BALLARAT Basketball is directing its attention back to its basic purpose – promoting the game in this city.
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Strengthening and growing domestic competition and elite programs is the primary focus in Ballarat Basketball’s strategic plan for the year ahead.
Ballarat Basketball chief executive officer Peter Eddy said a lot of time and effort had gone into lobbying and planning to develop a new multi-purpose precinct with more basketball courts for the region.
Now it was time to spend more time better developing the game with one key priority – the referee program.
“Our courts are stretched to capacity but so, too, are our referees,” Eddy said.
“There is no point growing into a new centre if we don’t have the coaches and referees in the sport with quality programs to support them.
“...The past few years our focus has very much been on major projects, but it’s equally important we return to our roots and all the things we’re here for to promote and develop the sport.”
Funding was confirmed for the Eureka Stadium precinct, including the Wendouree Sports and Events Centre redevelopment, when the Victorian government handed down its first budget on Tuesday.
The government has yet to detail how the funding would be delivered for the next four years.
Ballarat Basketball has given attention to preparations for a new centre that obtained state budget funding under the strategic plan.
Eddy said this included extensive consultation with community groups to best build the new centre as a diversified multi-purpose hub.
For example, lecture rooms for elite teams to analyse game vision that can double as meeting rooms for adult learning or guest speakers to community groups.
Eddy said the aim was to provide subsidised or cost-neutral facilities, especially to not-for-profit groups.
Ballarat Basketball would also dedicate more resources to building Aussie Hoops and basketball in schools programs, especially now looking forward to extra courts and games for juniors once the new facility is complete.
Aside from precinct plans, Ballarat Basketball is determined to keep showcasing elite sport and pathways in a similar way to the excitement generated when National Basketball League club Melbourne United had a team camp and practice match at the Minerdome last year.
This was also highlighted in last month’s Australian under-18 men’s and women’s championships, run simultaneously with the national under-23 wheelchair championships, that Ballarat hosted last month.
Ballarat Basketball merged its association and elite teams arms in the past 12 months and Eddy said all parties were committed to working hard in strengthening ties between senior and junior representative programs so all players and coaches felt part of a united Miners and Rush pathway.
melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au