Basketball Queensland State Performance Program

Over the course of 2018, the Basketball Queensland (BQ) State Performance Program (SPP) has been progressively adapted to better provide the support and instruction that Queensland’s aspiring athletes and coaches require to thrive. With a keen focus upon the development of tactical, technical, physical, and mental skills, the newly revised SPP development strategy prioritises the preparation and development of youth athletes, aged under 15 to under 18, and coaches, like never before.

Selection Process For Athletes

The SPP selection process systematically and progressively identifies and selects young athletes who display the characteristics and ability of potential Elite Athletes. By implementing the BQ Style of Play philosophies, and increasing contact time with expert coaches, this program monitors and reinforces the positive training and performance habits of selected youth athletes. Raised training standards are applied within a variety of different accessible, organised locations—from home environments to centralised camps and programs.  With the intention of transitioning ‘potential’ into ‘talent’, the SPP has been revised to guide the development of coaches and athletes from all over Queensland; better preparing them for National Championships, and future athletic endeavours. At BQ, we believe it is essential that our young athletes fully understand the inner workings of their craft. We now aim to improve both execution and understanding, by educating athletes on team concepts, sports science, and sports medicine, in relation to their own performance. To ensure our program is more accessible than ever, we also provide regional support for identified talented SPP coaches and athletes through a remote management plan. This plan includes the use of the BQ OwnUrGoal App and other technologies and allows for the active involvement of all SP participants.

Selection Process For Coaches

Regarding the selection process for State Performance Program coaches, talented instructors are identified at BQ competitions, and through nomination by local associations. Young athletes who meet the requirements of the state selection policy are either identified at regional and state championships or may nominate themselves to trial for selection within the SPP. In these trials, young athletes are intensively assessed against both state and national performance criterion. After a successful trial, the selected youths will engage in our dedicated training program, fostering their performance and their athletic understanding. From this pool of successful SPP athletes, a team will be selected to play in the Queensland State team, presenting our most elite youths with the opportunity to play at an Australian National level.

Opportunities For Missing Out on Selection

Fortunately, gifted athletes who are not selected from the SPP for the state team will not find their opportunities for development dashed. These youths will remain in the SPP for the duration of the program, where they will have continued access to international game experience, to further aid their development as athletes. The College Exposure Tour team/s (CET) and the Talent Development (TD) team/s are further options for SPP athletes who miss out on selection in the final State Team and wish to further develop their game skills by playing against international competition in the US. After the State Performance Program has concluded, the final Queensland State Teams will then participate at the Australian Junior Championships (AJC).

Revised State Performance Program

The BQ team has ultimately revised the State Performance Program with our most gifted young athletes’ futures in mind. An athlete’s formative years are crucial in their ultimate development. We believe that it is our obligation to ensure that our talented youths and instructors are presented with the best opportunities and experiences that we have to offer, at every stage of their athletic journey.