BALLARAT Indoor Sports is pushing for the city’s newest indoor stadium to become an official basketball training hub for Victorian junior development.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Neighbour Bendigo has already been marked as one of seven potential dedicated high-performance training centres across the state.
Basketball Ballarat chief Peter Eddy said such recognition would help to reinforce the indoor sports alliance’s $5.2 million bid for stage two development on works already underway at Ballarat Sports and Events Centre. A purpose-built community strength and conditioning gym is a key feature of proposed additions.
Basketball Ballarat and Federation University have established a partnership for sports science students to work with both older adults and athletes from sports across the region.
“Being a basketball hub will provide a real opportunity for our young athletes and those in other sports to train at a high level here rather than having to go to Melbourne all the time,” Mr Eddy said.
“If there is any high level of testing, there will also be a chance to do so at Fed Uni’s new facilities as well. It can be a great base for elite level athletes.”
Basketball high-performance training hubs will include a dedicated high performance coach to work with boys and girls’ talent programs and players with disability.
The Labor state government will deliver seven basketball hubs if re-elected in November. Premier Daniel Andrews made the promise last month amid $126 million plans to redevelop a state basketball centre in Melbourne’s east.
But Labor is yet to commit any funding on the BSEC stage two play, which would deliver the gym and 3x3 basketball courts in the precinct for 24-hour use.
Victorian opposition sports spokesman Danny O’Brien last week promised the Liberal-Nationals would fund the whole project if elected to government.
Basketball Ballarat junior talent programs draw in athletes from Bacchus Marsh to Daylesford and as far as Horsham, Portland and Warrnambool in the state’s west.
Mr Eddy said a strength and conditioning performance centre would also cater to University of Third Age programs.
BSEC state one development will add six multi-purpose courts, including a 3000-seat showcourt. Works are due for completion mid-2019.
Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
