BasketBall australia annual report 2008

Basketball Australia Annual Report 2008Basketball Australia Annual Report 200826 www.basketball.net.au www.basketball.net.au27DevelopingPlayersIn 2008 the National Intensive Training Program “NITP” (formerly the “ITC”) continued its success as one of thepremier junior high performance programs in the world.National Intensive Training Program (NITP)The NITCP is the key component of BA’s systematicand unified national player and coach identificationand development strategy that targets and teachesoutstanding junior basketball players and coaches inevery state and territory within Australia.The recommendations resulting from theHigh Performance review conducted in 2008and the consideration and implementation ofthose recommendations will shape the NITP’sSelection criteria for NITP development camps takeinto account the athletes’ performances at majorevents, including club games, the Australian CountryJunior Basketball Cup, the Pacific Coast Slam, NITPcombined camps, NITP small group/individualsessions and, if applicable, performances oninternational tours. NSW, SA, NT and Victoria Countryprograms toured the USA in 2008 to compete againsta range of schools and colleges to be exposed to theinternational game with great success and it is hopedthat these tours will continue in the future.On a related topic, Basketball continues to be aninclusive sport with states and territories doinggood work in fostering relationships with variousorganisations to deliver programs, with successfulinitiatives for 2008 including a Memorandum ofAgreement with Deaf Basketball Australia and thedevelopment of coach material for wheelchairbasketball and adaptive coaching workshops. Inanother positive step, the Pacific School Gamesincluded wheelchair basketball and Athletes withIntellectual Disability in their programs in 2008.continued success for future years. As part of therecommendations a new High Performance GeneralManager will be appointed in 2009.A majority of athletes who played at National JuniorChampionship level were part of the NITP. Theprogram was led by state and territory NITP HeadCoaches and working with their many networkcoaches in weekly practice sessions on strength andconditioning, sports psychology and regular camps,the coaches successfully balanced the program withthe athletes’ school and lifestyle commitments.Camps also have a strong educational element,with participants attending scheduled supervisedstudy times of two hours duration each throughoutthe camps.The NITP isn’t just about players though; it is aboutthe coaches that direct them. Basketball Australiaappointed David Herbert (WA) and Justin Schueller(TAS) as NITCP Head Coaches in 2008 while PatrickHunt finished up in his role as Manager of Playerand Coach Development to take up in a position atthe AIS. His contribution over many years has beeninvaluable and he will be missed, although thankfullyhe has not been lost to basketball, as he willcontinue on the Executive of the World Associationof Basketball Coaches and in his new role, will workwith the AIS basketball coaches, as well as coachesin the other AIS sports.Photo: Kangaroo Photo