Basketball Australia

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Basketball Australia
Basketball Australia logo.png
Sport Basketball
Jurisdiction Australia
AbbreviationBA
Founded1939;85 years ago (1939)
Affiliation FIBA
Affiliation date1949;75 years ago (1949)
Regional affiliation FIBA Oceania
Headquarters State Basketball Centre, Wantirna South, Victoria
ChairmanJohn Carey
CEO Matt Scriven
Official website
australia.basketball
Flag of Australia (converted).svg

Basketball Australia (BA), officially registered as BA Limited, [1] is the governing body for basketball in Australia. Established in 1939, BA is a not-for-profit organisation responsible for overseeing basketball at all levels in Australia, from grassroots participation to elite competitions. [2]

Contents

BA is a member of FIBA and organises international competitions for Australian teams. The organisation also operates the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) and manages the Centre of Excellence at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra.

History

Early development

Basketball in Australia traces its roots back to the early 20th century, with the sport first recorded in Melbourne around 1905. [3] Victoria was the first state to establish a basketball association in 1931, known as the Victorian Basketball Association (VBA). Early venues included church and army drill halls, which were often unavailable due to competing uses, limiting the sport's growth. [4] Associations were later formed in South Australia (1936), New South Wales (1938), and, post-World War II, in Queensland, Western Australia, and Tasmania.

Formation of a National Body

In 1939, the National Federation of Basketball was formed, later becoming the Amateur Basketball Union of Australia. [2] This body established objectives to promote the game, coordinate national championships, and manage Australian representative teams. [5] However, it did not become fully effective until 1946, when the first Australian Championships were held. [6]

In 1949, Australia became the 52nd member of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). This marked a significant step in aligning Australian basketball with international standards, including adopting uniform rules and establishing player eligibility criteria. [7]

Evolution of coaching

The development of basketball coaching in Australia was influenced by international figures and techniques. Ivor Burge, who studied physical education in the United States, introduced strategies like the zone defense during the 1930s. [8] The arrival of American servicemen during World War II and European migrants post-war further diversified playing styles, with contributions from figures like Leon Baltrunis and De Lyle Condie. [9]

Prominent Australian coaches such as Ken Watson and Lindsay Gaze were instrumental in advancing the game. Watson's use of the shuffle offence during the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne and Gaze’s long-standing Olympic coaching career (1972–1984) exemplified Australia's growing basketball expertise. [10]

International influence and modern era

By the 1960s, exchange programs with U.S. high schools and colleges helped Australian teams adopt advanced techniques. Visits from American and European teams, such as the Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Cibona Club of Zagreb, further elevated competition standards. The inclusion of prominent players like Andrew Gaze and Michelle Timms in international leagues marked Australia's arrival on the global stage. [5]

The transition to the modern era saw the rebranding of the national governing body to Basketball Australia in 1996, aligning with professional standards and expanding its role in managing domestic leagues like the NBL and WNBL. [3]

State and Territory members

Basketball Australia operates in partnership with its State and Territory associations, which govern and promote basketball at regional and community levels. These members are:

These associations play a central role in nurturing local talent, organising competitions, and implementing Basketball Australia’s policies at the grassroots level. [11]

National Teams

TeamCompetition World Cup Year Olympics Year
Boomers Men4th 2019 4th 2016
Opals Women2nd 2018 5th 2016
Rollers Wheelchair Men3rd 2018 6th 2016
Gliders Wheelchair Women9th 2018 DNP 2016
Emus U-19 Men9th 2019 DNP 2014 [a]
Gems U-19 Women2nd 2019 DNP 2014 [a]
Crocs U-17 Men6th 2018 N/A
Sapphires U-17 Women3rd 2018 N/A

Each national team and their performance at the most recent international events are listed above.

  1. 1 2 The 2014 Summer Youth Olympics was the last in which full-court basketball was contested. From 2018 forward, the only form of basketball contested is the half-court 3x3 variant.

Leagues

Partnerships

Basketball Australia maintains partnerships with key organisations to enhance the sport's reach and impact. Notable partnerships include:

See also

Sources

Further reading

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References

  1. ↑ "Australian Business Register". Australian Government.
  2. 1 2 "Who We Are". Basketball Australia.
  3. 1 2 "Basketball in Australia: A Brief History". Spalding Australia.
  4. ↑ "History of Victorian Basketball". Basketball Victoria. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  5. 1 2 "About Basketball Australia". Basketball Australia.
  6. ↑ "Hobart To Stage Australian Basketball Championship". The Mercury . Vol. CLXX, no. 24, 539. Tasmania, Australia. 5 August 1949. p. 12. Retrieved 4 December 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "FIBA Official Site".
  8. ↑ "Burge Men's Basketball". The Telegraph . Queensland, Australia. 25 September 1946. p. 14. Retrieved 4 December 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ "Jack Small - Papers concerning Basketball Australia". Trove.
  10. ↑ "History of Victorian Basketball". Basketball Victoria.
  11. ↑ "State and Territory members". Basketball Australia.
  12. ↑ "Basketball Australia renews partnership with Japan". Inside the Games.
  13. ↑ "Welcome to the team, Ford!". Basketball Australia.
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