New coaches named to Miners’ junior squads

COACHES for the Ballarat Junior Miners first team for 2024 have been announced by Basketball Ballarat.

The Ballarat Representative Program coaches will lead the teams ahead of the 2024 Victorian Junior Basketball League Season.

Director of coaching at Basketball Ballarat, Luke Sunderland, said it was exciting to be able to appoint a group of talented volunteer coaches and they will share their expertise with the aim of helping young players hone their skills.

“We wanted coaches with some experience and ties so the program and if we can manage to have some coaches at this level who aren’t parents that’s great and we’ve managed to do that,” he said.

“Parent coaches do a great job but if we can attract coaches who aren’t parents coaching is their first priority and that’s always a bonus.”

Andrew Dunn will coach the under 12 boys, Tam Westwood will lead the under 12 Boys, and the under 14 boys and girls will be led by Brett Dyson and Rob Cooper respectively.

The under 16 boys will be coached by Chris Thorton and the under 16 girls by Glenn white will the under 18 boys will be led Joel Anderon and the girls by Brad Dennis.

“It’s good on both sides we’re developing internally and also attracting some talent,” Sunderland said.

Sunderland, who came to Ballarat in 2022 to lead the club’s coaching staff also said next season is looking promising as younger players progress into senior squads.

“Next year is a really strong cohort as two years ago a lot of the teams in the younger age groups performed really well,” he said.

“The under 16 boys when they were in the under 14s finished fifth in the country and third in the state so that group should do really well.

“All of our first teams should be able to play in the top division in the Victorian Championship.”

Expressions of interest are now open for players wanting to try out for Basketball Ballarat’s teams and can be made via bit.ly/3OVOBkG.