Basketball Australia
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Basketball Australia (BA), officially registered as BA Limited, is the governing body for
basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
in Australia. Established in 1939, BA is a not-for-profit organisation responsible for overseeing basketball at all levels in Australia. Basketball Australia is a member of
FIBA The International Basketball Federation (FIBA ; French language, French: ) is an association of national organizations which governs the sport of basketball worldwide. FIBA defines the rules of basketball, specifies the Basketball equipment ...
and organises international competitions for Australian teams. It also manages the Centre of Excellence at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in
Canberra Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...
.


History


Early development

Basketball in Australia traces its roots back to the early 20th century. The earliest recorded game happened on 23 February 1897, when a team from the Our Boys Institute would play against a team from the
YMCA YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It has nearly 90,000 staff, some 920,000 volunteers and 12,000 branches w ...
. It rapidly grew in the following years and became quite popular even for women to play. Victoria was the first state to establish a basketball association in 1931, known as the Victorian Basketball Association (VBA).


Formation of a National Body

In 1939, the National Federation of Basketball was formed, later becoming the Amateur Basketball Union of Australia. This body established objectives to promote the game, coordinate national championships, and manage Australian representative teams. However, it did not become fully effective until 1946, when the first Australian Championships were held. In 1949, Australia became the 52nd member of the
International Basketball Federation The International Basketball Federation (FIBA ; French: ) is an association of national organizations which governs the sport of basketball worldwide. FIBA defines the rules of basketball, specifies the equipment and facilities required, ...
(FIBA). This marked a significant step in aligning Australian basketball with international standards, including adopting uniform rules and establishing player eligibility criteria.


Evolution of coaching

The development of basketball coaching in Australia was influenced by international figures and techniques. Ivor Burge, who studied physical education in the United States, introduced strategies like the zone defense during the 1930s. The arrival of American servicemen during World War II and European migrants post-war further diversified playing styles, with contributions from figures like Leon Baltrunis and De Lyle Condie. Prominent Australian coaches such as Ken Watson and Lindsay Gaze were instrumental in advancing the game. Watson's use of the shuffle offence during the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne and Gaze’s long-standing Olympic coaching career (1972–1984) exemplified Australia's growing basketball expertise.


International influence and modern era

By the 1960s, exchange programs with U.S. high schools and colleges helped Australian teams adopt advanced techniques. Visits from American and European teams, such as the Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Cibona Club of Zagreb, further elevated competition standards. The inclusion of prominent players like Andrew Gaze and Michelle Timms in international leagues marked Australia's arrival on the global stage. The transition to the modern era saw the rebranding of the national governing body to Basketball Australia in 1996, aligning with professional standards and expanding its role in managing domestic leagues like the NBL and WNBL.


State and Territory members

Basketball Australia operates in partnership with its State and Territory associations, which govern and promote basketball at regional and community levels. These members are: * Basketball ACT * Basketball New South Wales * Basketball Northern Territory * Basketball Queensland * Basketball South Australia * Basketball Tasmania * Basketball Victoria * Basketball Western Australia These associations play a central role in nurturing local talent, organising competitions, and implementing Basketball Australia’s policies at the grassroots level.


National Teams

'' Each national team and their performance at the most recent international events are listed above. ''


Leagues

;Men ;Women


Interschool

Australian Schools Championships


Partnerships

Basketball Australia maintains partnerships with key organisations to enhance the sport's reach and impact. Notable partnerships include: * A collaboration with the Japan Basketball Association since 2018, focusing on international knowledge exchange. * A multi-year sponsorship deal with
Ford Australia Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited (known by its trading name Ford Australia) is the Australian subsidiary of Automotive industry in the United States, United States–based automaker Ford Motor Company. It was founded in 1925 as an Austral ...
announced in 2023, featuring the Ford logo on national team jerseys.


See also

* Australia men's national basketball team * Australia women's national basketball team * List of Australian NBA players * Women's National Basketball League * Australian Schools Championships


Sources

* *


Further reading

* *


References


External links

* {{Sports governing bodies in Australia
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
Basketball governing bodies in Australia 1939 establishments in Australia Sports organizations established in 1939