ASPIRE Sporting Basketball Handbook VARSITY COLLEGE ASPIRE Basketball Program Contents History and Rationale ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Goals and Purpose.......................................................................................................................................... 3 Key Personnel ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Program Overview .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Partnerships and Industry Links ...................................................................................................................... 8 Expectations and Commitment to Program Requirements...................................................................... 9 Maintenance of Position in Program .......................................................................................................... 10 Application Process ...................................................................................................................................... 10 Appendix 1: Parent Student Agreement………………………………………………………………………..11 ‘FITTER, FASTER, STRONGER & SMARTER’ History and Rationale Since its inception in 2008, the Varsity College ASPIRE Basketball program has aimed to not only produce high quality student athletes but to use Basketball as a vehicle that assists us in developing players physically, socially and emotionally. It is an expectation that all players within the ASPIRE program endeavour to raise their own expectations and adhere to the programs core values on a daily basis. The ASPIRE program prides itself on producing quality student athletes and life-long learners who can take the skills they learn within our program into their lives outside of school and long into the future. Students involved within our program can expect to be a part of a team culture that instils many characteristics that are vital to life in the outside world, such as teamwork, respect, responsibility & discipline. With these daily lessons taught and learned on and off the court, our students will become champions of character and will become coachable adolescents who will in turn become employable adults. Goals and Purpose The ASPIRE Basketball program aims to provide students an unparalleled opportunity to develop towards an ‘elite’ level in Basketball, through elite coaching opportunities and specialised strength and conditioning. Targeted support is provided to encourage students to reach their full potential as Athletes, whilst promoting academic success and instilling Varsity Colleges CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER values. 1. RESPECT: Respect for your team, team-mates, coaches, teachers, college, and yourself through the demonstration of a strong work ethic and honourable behaviour. 2. INTEGRITY: Adhering to our ASPIRE and College core set of values and principles and conducting yourself with pride. 3. RESPONSIBILITY: Being accountable for your actions on and off the sporting field. 4. SPORTSMANSHIP: The continuous demonstration of a positive attitude and respect for our team, the opposition and the game. 5. LEADERSHIP: The ability to lead by example, accept direction from others and support and encourage player development and a love for the game. Key Personnel Head of Department Ty Dowker – [email protected] Ty is the Head of Department for Health and Physical Education. Ty joined Varsity College in 2018, after extensive experience as an Acting Head of Department and Sports Coordinator in his previous schools of Coombabah SHS and Miami SHS. Ty is an Experienced Senior Teacher, and is very passionate about the importance of health, fitness and well- being for students, both educationally and practically. Ty’s role is to oversee the management of the program, and provide support to teachers, students and parents in maximizing student outcomes in their study of ASPIRE Basketball Program. Head Coach & ASPIRE Basketball Program Co-Ordinator Adam Darragh – [email protected] Adam joined Varsity College in 2008 with the purpose to create the first Basketball Excellence program on the Gold Coast. Since its inception, the Varsity College ASPIRE Basketball program has been a Basketball force amongst Queensland schools. Qualifications: Bachelor of Applied Science - Human Movement Studies & Education Coaching Experience: • Head Coach Varsity College Aspire Basketball Program 2008 - Present • President & Founder of the Varsity Vipers Basketball Club 2009 - Present • Head Coach South Coast 16-18 yrs Boys 2010 - Present Playing Experience: Juniors • Gold Coast & Southern Districts representative player • 1996 Division 1 State Champions • 1998 QLD State Team – U20’s USA College Basketball (Martin Methodist College – Pulaski Tennessee) 2001 - 2003 • Academic All-American Student Athlete & Deans List • 2002 Freshman All-Star 5 Queensland Basketball League • Gold Coast Rollers 2006 - 2016 National Basketball League (NBL) • Brisbane Bullets 2003 - 2005 • West Sydney Razorbacks 2005 - 2006 • New Zealand Breakers 2006 – 2007 • Equal third NBL all-time for consecutive three point baskets made in a single game (6). Senior Girls Head Coach & Senior Learning Hub Co-Ordinator Giovanna Bassini – [email protected] • Gold Coast Junior Representative player • U17 QLD South NAJBC team selection • Varsity College Senior Learning Hub co-ordinator • Varsity College Senior girls coach 2010 – 2012, 2020 – present • 2020 Varsity College ‘Dedication to Students’ Awards recipient Sophomore Boys Coach Scott McGregor Coaching Experience: • 2020 Varsity College Sophomore Boys State Championship - Silver medal • 2020 u14 Div 1 Gold Coast Representative Coach – Qld State Champions • 2021 Gold Coast u14 Representative Coach Playing Experience: • 1994 – 95 Australian Institute of Sport • 1996 NBL Rookie of the Year • 1996-97 Newcastle Falcons • 1998 – 2000 Sydney Kings • 2000- 07 West Sydney Razorbacks • 2004 Hawke’s Bay Hawks • 2005 Otago Nuggets • 2007-09 Gold Coast Blaze • 2011 – 2017 Gold Coast Rollers (QBL) Junior Girls Coach Simon Hunter Coaching Experience: • Bendigo Braves – Junior teams • 2020 Varsity College Sophomore Girls Coach • 2019 – 20 Varsity Vipers u13 and u15 Division 1 coach Playing Experience: • Won Victorian State Championship u/14 s Bendigo Braves • Represented Bendigo Braves at u14 Australian Championships • U/16 Victoria Country team • Toured USA representing Victoria U/16 and U/18 • U/18 Victoria Country team • Senior Basketball - Bendigo Braves SEABL • NBL Development Player - Gold Coast Rollers Strength & Conditioning Coach– Rick Martin – Bond University High Performance Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Qualifications: Diploma of Fitness ASCA Level 3 Professional level – Strength and Conditioning Coach Certificate 4 Workplace Training and Assessment & Level 2 Sports Training 2020 Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year Program Overview The ASPIRE Basketball program is conducted as an extra-curricular activity to allow students to access all academic opportunities available at the college, whist still providing students the opportunity to develop their sporting ability. The program focuses on providing a sequentially developed program for students over years 7 -12 closely linked to the teaching practices and standards according to Basketball Australia. • Year 7 & 8 – ‘Intermediate’: Skill Acquisition • Year 9 & 10 – ‘Advanced‘: Skill Acquisition and Game Training • Year 11 & 12 – ‘Elite’: Games and Performance Training Senior Secondary program training times: Mondays 2:45pm – 4:00pm Wednesdays 2:45pm – 4:00pm Junior Secondary program on court training times: Tuesdays 2:45pm – 4:00pm Thursdays 2:45pm – 4:00pm Strength & Conditioning Sessions: Mondays 7.00am – 8.00am (Varsity College Sports Hall) Thursday 3.00pm-4.30pm (Weights & Yoga - Bond University) Students MUST be on time and ready to practice as per the program training times set out above. If a student is unable to take part for any reason they are to notify the Head Coach via email, phone call or in person. Uniforms Students accepted into the ASPIRE Basketball program will be provided an ‘ASPIRE Basketball Training uniform (jersey and shorts). It is the expectation of the ASPIRE Basketball program that students will attend ALL training sessions with their training uniform. Students will not be permitted to train without the correct uniform. Training uniforms can be collected from the College uniform shop located near the tuck shop. Competitions & Tournaments The ASPIRE Basketball program takes part in several competitions throughout the school calendar year starting with the interschool GIPSA (Great Independent Public Schools Alliance) competition, for all students not in the OP pathway. In addition to the GIPSA competition, program participants will also take part in several invitational and exhibition style tournaments through the year, including: 1. Gold Coast Invitational Tournament 2. TSS Invitational Tournament 3. Down Under Hoops 4. Big 4 Tournament 5. GPS invitational games 6. District (Oceanic) Trials 7. Regional (South Coast) Trials – Queensland State Championships 8. Champion Basketball School of Queensland Tournament (CBSQ) 9. U15 Sweet 16 Tournament Note: Exhibition and one off games will be scheduled during the school year. Players and families will be