Today on Building Better Basketball, we’re joined by Sagalee Omer—Director of Shooters Shoot, a Melbourne-based charity basketball organisation. Through his events, Sagalee has raised over $100,000 to fund therapy, journaling programs, and even bicycles for young people’s mental and physical wellbeing. His leadership earned him Entrepreneur of the Year and the Minister for Youth Award at the 2024 Multicultural Youth Awards. He’s a powerful voice for community, creativity, and belonging—and I’m thrilled to welcome him to Building Better Basketball.

https://www.shootersshoot.com.au/

Welcome back to another episode of Building Better Basketball, the podcast for coaches who want to make a bigger impact on the game and their communities. I’m BA Community Capability and Educations Manager, Neil Gray, and today we’re talking about one of the most important areas in sport — making sure the game we all love is safe, fair, and inclusive for everyone.

To help us explore this, I’m joined by Lauren Halliwell, Basketball Australia’s General Manager of Integrity and Security. Lauren leads the work that ensures basketball in Australia is built on strong foundations — from child safety and safeguarding, to risk management, integrity policies, and creating environments where players, coaches, officials, and parents can enjoy the game with confidence.

In our conversation, we’ll talk about Lauren’s journey into this role, what a week looks like for her and her team, the systems and safeguards in place across the sport, and most importantly, the practical things coaches and clubs can do to make sure their environments are child safe and aligned with best practice.

So, whether you’re coaching juniors on a Friday night, leading a club program, or supporting athletes at the national level, you’ll walk away with clear takeaways on how to help protect the integrity of the game while keeping basketball fun, safe, and inclusive.

Today on Building Better Basketball, we’re joined by someone who is leaving a real mark on the game through his work both on and off the court — Nick Haywood. Nick has built a reputation as a coach and leader who not only understands the technical side of basketball, but also the people side — the culture, the relationships, and the development journeys that make this sport special. From grassroots to high performance, he’s been at the heart of creating environments where athletes and coaches can thrive. We’re going to dig into his experiences, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and what he sees as the biggest opportunities for our game moving forward.

https://www.nickhaywood.com/

On this weeks episode of the Building Better Basketball podcast, we’re joined by someone who has become a respected figure both on and off the court. Angus Glover isn’t just known for his play in the NBL and with the Boomers — he’s also admired for the way he carries himself as a teammate, leader, and genuine contributor to the basketball community. Angus has built a reputation for his humility, his work ethic, and the positive energy he brings into every environment. In this conversation, we’ll dive into his journey, what drives him as a player and a person, and the lessons coaches can take from his approach to the game and to life.

In this Coaching Roundtable episode, Basketball Australia’s Neil Gray sits down with Jarrod Moore (Basketball NSW), Rob Coulter (Basketball Victoria), and George Robinson (Basketball Queensland) to unpack what goes into a high-quality Under 12s training session. The panel shares their philosophies on balancing skill development with fun, the importance of small-sided games, and how to maximise limited court time. From creating an engaging learning environment to setting age-appropriate challenges, the discussion covers practical tips coaches can use straight away. Whether you’re a new volunteer or an experienced mentor, you’ll leave with fresh ideas to make every session count.

BQ Passing Video- https://youtu.be/WgaZG5fBvNs?si=-zZYouv7-v7schfv

Loving the game versus loving to coach ?

In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to welcome a special guest who brings a powerful mix of research, coaching, and lived experience to the table — Craig Harrison, founder of the Athlete Development Project.

Craig is one of the leading voices in youth athlete development, and he’s worked with coaches, parents, and athletes across multiple sports to answer a simple but important question:

How do we help young athletes thrive – not just in sport, but in life?

From foundational movement to motivation science, Craig is all about the long game – developing robust, resilient, and well-rounded kids who stay in sport because they love it.

So whether you’re coaching U12s at the local stadium or leading a junior program for your club, this conversation is packed with insight, real talk, and ideas you can apply right away.

Basketball Australia's Head of Athlete Wellbeing, Rhian Bird, presented on ‘re- imagining load management’; applying a holistic lens to the athlete (and coach) in load management, for performance and retention. as a keynote presenter at the 2025 @BasketballAus National Coaches Conference, June 2-3.

Full video and slides of this presentation will be available via BA Coaches website in upcoming weeks

Washington Wizards G League Assistant Coach Liam Flynn was a keynote presenter at the 2025 @BasketballAus National Coaches Conference, June 2-3. This is the lecture theatre component of his presentation on Skill Acquisition. 

Full video and slides of this presentation as well as his on court session will be available via BA Coaches website in upcoming weeks

Australian U17 Women’s team physiotherapist Bridie Duggan presented on physical management of young athletes as a keynote presenter at the 2025 @BasketballAus National Coaches Conference, June 2-3.

Full video and slides of this presentation will be available via BA Coaches website in upcoming weeks

Welcome back to Building Better Basketball, the podcast where we explore the people, ideas, and innovations shaping the game at every level. I’m your host, Neil Gray, and today, I’m thrilled to be joined by someone who has spent years championing the development of coaches, athletes, and communities—Jason Sacks.

Jason is the President of the Positive Coaching Alliance and a nationally respected voice in youth sports development. With a background that spans grassroots coaching, nonprofit leadership, and national advocacy, Jason brings a unique blend of practical experience and big-picture thinking to everything he does.

In this episode, we’ll dive into how to build positive, player-first environments, what great coaching really looks like beyond the Xs and Os, and why character development belongs at the heart of sport. Whether you're a coach, parent, or administrator, you’re going to walk away with tools and insights to help you build better basketball in your own backyard.

https://positivecoach.org/