2015

STATE
PERFORMANCE
PROGRAM
HANDBOOK
FOR ATHLETES AND PARENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS

2015 CALENDAR 1

WELCOME 2

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES 3

CODES OF CONDUCT 6

ATHLETE & PARENT COMMUNICATION 7

TEAM SELECTION 8

FINANCES 10

TRAVEL PRINCIPLES 12

HEALTH TIPS 13

PREVENTATIVE INJURY MEASURES 14

POLICIES 15

MISCELLANEOUS 16
State and National Competition Calendar

DATES EVENT BODY VENUE

2015

22nd – 23rd January U18 Boys & Girls State Championships BQ Logan (Div 1) / Ipswich (Div 2)

22nd -28th February Australian U20 & Ivor Burge Championships BA South Australia

7th – 11th April U16 Boys State Championships BQ Gold Coast

7th – 11th April U16 Girls State Championships BQ Mackay

12th – 15th April U12 Boys & Girls State Championships BQ Townsville

11th -18th April Australian U18 Championships BA Ballarat, Victoria

15th – 18th April U14 Boys State Championships BQ Brisbane

15th – 18th April U14 Girls State Championships BQ Ipswich

4th – 11th July Australian U16 Championships BA Ulverstone, Tasmania

28th Sept – 3rd Oct Australian U14 Boys Club Championships BA Perth, WA

28th Sept – 3rd Oct Australian U14 Girls Club Championships BA Gosford NSW

National & International

1
WELCOME

BASKETBALL QLD WELCOME

Basketball Queensland and the Basketball Queensland High Performance program
welcome you to the 2015 Queensland State Performance Program (SPP).

The purpose of this handbook is to provide athletes and parents with a reference guide to
clarify questions on policy and management issues relating to the state team programs.

It is hoped that you will all become familiar with the contents of this handbook and keep it
for a handy reference. If a particular issue is not addressed in this publication, please raise
the issue with your Coach, Team Manager or contact Basketball Queensland North State
Performance Manager, Scott Butler or South State Performance Manager Ben Johnson
direct.
BACKGROUND
Each year, Queensland sends boy’s and girl’s representative teams to compete in the
Australian Junior Championships - national basketball tournaments run under the auspices
of Basketball Australia.

There are 7 National tournaments conducted each year which state representatives
attend. These are:

Under 16 National Championships

Under 18 National Championships
Under 20 National Championships
Under 14 Club Championships
Kevin Coombs Cup (Wheelchair)
Ivor Burge National Championships (for people with an intellectual disability)
Australian School Championship

Basketball Queensland sends a North Queensland and South Queensland team to the U16
and U18 National Championships to provide a greater opportunity for players from
across the state to compete in national events.
Basketball Queensland sends only one team to the U20 and Ivor Burge Championships - a
mixture of both North and South Queensland players.

Representing Queensland at the Australian National Junior Championships is an honour

reserved for the best group of players on and off the court.

Athletes who reside in Bundaberg and North of Bundaberg can trial to represent North
Queensland and athletes who reside South of Bundaberg can trial to represent South
Queensland.

2
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

BASKETBALL QUEENSLAND ROLES:

Prior to the commencement of State Trials, Basketball Qld will:

Advertise all coaching and team manager positions

Announce appointment of Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches
Secure advanced bookings for travel as required
Ensure that accommodation for the teams is booked
Conduct an open trial of players
Underwrite booking fees until final selections are announced; and
Book training facilities for all team trainings

During the trial process, and until the completion of the National Championships, Basketball
Qld will:

Support all coaches and managers through the provision of administrative services
Lodge relevant paperwork with Basketball Australia, as well as specific tournament
organisers
Hold a State team coaches technical meeting and provide ongoing support to the
coaches for each program
Keep the Basketball Qld website updated with information from the Championships
Organise and hold a State team training camp in preparation for the National
Championships and
Select referees from Queensland to attend the championships

After the conclusion of the Australian Junior Championships Basketball Q l d will conduct
a r e v i e w with all Head Coaches and Team Managers.

COACHES
In compiling this handbook, the Basketball Queensland High Performance unit has sought to
limit the responsibilities of the coaches as much as possible so that the greater part of their
efforts are spent in team training, conditioning and handling of the team.

Policies in relation to teams are not set by coaches - only BQ can set
policies.

The Head coach, upon his/her selection, shall operate under the direction of the Basketball
Queensland HP department. The coach will confer with the State Performance manager
and make arrangements to conduct open trials and the ultimate selection of the squad of 25
players and then the team. The Head Coach will also confer with the team manager to
commence a close liaison particularly in areas of joint responsibilities.

3
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ASSISTANT COACHES

Assistant coaches are appointed to assist with all facets of the state program, at the
direction of the Head coach.

TEAM MANAGERS

Team Managers are appointed by Basketball Qld and are responsible for a myriad of duties,
but generally the health and well-being of the players. In collaboration with the Head coach,
the team manager will have the responsibility of all off court activities associated with
the team. The team manager will also act as liaison between coaches, parents
and players. Other major responsibilities are:

Coordinate the ordering and distribution of uniforms

Establish a good rapport with parents and participants
Circulation of documentation
Liaise closely with Basketball Qld
Manage & coordinate player’s meals when away
Washing of team uniform only
Seek medical support when required
Driving of team bus/car and
Coordinate “off court” activities such as excursions

PLAYERS
Basketball Qld staff, Team Managers and Coaches will all demonstrate the utmost respect
to every player. In return, it is expected that all players respect the Code of Conduct, as
well as rules that are specific to their program. Players are to abide by Coaches and
Managers directions as these people have the best interests of not only the individual, but
the team in mind.

Players should:
Arrive for training at times specified by the Head coach
Warm up in accordance with coaches instructions
Be dressed in shoes, ankle guards training uniform, etc prior to commencement of
training
Have your drink bottle filled and your ball fully inflated prior to training
Attend all trainings, and games and if there is a conflict, advise the coach in advance
Treat your team mates, coaches manager other parents game officials and opposition
players with respect
Be prepared to be challenged and step outside your ‟comfort zone‟ in order to develop
as a player
Accept new tactics, team mates, training methods and try new playing positions with
enthusiasm; and
Adhere to the Players Code of Conduct

4
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

PARENTS

We understand parents want to do everything they can to ensure their children enjoy a
positive basketball experience. Basketball Qld requires assistance to ensure this can be
achieved.

You can help by:

Be supportive by having your child to their commitments on time

Helping them achieve good time management skills
Prompt payment of fees in accordance with invoices
Adhere to the parents Code of Conduct
Encourage your child to take responsibility for their performance
Using good nutrition principles to improve your child’s diet
Be a shining example of verbal self- control. Use positive phrases and don’t coach
Your child, or other players, from the sideline

Parenting and coaching are both challenging responsibilities. Understanding the roles of
each, and following the proper channels of communication, will enable parents and coaches
to work effectively together.

In most circumstances, the Team Manager can address the concerns of a parent; however
on occasion, issues or concerns may arise that need to be discussed with the Head coach.
These may include:

Notification well in advance of any schedule conflicts

Health issues concerning the athlete; and
Any distractions that may be affecting your daughters/sons athletic performance

There are times when it may be difficult to accept your child’s court time or playing position
on the team. It is important to understand that the Head Coach will make a judgement
decision based on what they believe to be best for all team members, team performance
and the overall State Team program.

Issues that are not appropriate to discuss with a Coach:

Playing time
Team Strategy
Other Players
Players position on the team
Any decision made by the coach relating to basketball performance

5
CODES OF CONDUCT

Players

As a player involved with the Basketball Qld State Team Program, I agree to participate
and abide by the following code of conduct:

Respect the rights, dignity and worth of fellow athletes, coaches, officials and
spectators
Conduct myself in a dignified manner relating to emotions, language, attitude and
punctuality
Maintain high personal behaviour and standards at all times so as not to
damage the reputation of Basketball Qld
Care, respect and wear with pride uniform and the equipment provided to me as
part of my involvement in the program
Co-operate with all coaches and staff involved in my development
Be frank and honest with all coaches concerning illness or injury and my ability to
practice fully within the program requirements
Work equally hard for myself and my team
Participation in any particular game will be at the discretion of the coach
Play by the rules

PARENTS

As a parent of an athlete involved with the Basketball Qld State Team Program I will
participate and abide by the following code of conduct:

Respect the rights, dignity and worth of fellow parents, athletes, coaches, officials
and spectators
Conduct myself in a dignified manner relating to emotions, language, attitude and
punctuality
Maintain a high standard of behaviour so as not to damage the reputation of
Basketball Qld
Accept decisions of all referees as being fair and called to the best of their ability
Do not raise issues of disagreement publicly
Co-operate with all coaches and staff involved in my child’s development and support
their decisions. In most cases they are volunteers and without them my child
could not participate
Ensure that my child is frank and honest with all coaches concerning any illness or
injury and the effect this may have on their ability to practice fully within the program
requirements
Ensure that my child cares for and respects the equipment provided to them as
part of their involvement in the program
The use of bad language and the harassment of players, coaches and officials will not be
tolerated, which includes yelling out from the stands during a game
Always encourage positive play and support any and all children’s efforts to play

6
ATHLETE AND PARENT COMMUNICATION

Point of Contact

Basketball Queensland State Performance Managers should be your first point of contact for
anything relating to the State teams. The State Performance Managers will help you with any
enquiry you may have regarding trials, selections and trainings.

Questions with regards to the State team travel and logistics should be directed to the State
team manager and in the absence of a State team manager those questions could be
directed at Basketball Queensland High Performance Administrator, Denise Pamenter.

If, for some reason you are not comfortable speaking with the appointed coach, team
manager or the State Performance Managers, you can contact Basketball Queensland’s High
Performance Director, Leonard King.

All enquiries regarding trials/training/state team clothing, gear and accessories should be
directed to Hoop 2 Hoop via email to enquiries@cimgroup.com.au. The friendly service team
will assist you with any enquiries about your uniform, player’s pack and ordering system.

Basketball Queensland has a player welfare officer, Jason Fidds. Jason totally independent
of Basketball Queensland and can be used an external sounding board and provide you with
unprejudiced advice on a number of matters.

We strongly suggest that each athlete trialling for a State team and their parents familiarise
themselves with the Basketball Queensland State team player selection policy. The State
team player selection policy can be found on Basketball Queensland’s website on the High
Performance page. www.basketballqld.com.au.

7
TEAM SELECTION

SELECTING THE TEAM

Choosing members of the team is the responsibility of the State Performance Manager and
the State Team Coaching staff for each team in consultation with the Director of High
Performance. The State Performance Manager will be responsible for the ultimate decision
for each selection.

The task of selecting the team is not to select the 10 best players, but to select the “best
team” of 10 players that will best represent Queensland at the Australian Junior
Championship. Talent identification principles require evaluation of sport specific skills,
athletic ability, attitude and work ethics.

The selection criteria will include but is not limited to the following:

Ability as displayed during state trials, state trainings, state trial games, district games
and State Championships, as observed by the coaching staff
Attitude, work rate and leadership skills to excel in a team environment will be
considered paramount.
Players with the following Attributes at various levels of the pathway:
Physical– height, wingspan, positional strength
Athletic- Quickness, agility, jump, endurance
6 Point Skill Package – Dribble Pass, Defend, Rebound and Shooting under pressure
and when it matters most. & Basketball IQ - “Feel” for the game
Style of Play- adaption / Versatility
Team Person - Character - Has an internal drive to be great; Helps her teammates be
better –hers teams always win & Competes!
Culture –Professional Behaviour on & off the court (Empowerment)
Resilience -ability to handle adversity
Work Ethic- Committed to get better
Size and athletic ability to compete at a National level, with the ability to guard at the
respective position will be required.
Willingness to accept and act upon feedback from coaches as well as the ability to
play a role in the team will be considered.
Ability to execute an individual training program outside of scheduled trainings
sessions is mandatory
A willingness to place State team commitments ahead of the individual’s club
commitments (Basketball Queensland will endeavour to ensure that these
demands are not unreasonable)

*Subjectivity is an unavoidable element of the selection process

8
TEAM SELECTION

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT

The State Performance squad of between 25 and 35 athletes will be announced at the
conclusion of the trials; the State and Emerging teams will be announced at the conclusion
of the State Championships.

TRAININGS

During the selection process, and until the teams have been selected after the completion
of the State Championships Sout h trainings can be expected to take place on a
Tuesday night with each session being of a 2 hour duration. North trials and state squad
trainings will be held over the course of weekends.

If a player sustains any injury that leads to missing a practice or game the injury must be
diagnosed by a professional and proper treatment/rehabilitation undertaken as quickly as
possible and a note of clearance must be received prior to return to action.

RESERVES

The reserves contribute a large part to the teams overall preparations, so it is expected that
players named as reserves will continue to train with the team until the team departs for the
Australian Championships. Doing so minimises any disruptions to the team’s preparations in
the event of any unforeseeable circumstances that may arise (e.g. an injury to a
selected players which requires them to be replaced during training or for the
tournament itself).

State reversible training singlets are only available to those reserves who continue to train
with the team as an acknowledgment and reward for seeing the process through to the end.

9
FINANCES

FINANCIAL COMMITMENT

The privilege of selection comes with a financial responsibility. To help prepare you with
saving towards this, Bask et ball Q ueensland gives you a generalized cost which
cannot be finalised until approximately 12 weeks out from the Australian Championships.

 Each player is charged a team fee which is calculated by Basketball Queensland HP

department based on costs from previous State team attending Australian Junior
Championships.
 The costs of our volunteer Coaches and Team Manager are also incorporated into
the overall team budget
 The total budget expense is then reduced by a financial contribution provided by
Basketball Queensland. Basketball Queensland also contributes to the cost of
providing referees to attend the Championships. The remaining cost is then divided
equally between the players. The team player cost is explained in more detail in the
invoice you will receive following the selection of the team.
 At the completion of the Australian Championships each team’s budget is
reconciled and any residual funds are refunded back to the players. The individual
state team player cost is approximately $3,200 which is net of the financial
contribution by Basketball Queensland of approximately $750.

 Please note that players will not be permitted to represent Queensland at the
Australian Junior Championships unless all fees are paid. If players have difficulty
meeting this financial commitment you should contact Basketball Queensland High
Performance Director who will provide you with information on the assistance that
Basketball Queensland can offer under certain circumstances.

Team sponsors and individual sponsors are welcome but approval must be gained from
Basketball Qld, and then Basketball Australia, this must be confirmed at least 3 months
prior to the Championship. Sponsors cannot conflict with Basketball Queensland, Basketball
Australia or Championship sponsors. Some players may be eligible for Grants (i.e.
Indigenous Sporting Grant) and Local Councils may have money set aside in their budgets
for assistance of a local sports person representing the state.

10
FINANCES

STATE TEAM GEAR

U18 & U16 State Team Gear

1 x Reversible Training Singlet 1 Hooded Windcheater
1 x Playing Singlet 1 Sports Bag
1 x Playing Shorts 1 Water Bottle
1 x Long Sleeve Warm up top Socks (1 pair only)
1 x Tracksuit Top
1 x Tracksuit Pants
1 x Polo Shirt

U20 State Team Gear

1 Hooded Windcheater
1 x Playing Singlet
1 x Playing Shorts
1 x Long Sleeve Warm up top
1 x Polo Shirt
1 Sports Bag
1 Water Bottle
Socks (1 pair only)

11
TRAVEL PRINCIPLES

ACCOMMODATION

Basketball Qld applies the following principles pertaining to accommodation:

 Wherever possible accommodation such as motels, self-c ontained

apartments/ caravan parks will have cooking facilities so that Team Managers can,
when time permits, prepare meals to minimize costs
 Each athlete will have their own bed - no sharing of beds is permitted under our
child protection policy. (membership protection policy)
 BQ respectively request that parents do not stay at the same accommodation as the
team. This is to promote team cohesion and to assist in focusing each player solely
on the team and the competition; and
 Athletes and coaches to be in separate rooms.

TRANSPORT

 All athletes are expected to travel together as a team

 Air travel will be booked for the teams prior to travel
 All airfares to National Championships are equalized by Basketball Australia.
Thus each player f rom all t eam s com pet ing at t he Championships will be
levied a set amount based on the average fare nationally even if the
Championships are being held in your home state and air flights are not needed
Alternative return from Championship may be permitted (but not encouraged)
and needs to be arranged and agreed to with the Team Manager as early as
possible prior to departure; and
 Players will be transported at Nationals in a mini-bus driven by the managers and
coaches

FOOD AND BEVERAGE

Dining out for the team is at the discretion of the Team manager and will be determined
taking into account time and budgetary constraints. Team Managers are supplied with
guidelines for preferred diet such as bistro/pasta/salad type venues and are responsible for
shopping and organising cooking/clean-up. The diet will be wholesome aligned with elite
athlete guidelines. Healthy snacks should be readily available and junk food will not be
permitted during competition. Parents will be asked to provide a food like and dislike list as
well as an allergy list to the Team Manager prior to departure to help them best prepare and
organize meals.

12
HEALTH TIPS

MANAGING INJURY / ILLNESS

It is the Team m anager’s and coach’s responsibility to ensure that the athlete’s injury is
managed in accordance with first aid procedures.

At no time should athletes share drink bottles with other athletes, due to the risk of infection.

Athletes that are injured will be asked to provide a letter of clearance from a Physio or

medical doctor before returning to training. In the event of a minor injury or ailment, the team

manager or coach may be responsible for managing the injury.

You will be required to fill out a medical information form.

FLU IMMUNISATION

If training through the winter months you may look to flu immunisation to help maintain your
health and that of the team. The flu immunisation is best had in the autumn months before
the onset of the influenza season.

This is not a set BQ policy and each player and parent must make their own informed
choice.

DRUGS IN SPORT

For Players Selected for National Championships:

Health supplements and medications should be taken with caution during your preparation
because of the possible drug testing at National Championships.

If you are taking any form of medication, or intend on taking a type of

medication, please inform the Team Manager who can check if the medication you are
taking contains any prohibited substances.

Useful websites to check are: www.asda.gov.au or www.WADA-ama.org. A full copy of

“Anti-Doping Rules” can be accessed on the BA website: www.basketball.net.au

Tips:

Don‟t trust anything given to you by anyone else - knowing what you are eating,
drinking or taking is your responsibility
When out and about, don‟t leave your drinks unattended
Always tell your doctor that you are an athlete in a State team, and that as a
consequence you can be drug tested at any time. They can then prescribe appropriate
medication that isn‟t on the banned substance list.
Anything you have taken can show up in a test even if you have taken it a few months
before. Is it worth the risk?

It is the players‟ responsibility to ensure they are not taking any banned substance.

13
PREVENTATIVE INJURY MEASURES

ANKLE BRACES

To minimise the risk of injuries and disruption to a National Championship’s preparation,

ankle bracing/strapping will be compulsory. This is to be done at the players own expense.
After much research both bracing and strapping are recommended equally and it will come
down to a personal preference as to which you choose.

MOUTHGUARD

Anyone who participates in a sport that carries a risk of a knock to the face should wear a
mouth guard. Mouth guards, which typically cover the upper teeth, cushion a blow to the
face, minimising the risk of broken teeth and injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth. They
also help reduce the risk of jaw fractures and concussion.

The Australian Dental Association recommends, for effective protection, a professionally-

fitted custom mouth guard is essential. The lifetime cost of a dental injury justifies the
expense of good protection to prevent injury in the first place. Coaches will endorse this
recommendation.

14
POLICIES

ALCOHOL

Basketball Australia (BA) has a long standing policy forbidding the consumption of alcohol
by players, whether of legal age or not, for the duration of all Australian Junior
Championships. This starts with the arrival of the first competing team / official and ends at
the departure of the last competing team / official.

All players from Queensland are expected to adhere to the BA policy and coaches and
Team Managers will be informed to enforce this policy.

SMOKING

Smoking is not allowed at any site associated with a n A u s t r a l i a n Junior

Championships.
All sites and venues associated with the Australian Junior Championships are “Smoke Free
Zones”. This policy will apply for the duration of the Championship which starts with the
arrival of the first competing team or official and ends at the departure of the last competing
team or official.

VIDEO / PHOTOGRAPHY

Family and/or friends of participants at the Championships, who have registered with
the venue where the championship is being conducted for the purposes of taking video
and/or photographs and have signed a video/photo permission form acknowledging they
will comply with Basketball Australia‟s policy in regards to the use of photos. All videoing
will only be allowed in designated areas of the stadium. BA has an official photographer
and as a onsequence SLR cameras are not permitted.

The video cameras are to be battery operated and hand held only (no tripods). An authorised
pass will be issued to each individual who will be videoing or taking photos. This pass
must be worn at all times. If no pass visibly is worn and you are not in the designated
area for videoing, then you will not be allowed to continue. Passes are not transferable.
A pass will be made available to you at the championship venue. These can be applied for
through the respective Team Manager prior to the Championships.

15
MISCELLANEOUS

INSURANCE

All team members are covered by the Basketball Qld insurance.

For additional information you can obtain a copy of the policy from Basketball Q ld
website www.basketballqld.com.au > About Us > Resources & Policies > Forms

MEMBER PROTECTION

All team members are covered by the Basketball Qld Member Protection Policy.

This policy ensures that all players are protected from inappropriate actions and
behaviours’ from any staff member, coach or manager. If you believe that inappropriate
behaviour has occurred you should report the matter to either Basketball Queensland High
Performance Director, Leonard King or Chief Executive Officer, Graham Burns.

All Coaching and Managerial personnel are required to sign a prohibited person’s
declaration, as well as undertake a police screen. (Blue Card)

TRIBUNALS

In the event that a team member or coach is to appear before a tribunal at an Australian
Championship, parents will only be advised of the outcome as soon as practical.

MOBILE PHONES & SOCIAL MEDIA

Mobile phones at trainings leading into the nationals are to be switched OFF at all time. It is
considered that mobile phones and the use of social media at Australian Championships can
erode the essence of the team structure which coaches have sought to build leading into the
Australian Championships. As such, parents and players are forewarned that these will not
be allowed during Nationals.

Any negative post on any subject associated with an Australian Championship, from a team
member, will be considered a breach of the code of conduct and disciplinary action could be
taken. Each Head Coach will apply this as a team rule although some Head Coaches may
have a slightly different approach.

Some may allow mobile phones, but with conditions (i.e. only access for 10 minutes a day)
and then only at the discretion of the Team Manager / Head Coach if time permits.

More information on this will be given prior to leaving for Australian Championships.

16
MISCELLANEOUS Cont’d

PARENTS / FRIENDS / SUPPORTERS AT NATIONALS

Players will only have limited contact with parents, friends and supporters at the National
Championships. This time is limited to after games if time permits and is usually only for 10
minutes or so in duration.

Use this time to be supportive, but not critical

Do not attempt to give coaching advice as it possibly conflicts with team rules and
what the Head Coach is asking of your child; and
Be respectful of all other team members when conversing with your child

A team that bonds well and plays for one another will achieve far more than a team of
individuals not following team rules. As parents you have not been exposed to the team
rules. Expressing your views about team performance or player performance is not helpful
to the team harmony.

When at a Australian Championship, parents and supporter behaviour in the grand stand
reflects on the overall impression of our state and players. Please adhere to all codes of
conduct and good sportsmanship.

Basketball QLD supports a zero tolerance policy of bad behaviour towards referees and
officials. At an Australian Championship, referees are regularly evaluated. Leave it to the
Referee Evaluator to speak to the referees.

17