As part of its strategic plan to grow the sport of basketball in the inclusion space, Basketball NSW is pleased to announce the launching of its Wheelchair State Performance Program (SPP) for 2023/24.
In order to create a talent identification and development model that meets the needs of our athlete and coach pathways, assists the State body in achieving its broad objectives and best prepares our NSW Kevin Coombs Cup (KCC) state team for National Championships, the Wheelchair State Performance Program (SPP) has been developed. In addition to developing the pathway, identified athletes and coaches in the program will reinforce and strengthen the efforts in associations to continue to develop the game of wheelchair basketball.
Basketball NSW, General Manager of Coaching and Development, Brett Coxsedge expressed his excitement regarding the new program.
“Whilst the KCC wheelchair state team has competed at National Championships for many years, we have never had an underpinning development program from which we were able to select athletes from. The new structure aims to provide structure to this process and allow the State Team Program to have much needed support and direction from Basketball NSW,” said Coxsedge.
Basketball NSW, Wheelchair Basketball Manager, Janna Mizens believes the Wheelchair State Performance Program is the missing link that will set up our NSW aspiring wheelchair basketball athletes to succeed in the sport.
“The program is designed to develop and support individual skill growth and team concepts that are required to compete successfully at the National Championships and on the International level. SPP will provide weekly training environments to promote this where a gap has previously existed. The implementation of this program is timed nicely with the hopes of supporting future 2032 Paralympians,” added Mizens.
Basketball NSW CEO Maria Nordstrom also acknowledged the work being done in the wheelchair space at several levels in NSW. Basketball NSW are continuing to work with Wheelchair Sport NSW/ACT at the grassroots level providing opportunities to enter the sport in a safe and fun environment.
“Further till this, I am proud of the work being done by our organisation and Member Associations in the wheelchair space in NSW. Several Member Associations are now running local programs and have a representative team in the GTK Waratah Wheelchair League. Having a dedicated training and development program will assist with strengthening the talent pool of athletes that will be able to participate in our Wheelchair Waratah League, State teams and beyond. Our aim is to build a strong local pathway in NSW for wheelchair athletes,” said Nordstrom.
Applications for athletes to be involved in the Wheelchair SPP are now open with both country and metro athletes required to attend trials on 2-3 September at Bankstown Basketball Stadium, CLICK HERE for more info.
Expressions of Interest are also open for coaches to be involved, CLICK HERE for more info.
For a full run-down on the Wheelchair SPP, please CLICK HERE.
WHAT IS THE WHEELCHAIR STATE PERFORMANCE PROGRAM?
- The Basketball NSW Wheelchair Basketball State Performance Program serves to identify, develop, and foster the skills of young athletes with eligible classification for international competition outlined by IWBF who aspire to compete at state, national and international levels of wheelchair basketball.
- The aim of the program is to support and prepare players to represent NSW at the National Championships.
- This program will be integrated into our current KCC state team model and will include athletes with potential to represent NSW at a National Championship within our state team program.
- The program will operate in both Metropolitan and Country Regions – to enable players to access specialised and dedicated individual and team resources, regardless of the athlete’s location in the state.