Ball Keeps Bouncing
By Ryan Mobilia
Michele Timms, two-time Olympic medallist, has experienced basketball throughout the world and believes the community level of the sport in this country is as strong as ever.
Melbourne’s Federation Square hosted a World Record attempt on April 7, 2009, which required 1,289 people to bounce a basketball for five minutes.
The attempt was organised by Basketball Australia in an effort to help the governing body of the sport reconnect with the community.
Despite failing to break the world record and with many of the teams in the national competition struggling financially, participation in the sport is thriving.
The problems of Basketball Australia and the National Basketball League are not reflected at the community level.
“I think our grassroots is probably one of the best in the world. Said Timms.
“A lot has been said of the past few years about the elite end of the sport, but it hasn’t in anyway affected the grassroots… it’s up there with soccer as the most participated sport being played by kids, boys and girls.”
Where the link does become more noticeable, is a shared problem of lack of money and resources.
This is widely believed to be the major reason behind the failed connection between the NBL and community levels of the sport.
John Matthews, former long time Operations Manager for the Eltham Wildcats Basketball Club, sees the lack of proper funding and minimal community engagement at the heart of the issue.
“While they were in survival mode they really didn’t come out and do the community stuff.”
He compares the AFL and their range of resources, to explain the different mindset when ensuring their game flourishes at all levels.
“When they identify a problem, they say ‘well, we think we need three people, lets hire five.’ Basketball says, ‘we need three people. Let’s get one and a half’.”
Timms says, as for basketball in Australia and the direction of the national league, all is not lost.
“I’d like them to take the season off, refine themselves or rebirth and then come out with a whole different name to their league… so we can start again, try again.
“I think it’s necessary for the rebirth of the sport at the elite level.”
Matthews agreed.
“Basketball will keep evolving, it has to. It’ll find a niche, hopefully the NBL works.”
And as for the World Record attempt, both Timms and Matthews believe not breaking the record had more to do with timing rather than lack of interest.
Of the lack of attendance by her club the Bulleen Boomers, Timms explained,
“It was good it was on a school holiday, but… that’s when the clubs try and make their money, out of doing clinics and offering that service to the community, so we were all tied up here doing basketball clinics.”
Timing was a similar problem for the Eltham Wildcats Basketball Club.
“Our last newsletter was the last week of February, so effectively you’ve got about a five-six week period where no overwhelming news goes out to our junior club members, the people they are aiming it at.” said Matthews.
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