Wolfpack Coaching Network

Our coaches are a massively important part of our club. Without quality individuals being willing to give up their time to invest in helping young athletes and to be role models for young people, programs will not succeed. Just as the quality of a school teacher determines the success and future of their students, so too do coaches for basketball associations. Wanneroo Basketball Association is heavily invested in improving the quality and quantity of coaches available at all levels of the game from grass roots, to WABL and beyond. The WBA is committed to having a clear coaching pathway to provide individuals with opportunities to work, learn, develop, and lead at all levels.

Grass Roots

Sporting Schools – We engage with schools across our region with regular school visits by our Basketball Development Coordinator, coaches, and athletes promoting the sport, as well as being advocates for living healthy lives. We teach the fundamentals of the game and encourage the fun aspects of playing basketball.

Wolfpack Cubs – This is our 2–4-year-old program designed to introduce young children to the fun and challenging environment that sport brings. Major focus is on basic motor function and movement with modified activities that will translate into the Aussie Hoops program when they are old enough.

Aussie Hoops – Aussie Hoops is a nationally accredited program by Basketball Australia for 4-10-year olds. It is an introductory program that aims to teach kids the basic skills and rules of the game in a safe, fun, and positive environment. WBA runs a 4-6-year-old session and a number of 6-10-year-old sessions every week during school terms.

School Holiday Camps – WBA run a school holiday camp designed for our grass roots every school holidays which allows the kids an opportunity to play basketball in a fun and safe environment. These camps are designed for our domestic players from 6-12 years old.

Domestic Coaching

Junior Domestic Competition – Wanneroo Basketball Association runs a Junior Domestic Competition on Monday, Friday, and Saturday during the school term. Each team requires a coach, with teams training once per week.

Domestic U/8’s – WBA have a modified under 8’s competition for young players to be introduced to both training and competitive games. This program starts with 6 weeks of training, then 3 on 3, before getting into 5 v 5 games.

Domestic Development Program – The DDP is a structured development program for players who play domestic basketball in the U/16 – U/18 age groups. The aim of the program is to help bridge the gap between domestic and representative basketball for players and coaches. This program runs during school terms.

Domestic Holiday Camps – *coming soon* Designed for domestic and young WABL players to work on specific skills, with our experienced coaches and players running drills and teaching skills at a higher level than our School Holiday Camps. These provide further coaching opportunities.

Junior Representative (WABL)

Head and Assistant Coaching Roles for WABL teams – The Joondalup Wolves have representative teams that compete for the WBA in the West Australian Basketball League (WABL). The WABL encompasses teams from across Western Australia and games are held on Sundays. Junior Representative teams train once a week with their respective teams and have an age group session each week as well.

WABL Holiday Camps – For our older WABL athletes, the WBA provide elite training opportunities during the school holidays. These camps are skill specific and run by our Basketball Development Coordinator, as well as experienced coaches and players from both within the Wolfpack and external special guests. These are great opportunities for coaches to learn and improve.

Wolfpack Futures – Wolfpack Futures is our elite athlete program designed for selected athletes that are embracing our culture and have been identified as the best of the best. This is a year round program that is for WABL players from U/12’s to U/20’s.

Wolf Bites – Are individual and specialised skill sessions designed for WABL athletes to be able to get additional individual development training during the year. These programs are short and sharp, focusing on key elements to improve individuals’ games.

In addition to the WBA coaching pathway, Basketball WA, and Basketball Australia also provide further coaching opportunities with the Western Australian/Australian basketball coaching pathway:

Basketball WA

Specialist Camps – Skill specific camps run by Basketball Western Australia

U/12 Hot Shots – The Hot Shots program aims to deliver content focused around the Fab 5 (passing, shooting, dribbling, footwork, and guarding your man). Sessions will be conducted by a BWA endorsed Head Coach, with the assistance of local association coaches.

U/14 Future Development Program – BWA’s Future Development Program aims to bring together the most talented Under 14 (born 2007 and 2008) athletes in the state in a competitive environment. The aim of the program is to expose, educate, and develop athlete’s knowledge and understanding of concepts needed to be successful in BWA High Performance Programs.

U/14 and U/15 Southern Cross Challenge (SCC) – In January of each year, Basketball WA sends selected U/14 and U/15 athletes on a Development Tour to Melbourne, VIC to participate in the Southern Cross Challenge Tournament run by Basketball Victoria. This tour gives players the opportunity to compete against development squads from other states in Australia.

This tour also allows coaches and junior WA athletes to gain experience in high level tournament play, preparing them for potential involvement in State Teams in the future. The eight teams represent both Country and Metropolitan WA in the U/14 and U/15 age group for both girls and boys.

Emerging Talent Program (ETP) – The ETP aims to provide athletes with the knowledge and understanding needed to be successful in future WA representative teams, and athletes aspiring to represent Western Australia at the most elite level in the country.

U/16 and U/18 State Performance Program (SPP)/State Teams – The purpose of the Basketball WA State Performance Program is to identify the State’s most talented athletes and create an intensive training environment that will “develop and prepare young basketball athletes to represent WA” at an Australian Junior Championship.

U/20 and Ivor Burge State Teams – The Basketball WA State Team program is part of the High Performance arm of Basketball WA. This program has a rich history of success which includes a number of Australian Junior Championships. State teams represent Basketball WA and the primary focus for these teams is to win a Junior Championship and secondly to motivate, inspire, develop, and educate coaches and young athletes to be the best they can possibly be in their chosen sport.

Basketball Australia

Centre of Excellence – The CoE is based at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. The BA CoE employees full time Head and Assistant coaches to lead the development of Australia’s best young male and female talent.

Australian Junior National Program – Basketball Australia appoints Head and Assistant Coaches to roles for U/17, U/19 and Emerging Boomers/Opals National Junior Teams that compete at Oceania and Asia Qualifiers, as well as Junior World Championships.

Australian Senior National Program – The summit of coaching is to lead your country. Basketball Australia employ Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches, and Technical Assistants for the Australian Boomers and Opals Senior National Teams that compete at Commonwealth Games, World Cups, and the Olympics. 

Coach Accreditation

BWA run both level 0 (Community Coach) and Level 1 (Club Coach) courses sanctioned by Basketball WA and Basketball Australia. The course dates are available here.

Level 2 (Association Coach) and Performance/Master Coach accreditation details are available when contacting Basketball WA.