By BACT MEDIA UNIT – 4 January 2023

Following a recent review of the NPP/NITP program structure, Basketball ACT (BACT) will be implementing some changes to the existing programs to enhance the level of servicing to talented junior ACT basketball athletes. 

In previous years BACT had a strong partnership with the ACT Academy of Sport to primarily deliver athletic development (S&C) programs to the 15 targeted NPP athletes.   Since the impact of covid and structural changes at ACTAS in servicing team sports, ACTAS no longer provides services to ACT Basketball athletes.  BACT contracted Sean Gilligan (previous ACTAS S&C Coach) to deliver S&C programming and coaching to NPP athletes and extended this servicing to NITP athletes through the Club Lime Centre’s over the past 2 years.  The current NPP and NITP athlete servicing level of on-court skill development, minicamps and Club Lime gym sessions are essentially at the same level for both athlete cohorts.   

Consequently, from January 2023, BACT will only deliver the NPP (National Performance Program) in partnership with Basketball Australia and Club Lime. Previously, BACT has taken a broad talent ID and servicing approach with up to 50 junior athletes serviced across the NPP/NITP programs.  From 2023 BACT will narrow the focus to identify and support junior athletes in the 14 – 18 years of age cohort that have the athletic talent & required commitment to progress to the higher levels of the sport,  whether that be the Canberra Gunners/Nationals NBL1 teams, the USA College system, the COE/Australian Junior Teams or to the NBL/WNBL.   

ACT Performance coaches and the BACT High Performance Manager will continue to have input into athlete selections/invitations for the NPP.  As per the ACT Selection Criteria, athletes invited into the NPP would likely meet most of the criteria and have demonstrated the work ethic, competitiveness and commitment expected to be participating in Basketball Australia’s National junior development training program.

Invitations to the 2023 NPP will be sent out in January 2023 following completion of the Junior Performance Camp,  ECC and SCC events.