BASKETBALL AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2014/15 BASKETBALL AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2014/2015 2 CONTENTS 1 July 2014 – 30 June 2015 MESSAGE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPORTS COMMISSION PAGE 4 REPORT FROM THE CHAIR PAGE 5 MESSAGE FROM THE CEO PAGE 7 HIGH PERFORMANCE REPORT PAGE 11 PROFESSIONAL LEAGUES AND COMPETITIONS REPORT PAGE 12 GAME DEVELOPMENT REPORT PAGE 16 2014/15 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REPORT PAGE 18 CORPORATE PARTNERS AND SUPPLIERS PAGE 21 Published by Basketball Australia PO Box 4140 Knox City Centre VIC 3152 291 George St, Wantirna VIC 3152 Tel: 03 9847 2333 COVER PHOTO - Australian Rollers win the gold medal Email: [email protected] at the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) World Championships. www.basketball.net.au BASKETBALL AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2014/15 4 MESSAGE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPORTS COMMISSION Australia’s Winning Edge sports The past year has seen considerable success and progress for Australian sport on the world stage, for the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and our elite sport partners and athletes. The Government’s 2014–15 SOME HIGHLIGHTS IN 2014-15 INCLUDED: investment of nearly $120 Personal excellence - The most significant athlete million continues to be wellbeing program in AIS history, incorporating refined to ensure funding myAISPlaybook - a new high performance athlete is aligned to sports with learning and development platform. the greatest potential to contribute to Australia’s AIS Sports Draft - Athletes selected in this fast- Winning Edge 2012–2022 tracked development came together at the AIS to targets and maximise our share their journeys as they transition to Olympic or chances at success. Commonwealth Games sports. Since Winning Edge was launched, the AIS re-allocated AIS Centre for Performance Coaching and Leadership $20 million of high performance funding among sports - More than 45 coaches graduated from the centre, and boosted direct athlete funding (dAIS) by $3.6 million providing development and mentoring for our or 40 per cent. brightest coaches and administrators. The Sports Tally 2015 — the annual report card for As our attention starts to focus on Rio and the major Australian sports — revealed promising signs as we gear events leading up to the Games, I look forward to the up for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, ASC teaming up with your organisation to help put our while highlighting some of the challenges presented by athletes in the best possible position and enhance our our performance at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth chances of success. Games. In March the Commission launched Play.Sport.Australia. JOHN WYLIE AM our plan to help NSOs build participation in sport and Chair | Australian Sports Commission make sure all Australians enjoy its benefits. Sports have the opportunity to attract more than 4.5 million Australians into their communities. It’s important that we work together to ensure that more Australians, particularly young Australians, participate in sport more often and that we have strong organisations that deliver the products and opportunities Australians want. BASKETBALL AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2014/15 REPORT FROM THE CHAIR OF BASKETBALL AUSTRALIAA It is with great pleasure that I present this report as President of Basketball Australia. The 2014/2015 year was a year of transition for Basketball Australia. We welcomed our new CEO We have had great success growing the sport at the Anthony Moore in October 2014. grassroots level with the Aussie Hoops and Sporting Anthony has worked tirelessly Schools programs. The relaunched Aussie Hoops program to restructure the business, has continued to grow with 11,384 participants having close the Sydney office and their first basketball experience through 658 Aussie Hoops recruit new staff. This period programs in the first year of the program. Aussie Hoops has been one of renewal for has also been adapted for the schools market through the Basketball Australia and has Australian Sports Commission (ASC). new Sporting Schools set the organisation on a program, which replaces the previous After Active-School positive path for the future. Communities program. We are pleased to report that the Aussie Hoops program is one of the leading programs. There is no escaping that 2014/15 was a challenging year from a financial perspective. Following the ASC review, the WNBL has gone from strength to strength. The WNBL review was completed Whilst the operating loss was less than budgeted: a and distributed to all stakeholders and a WNBL Review result which in isolation would normally be celebrated, Working Party (RWP) was formed to give further there were a number of large one-off charges that were consideration to several key recommendations processed in order to clean up the accounts and re-set contained within the Optimal Competition Model the books, and this has resulted in a significant overall document produced by Suiko on behalf of Basketball deficit for the year. Australia and the ASC. We have successfully Importantly this financial loss is not the result of any implemented the majority of the 53 recommendations financial mis-management, but rather is the result of contained in the ASC WNBL Review. These proactive financial management with the clear intent of recommendations include: the appointment of the GM – WNBL and Competitions, moving the WNBL finals “cleaning house”. The Basketball Australia Board, through to a best of three competition and the allocation of the Finance Audit and Risk Committee, has introduced significant funds to marketing the WNBL. The Basketball new controls and reporting mechanisms to ensure that Australia executive continue to work hard to secure a the financial process is significantly reformed. The Board new free to air TV deal for the WNBL. The 2014/2015 is closely monitoring the current liquidity pressures Wattle Valley Grand Final was won by the Townsville through weekly cash and debtor reporting and overall Fire in a battle with Bendigo Spirit. Congratulations to financial performance through the monthly the Finance Townsville for a strong season and Grand Final win. Audit and Risk Committee review process. David Reid’s proactive leadership of the Finance Audit and Risk In 2014/2015, the South East Australian Basketball Committee is to be commended and I am sure that League (SEABL) had another successful season after his ongoing stewardship in this area will continue to being incorporated into Basketball Australia operations. show progress. The Brisbane Lady Spartans won their second title in five 6 years, while the Mount Gambier Pioneers won their first sponsors and suppliers and we are extremely grateful SEABL Championship since 2003. Statistically, the SEABL for the support. The ongoing support enables us to grow website and Facebook numbers increased indicating the sport. strong support for the League. We are very thankful for the ongoing support from We watched with interest the successful launch of the the Australian Sports Commission, Australian Olympic new NBL season and we continue to maintain and close Committee, Australian Paralympic Committee and the relationship with the NBL management. Australian Commonwealth Games Association. The Centre of Excellence goes from strength to strength Thank you to my fellow Board members for their support under the BA auspices with athletes progressing into and work during the year. The guidance and dedicated professional leagues, national teams and US college hours governing Basketball are much appreciated. I pathways. The Centre of Excellence has also provided would like to give special thanks to retiring Basketball rehabilitation services to athletes returning from injury Australia director and former Chairman Scott Derwin for and the centre’s expertise remains at world standard. his dedicated service to our sport. Our teams continue to excel on the world stage with The sport is extremely fortunate to have a dedicated the Opals winning the Bronze medal at the World staff who love our game. Our staff continue to work hard Championships. The Australian Rollers won gold at the to build basketball across the nation. International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) world championships in July 2014. Thank you also to the tireless volunteers, players, coaches, and officials who make our sport so strong and dedicate To our members, the State Basketball Associations – their lives to making Basketball – Everyone’s Game. thank you. The support of our State Associations and the work that is done at grass roots levels is crucial to growing our sport. ROB MARCOLINA Basketball Australia enjoys strong support from our Chair | Basketball Australia PHOTO - Boomers Coach Andrej Lemanis. BASKETBALL AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2014/15 MESSAGE FROM THE CEO OF BASKETBALL AUSTRALIA It gives me great pleasure that I present my first Annual Report as Chief Executive Officer of Basketball Australia While much attention will, Stadium was raucous for the Grand Final. no doubt, be focussed on While to the victors go the spoils, Bendigo Spirit’s the financial results from achievement of also making three consecutive grand this 2014/15 financial year, finals is a remarkable feat. The abilities of Spirit coach it is still a year of significant Bernie Harrower in leading his team to great heights on a achievement and progression consistent basis will be celebrated with the passage of time. for Basketball Australia and one that sets our organisation The 2014/15 Wattle Valley WNBL season saw a number of up for the future. remarkable personal stories. The continued success of our We welcomed back Jayco Australia Opal legend Jayco Australian Opals on the world stage with a hard won Penny Taylor who re-joined her junior team the Jayco Bronze Medal at the FIBA 2014 World Champions in Turkey Dandenong Rangers and crowds around the country in October 2014 is worthy of celebration. The Opals squad flocked to watch Penny play. contended with the loss of Elizabeth Cambage following We witnessed one of the great single season an achilles tendon injury seven days before the event and performances in recent memory from University of regrouped under the leadership of Head Coach Brendan Canberra Capitals star Abby Bishop.