New Referee Administration Officer – Michael Lake
Basketball Queensland is proud to officially announce the appointment of four new Game Development State Performance Officers – Cameron Tragardh (Rockhampton Basketball), Kerry Williams (Cairns Basketball), Peter Crawford (Townsville Basketball) and Lukass Blicavs (Mackay Basketball).
This improved model has received overwhelming support from our regional associations and is set to make a greater impact on local athlete’s skill standards and increase the local athlete’s chances of going further and representing Queensland and Australia.
Some of the key differences between the new delivery system are as follows:
- In the past, BQ has always serviced and supported our regional associations with their development of local youth athletes but this has been done by ONE State performance manager based somewhere in the North Queensland region. There are now FOUR State Performance Officers located in our largest regional associations
- Instead of a State Performance Manager travelling to each association a few times throughout the year, the State Performance Officers now work to the BQ SPP plan including the teaching of the same style of play and delivers more coaching hours on court with better supervision and management than existed previously.
- The new SPP model results in 12 hours a week of dedicated coaching on the court for each of the skills at NO cost to the local identified athletes. This is for the whole year round.
- Athletes are now skill tested regularly tested with results monitored more closely by BQ and state selection panels and the State Performance Manager by using the new OwnUrGoal App.
- The new program delivery increases both the local athlete’s chances of gaining state team selection and improved performance at National championships while still developing them as future QBL players in their home centre.
LUKASS BILCAVS – STATE PERFORMANCE OFFICER – MACKAY
What does your average work week look like?
My average work week consists of early morning SPP sessions, as well as individual development sessions for the kids selected in the various Basketball Queensland High-Performance Programs. These sessions are usually 6 am starts before school which helps to show how committed the players really are and gives them a great start to the day.
What is the best part of the new structure for SPP in North Queensland?
It would definitely be is just the contact hours for the athletes. Previously this may only have been a monthly visit from the High-Performance coach, but now this has evolved into a weekly session and more time on court to further develop their skills. It’s also great to further educate the satellite coaches and improve their knowledge and delivery of the programs.
How do you feel this change is going to benefit Basketball in North Queensland?
This change will not only just benefit players, but it will also benefit coaches in North Queensland by expanding the reach of the High-Performance program. Having more time on the court for coaches and players while building continuity across the state and specifically North Queensland can only be beneficial for all involved.
KERRY WILLIAMS – STATE PERFORMANCE OFFICERS – CAIRNS
What does your average work week look like?
An average day for me includes either SPP or NPP training every morning from 6 am and Friday also features an afternoon weights session with the NPP athletes.
What is the best part of the new structure for SPP in North Queensland?
The best part of the new structure is having a State performance officer in each north association to work with athletes.
How do you feel this change is going to benefit Basketball in North Queensland?
This will benefit both athletes and State teams. Athletes get extra sessions in between camps, which helps close the gap for North teams not being able to train weekly.
CAMERON TRAGARDH – STATE PERFORMANCE OFFICER – ROCKHAMPTON
What does your average work week look like?
Our average work week consists of monitoring our athletes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights during their junior and senior club fixtures, so we can provide feedback upon their gameplay. Our SPP coaches meet frequently to discuss sessions plans and individual pathways that will benefit our Central Queensland athletes. A Wednesday morning session at 6 am is offered to our Rockhampton athletes, and a 10:30 am session on Saturday mornings for our Gladstone athletes is also provided.
What is the best part of the new structure for SPP in North Queensland?
The best part of the new personalised structure is that the groups get more detailed instructions and time with the coaches because the coaches are based in that particular area. There isn’t one coach covering multiple regions, it’s a really tailored program for each association’s athletes.
How do you feel this change is going to benefit Basketball in North Queensland?
I think we will see more North Queensland athletes popping up on NPP programs, and being selected into Australian Junior teams. It may take a little while but the steps are in place for increased success for North QLD athletes.
PETER CRAWFORD – STATE PERFORMANCE OFFICER – TOWNSVILLE
What does your average work week look like?
In Townsville, we have around 40 kids in the SPP and NPP programs. We train in the mornings from 6:15 – 7:45 Monday to Friday for a 5 to 6-week block during each school term. We also have a shooting session for the NPP athletes one afternoon a week. Along with working as a Coach and Player Development Officer for Townsville Basketball (TBI), we see these kids in our rep development programs, which are run in the afternoons and we like to keep an eye on them at rep team’s practices and QNJBC tournaments as well. Some of these kids also help us coach the younger kids in our ‘Rookies’ program run in the afternoons at schools and on a Friday afternoon from 4:30 – 6:00pm at TBI.
What is the best part of the new structure for SPP in North Queensland?
With State Performance Officers in each city, this gives the athletes a huge amount of exposure to training at a higher level. These kids are getting a chance to play against the best local competition every week and it gives them the best chance to improve the fastest way possible.
As a coach, these sessions are fun because the athletes are mostly very motivated (even with the early rise) and normally the most talented which make the sessions fun to coach.
How do you feel this change is going to benefit Basketball in North Queensland?
With the elite kids practising more often, and with the other kids from the local centres, this gives them a chance to get more structured court time and be guided as to how they are tracking on a regular basis.
The north athletes are also very lucky, as we have some of the best coaches. With the coaches having played at a very high level and understand the amount of work that is needed to be successful, combined with a high understanding of the game.
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