Building Better Basketball

Today we’re joined by someone from outside the basketball world — but whose insights might just change how you think about leadership, teamwork, and high performance.

Benjamin Northey is one of Australia’s most respected conductors and musical leaders. He’s the Chief Conductor of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, the Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor for Learning & Engagement with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and a Professor of Conducting at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He has spent more than two decades leading elite ensembles on some of the biggest stages in Australia and around the world.

Recently, Benjamin presented at the Australian Institute of Sport High Performance Conference, where he explored the striking crossovers between conducting an orchestra and coaching high-performance teams — the role of clarity, communication, trust, shared leadership, emotional control, and the pursuit of excellence under pressure.

Today, we’re diving into all of that and more. What can coaches learn from a world-class conductor? How does an orchestra build culture? How do you lead a group of highly skilled individuals toward one performance in perfect sync?

It’s a fascinating conversation, and I’m thrilled to have him on the show.

Today, we’re joined by someone who has been at the centre of our new Coach Development Framework which is going to launch in 2026  and someone who is living the game at a seriously high level: Abbey Ellis.

When the framework launches and you get the chance to see all the new online learning content, for the favorite part of coaches, the technical ideas and drills  you will see Abbey’s influence. She’s been pivotal in shaping the content, ensuring the voice is player centered, and the learning experience to make it clearer, more practical, and genuinely coach-friendly.

But Abbey’s not just a brilliant learning designer - she’s a legit baller. A standout junior, a dynamic guard who carved out an impressive college career in the US, and a player known for her IQ, decision-making, and ability to compete at both ends of the floor. She brings that lived player experience into every conversation, every module, and every piece of coach education she touches.

Today, she’s here to take us behind the scenes: how she got involved, what coaches can expect, why this is such an important step forward for our sport and we will talk a little bit about her game too!

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