest of
the Ladycats at one of their homes games. The players were allowed access
to the pre-game meeting and the after match briefing. The coach was allowed
to sit on the Ladycats bench during game time as part of the coaching staff.
Implementation
After the initial contact was made with all of the junior representative teams, a roster
of teams was drawn up with appropriate game dates locked in for those teams to
attend.
On game night, the team, coach and team manager were met by the Head Coach of
the Ladycats and the night ahead explained to them.
They would attend the pre match meeting, where match-ups, game tactics and
previous game tapes were viewed. The junior players were given an insight into
what goes on before a SEABL match and what is required at the level of
participation.
The coach of the junior representative team was able to sit with the coaching staff of
the Ladycats team, on the team bench for the duration of the game. They were also
able to attend the half-time break and team meeting. During the match, the junior
representative team was seated very close by the Ladycats, in a court side sponsors
box next to the team bench. They were able to hear and see the operations of the
team up close.
After the game, the junior representative team were again allowed access to the
game de-brief and also attended the after match function.
Benefits
Some of the main benefits that this program provided, was the knowledge gained by
the junior representative players, of what is really needed to compete at the SEABL
level. This included things such as:

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




Pre-game routine (stretches, nutrition and warm ups)
Pre-game routine (strategies and game sense)
Video analysis
Pre-game address
Game speak (how it is not that different to what is being said at junior
representative level)
Game time (again, not that different)
Difficulties the team faced in the game (not getting through offences, too
many turnovers, not getting rebounds), all things faced at junior level.
While the level of competition is obviously at a much higher standard, the difficulties
and obvious deficiencies faced by the team on a loss, (as explained in the last point),
were the same ones that coaches at junior level have reiterated for years.
This was a vital point of emphasis that the junior coach was able to hone in on.
Conclusion
In its first year, the Coaches Mentoring Program adopted by Basketball Geelong and
the Geelong Ladycats was able to assist the junior representative program players
and coaches in bridging the gap between the junior and senior representative
programs.
There had been an isolation gap between the two programs for many years and this
has now been narrowed by the mentoring program. Players now feel a part of a
‘bigger basketball picture’ and along with the coaches, feel closer to a united
basketball club.
you will
never
know
the
limits
until you
push
yourself
towards
them
Background
In 2009, upon review of our current programs and business, our basketball
association noticed some alarming signs in regards to our domestic competition
numbers, dissent amongst our clubs both towards one another and Broadmeadows
Basketball Association (BBA), a lack of communication from clubs to BBA, and a
season-to-season focus by the majority of our clubs without any long term plan for
growth or sustainability.
Methodology
The Broadmeadows Basketball Association will facilitate four development
sessions for their member Clubs, on a variety of topics and including guest
speakers.
Implementation
The implementation of this program was very simple.
Upon receiving the Grant from Basketball Victoria, we were able to contact our
member Clubs to inform them of the program. We then arranged and facilitated
meeting with guest speakers.
As a result of this, and with the assistance of Basketball Victoria’s Association
Development Grant, the Hume City Basketball Network (HCBN) was established in
2010 by Broadmeadows Basketball Association (BBA) with the intention of providing
a forum for our domestic clubs to gain insight into various topics which would assist
them in running their club, whilst also providing an opportunity to come together and
communicate with each other and the BBA.
We invited a delegate from all Clubs to attend and in most cases, received two
participants from each Club.
A guest speaker was invited to each session to present on a topic, and attendees
then had the opportunity to interact with each other and exchange ideas and
thoughts on any matters they wanted.
In the initial program, four sessions were held at approximately two-monthly
intervals. Those sessions consisted of:
Session One:
Session Two:
Session Three:
Session Four:
Player Recruitment and Retention
Strategic Planning
Administering your Club
Applying for Grants
The four sessions included guest speakers from various industries and the program
included light refreshments at the conclusion of each day. Each session went for
approximately two hours, and was able to be held mid-morning on a Sunday.
Benefits
The benefits of conducting the program in this manner can be seen from the outset.



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2 of the clubs now in the process of completing a Strategic Plan;
The establishment of a quarterly ‘Presidents Meeting’ which the clubs
themselves suggested to ensure ongoing communication between each other;
The creation of a targeted community approach which will launch in 2011 in
which each club has targeted 3-4 primary schools, 1-2 secondary schools, 2
community groups and 1 special needs school in their area that will be linked
in with their club (through help of BBA, who will conduct basketball clinics and
provide information on programs) in the hope of assisting them with player
recruitment and community awareness;
A ‘shared’ player register in which the clubs provide BBA with a list of players
who they have on a ‘wait’ list and are struggling to place into a team (due to
that age group already being full, or not quite having enough for a full team) in
the final 2 weeks of the existing season, and first 2 weeks of a new season to
ensure that the agreed primary objective of each club in providing all kids the
opportunity to play the sport is given its best chance of succeeding.
Conclusion
The Hume City Development Network has enabled the Broadmeadows Basketball
Association to better communicate with their member Clubs.
By having the Clubs take a more active approach in aspects other than sole
basketball matters, has led the Clubs to becoming more aware of other matters that
are not solely ‘on court’.
The Broadmeadows Basketball Association now regularly meets with its Club
Presidents, and is more aware of issues that involve all of their members.
the greatest
thing in the
world is not
so much
where we are,
but in what
direction we
are heading
Background
Colac Basketball had a dated logo and had identified the need to have a strong
brand as being paramount to the long-term benefit of the association.
The logo previously created was dated and in dire need for a new upgrade. This was
identified in the Strategic Plan as a priority. With the assistance of Basketball
Victoria, through its Future Directions Funding 2010, the association was able to
produce a new logo.
Prior to the Strategic Plan the continued use of the old logo was an accepted part of
Colac Basketball.
Methodology
The development of a new logo for the Colac Basketball Association, will allow
the association to be better branded within the basketball community and the
general population.
Implementation
The logo presented several side issues in so much that it only existed in a
photocopy version and the quality had deteriorated.
The need for a new updated logo was discussed at Strategic Plan meetings.
At one meeting the association discussed major priorities in the moving forward of
any future design. A series of designs utilizing the existing priorities for Colac
Basketball was identified. The maintaining of the Kookaburra and Association colors
were identified as ‘must keeps’. Once these priorities had been identified the design
process was able to proceed.
Basketball Victoria was able to assist the association, by engaging a design artist to
assist with the design work. Once several designs were developed, the association
went for the only option available to them – asking their members what they thought.
Once a decision was made, several different versions of the logo were made, to be
used in different activities, such as website design, Grey scale and different file
formats.
Benefits
The new logo for the Colac Basketball Association will present them with a new
marketing tool and direction utilizing the new logo. The marketing and promotion of
launching new logos and branding are all positives for the association and provide
the building blocks for the long-term benefit for Colac Basketball.
A new logo will always create some drawbacks but in our case we did not observe
any as the process had empowered the association along the entire process.
Conclusion
With the completion of the new logo process undertaken the results have been all
positive. The end result for Colac Basketball is a new logo and branding tool, the
ability to promote Colac Basketball to the entire basketball community in Victoria,
The project provided many positives for the association and the results have ensured
and secured long-term success of local basketball. The process of walking the
association through the design stages and the end result has been a learning curve
for many members of the committee. This learning process can only be a positive
one for any future projects the association may undertake.
In closing the logo design and end logo are within the boundaries we expected and
more than satisfies the needs and requirements of the association.
Background
The Horsham Amateur Basketball Association looked at changing their seasons
around. The association traditionally ran a two season competition per year (Terms
One and Two, and then Terms Three and Four). They found that football and netball
would interfere with the end of the first season and the start of the second season.
Also it was quite difficult to chase registrations over the summer break to start the
competition in February.
Therefore they decided to change their domestic competition season to run as
‘traditional’ summer and winter seasons (Terms Four and One and Terms Two and
Three). Therefore we will have one whole season which does not conflict with
football and netball. Whilst cricket and tennis are popular they do not have the same
impact as football and netball do on their competitions. There were also some minor
disruptions to the association’s representative teams, whereby they were being
chosen at the wrong end of seasons and not having the optimum amount of time to
prepare for the Country Championship circuit.
Methodology
The Horsham Amateur Basketball Association set about restructuring their
domestic competitions from a two season per year format, to a more
basketball traditional summer and winter competition.
Implementation
They had to break the cycle of their seasons somehow, and the two options are a
shorter season or a longer season to accommodate the new format. They decided
to have a shortened winter competition which ran during the 3rd school term only
(July – September). The season ran for 7 weeks plus three weeks of finals. Thus
starting a new season in October, where they will be hopeful of attracting a greater
number of registrations.
One of the difficult parts of the project was tracking money because they had
approximately 110 junior players who paid for the whole year (Feb – Dec) at the
beginning of 2011. They sent a letter out to all these people explaining that they
were restructuring the competition and how this was going to affect them. It was
important that they understood they were not being ripped off. They obviously did
not have to pay for Shortened Winter Competition (July – September).
However because the new competition is running form October – March these
people had paid up to December but obviously not March. Therefore these people
carried a credit of $60 into the new October – March competition and then just had to
pay the difference to have their child paid up until March. All other players who did
not pay for the whole year just needed to re – register as normal for our next
competition.
Benefits
Hopefully the association will derive the benefits of having a larger domestic
competition over summer.

No clash with football or netball or an entire season therefore increasing the
target market greatly.

Avoid chasing registrations over the summertime holiday period.

The association is also hoping that the representative players will not have to
be in ‘playing’ mode for a full twelve months. By splitting the seasons this
way, they will have some down time for them to rest before try outs begin
again.

Allow squad players, coaches and parents the chance to have a break from
representative basketball over the months of May/June. This is important as
football, netball and cricket all have a break however basketball inherently
doesn’t really stop.
Conclusion
This project has essentially started running from June 2011, and won’t really end
until October 2012 once we have had a full year running our restructured domestic
competition.
Many thanks to all of the basketball associations who have made their program
success stories available for the greater basketball community to share. Without this
generosity, many associations would still be finding their way.
This document can be downloaded from the Basketball Victoria website
www.basketballvictoria.com.au
This publication was developed as part of Basketball Victoria’s Association
Development Program with funding support from the Department of
Planning and Community Development—Sport and Recreation Victoria.
For further information contact:
Basketball Victoria
Box 3, Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre
Aughtie Drive, Albert Park, 3206
Phone: 03 9927 6666 Fax: 03 9927 6677
Email: [email protected]