Search Results

Illawarra Basketball Association (IBA) is excited to announce the re-signing of forward Brad Ballinger to the NBL1 Men's team for the 2025 season. As a current Development Player with the NBL Illawarra Hawks and a product of the Illawarra basketball system, Ballinger has demonstrated consistent growth and commitment to the sport in the region. At 18, Ballinger has been an integral part of the IBA development pathway. In the 2024 NBL1 season, he averaged 11.27 points, 6.20 rebounds, and 1.53 assists per game, showcasing his versatility and impact on the court. Illawarra’s own Ballinger has come full circle, starting his basketball journey in the U12s with Illawarra Basketball is now returning to the NBL1 team after making NBL debut this year. His rise through the ranks is a testament to years of dedication and hard work. Beyond representing his home association, Ballinger has proudly worn the NSW jersey multiple times throughout his junior career, most recently competing at the U20 Nationals. His experience on the national stage has provided him with valuable exposure and development opportunities. Expressing his enthusiasm for the upcoming season, Ballinger stated: "I've played at Illawarra throughout my whole career, and I'm excited to continue my journey in the Gong for this year's NBL1 season under coach Matt Flinn." Head Coach Matt Flinn highlighted the significance of Ballinger's re-signing: "Brad’s signing is proof that the club's ethos to give juniors a linear pathway into the NBL is real. We hope there are more Illawarra kids to come who are given the opportunity to play significant NBL1 roles. Brad has good size at his position, and after a year training full-time with the Hawks, we have high hopes that his basketball trajectory is moving in the right direction and he has a real impact. As a coaching staff, we are looking forward to continuing the basketball journey with Brad and, more importantly, him paving the way for more Illawarra juniors to succeed." Brad Ballinger’s journey is a testament to the Illawarra Pathway’s goal of developing great people and elite basketball athletes. However, while IBA has played a role in his development, Brad’s success is ultimately a result of his hard work, dedication, and the unwavering support of his family. Their sacrifices and commitment have been instrumental in helping him reach this stage of his career. Season tickets are now on sale! Secure your spot at our NBL1 home opener on March 29th against Maitland. 🔗 Get your season tickets here: Click Here

IBA Welcomes Kobe McDowell-White to NBL1 Men’s Team Illawarra Basketball Association (IBA) is excited to announce the signing of Kobe McDowell-White to the NBL1 Men’s team for the 2025 season. A dynamic guard with a strong basketball pedigree, McDowell-White brings youth, energy, and elite playmaking skills to the squad as the team continues to build towards a competitive and high-performance program. McDowell-White is currently a development player with the Illawarra Hawks in the NBL, where he has been playing and training alongside some of the league’s best talent and gaining valuable experience at the professional level. His time with the Hawks has allowed him to refine his skills under elite coaching while adapting to the demands of top-tier competition. Prior to his time in the NBL, McDowell-White had a standout season in NBL1 North with the Sunshine Coast Phoenix, averaging 15.6 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game. His ability to control the floor, create for teammates, and make a major impact on both ends of the court was on full display throughout the season, positioning him as an exciting young prospect heading into 2025. Head Coach Matt Flinn expressed his excitement about McDowell-White joining the squad: " Kobe is a proven PG at NBL1 Level and coaching against him in the North for the last 3 seasons I always admired his ability to compete and make plays. He makes people better around him. I have enjoyed coaching him this year at the NBL level and really looking forward to watching him develop further through our NBL1 program " For McDowell-White, joining the NBL1 Hawks is the next step in his ongoing development as he continues to push towards securing a long-term professional career. " I’m really excited to stay and play here for Illawarra. I truly believe this will take my game to the next level, especially learning from Flinny and the likes of Todd aswell. I’m excited to further my connections with those guys and both were a big reason why I chose to stay here. Also the community support is second to none and I can’t wait to keep experiencing that throughout the NBL1 season. " With the 2025 season fast approaching, the Illawarra NBL1 Men’s team is shaping up to be an exciting squad to watch, and McDowell-White’s addition brings another level of talent and potential to a group looking to make a serious impact.  Season tickets are now on sale! Secure your spot at our NBL1 home opener on March 29th against Maitland. 🔗 Get your season tickets here: Click Here

Illawarra Basketball Association Major Signing: Todd Blanchfield Joins NBL1 Hawks Men's Team Illawarra Basketball Association (IBA) is thrilled to announce the signing of veteran forward Todd Blanchfield to the NBL1 Men's team. This significant acquisition marks the first of many signings to strengthen the squad and elevate the Men’s Program for the 2025 season. Blanchfield, an athlete with an impressive career that includes over 400 games played in the National Basketball League, brings a wealth of experience and versatility to the team. Known for his elite shooting ability and high basketball IQ, he has been a key contributor to multiple NBL clubs, including the Illawarra Hawks, most recently. Blanchfield’s performance in last season’s NBL1 North competition underscores his ongoing excellence. In the 2024 NBL1 North season, he led the Mackay Meteors to a championship victory, earning Finals MVP honours. His consistent high-level play demonstrates his readiness to make an immediate impact on the Illawarra NBL1 Men's program. Head Coach Matt Flinn expressed his excitement about the addition: "Todd is a pro’s pro. He is a 16-year NBL vet with more years left in him at the highest level of basketball in Australia. At the NBL1 level, there is not a team in the country that wouldn’t want him as a part of their roster, and we are thrilled that he decided to play here and help us grow the NBL1 franchise in Illawarra." "In discussions about him staying here in the gong, most of the c hat was about how he can help the younger players coming through develop and how much he is looking forward to playing at the Snakepit. That in itself speaks volumes about his character within this sport. He will be a guy that will be super fun to watch play, and I, for one, can’t wait to coach him again.” From an IBA perspective, Blanchfield's signing represents more than just an elite-level acquisition—it brings leadership, professionalism, and a championship mindset to the NBL1 Men’s team. His presence is expected to set a high standard within the squad, mentoring emerging local talent and ensuring the team is ready to compete at the highest level in 2025. Blanchfield himself is looking forward to the opportunity: "I'm really excited to be staying in the Illawarra and playing with the NBL1 team this season. The Snakepit has such a rich history, and it's great to be part of a program that is focused on a pathway for players aspiring to reach the professional level. I’m looking forward to playing in front of the local fans at the Pit and working with Flinny and the squad as we build towards something special. I first played in NBL1 North when I was 16, so I know how important these opportunities are for young players. Being able to help guide the next generation while also bringing a winning mentality to the group is something I’m really excited about." IBA Head of Basketball, Ben Bagoly, also highlighted the impact of Blanchfield’s signing: "We are delighted to have Todd and his family stay in the Illawarra during his NBL offseason. His professionalism, leadership, and experience will be a huge asset for the NBL1 players and our entire men’s senior program." "Todd's presence in the team will provide mentorship for the younger guys coming through, reinforcing the culture and professionalism we are striving to build at IBA." "I’d also like to thank Illawarra Hawks and Mat Campbell for their support in getting this over the line. Their support of the NBL1 program really assists us in growing our pathway for all players." Blanchfield's signing also reinforces the growing alignment between IBA and the Illawarra Hawks, further solidifying the two organisation's Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This agreement aims to strengthen the basketball pathway from junior and senior representative basketball to the professional level, ensuring seamless development opportunities for players in the region. Todd Blanchfield’s Impact on the Hawks’ NBL Finals Run Blanchfield has been great in the Illawarra Hawks’ 2024/25 NBL season, helping the team into the NBL Finals. His experience, leadership, and clutch shooting have been an asset in helping steer the Hawks into postseason contention, and the Illawarra basketball community is eagerly awaiting his and the team's performance on the biggest stage. The Hawks’ NBL Finals campaign kicks off in Wollongong at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Friday, 28th February at 7:30 pm. Season Tickets Now Available – Secure Your Spot! With Todd Blanchfield leading the charge, the Illawarra NBL1 Men's team is set for an exciting season, and fans won’t want to miss the action at The Snakepit. 🎟️ Season tickets are now on sale! Secure your spot at our NBL1 home opener on March 29th against Maitland and be part of what promises to be a thrilling campaign. 🔗 Get your season tickets here: Click Here Stay tuned for some more big NBL1 Men signings this week.

Hawks Performance Program 11 - 17 years old Express your interest now The Hawks Performance Program (HPP) is back this term we have designed this program to help take players to the next level. This program is designed for athletes that are from U12 to U18 (Born 2008 - 2015).  As part of the HPP each player will receive individual coaching in small groups to better enhance their learning experience with qualified representative coaches.  IBA Four Core Pillars:   1. Shooting 2. Finishing 3. 1v1 defence 4. Decision making Hawks Representative Principals:  1. Transition Offence 2. Half court man to man defence 3. Rebounding  Duration:  10 weeks (one term) Sessions are 60 minutes Term 1 Dates: Week of February 3rd to week of April 7th. Location: Snakepit - Weekday Mornings Time:  All weekday sessions will be held early mornings (Approx 6:00am - 7:00am or 7:05am - 8:05am) Starting Monday 3rd February Cost: Rep player = $175 for the 10-week term Non-Rep player = $250 for the 10-week term Register now Enquiries? For more information, please email development@snakepit.com.au

About Coming soon.

Mental Health & Wellbeing Our family, friends, and the basketball community's mental health and well-being have never been more vital than they are right now. We looked into several useful tools to help us watch out for one another and create an environment that supports meaningful talks, both on and off the court. Mental Health and Well-Being Taking care of your mental health is critical due to the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. Basketball Illawarra urges everyone to check in on their fellow members of the basketball community to see how they are. We need to be active and engaged to our community now more than ever. Here are some tools and recommendations to help you maintain your mental health and well-being. Get Outdoors Evidence suggests that spending only 10 minutes outside each day, particularly in the morning, can be quite helpful. It will replenish your vitamin D levels, jumpstart your natural energy system, and improve your mood. Move Your Body Maintain movement throughout your body! Getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day will not only keep you healthy, but will also enhance those natural endorphins, enhancing your mood. Remember, it doesn't matter if you hoop, run, stroll, swim, or dance, as long as you move. Maintain Contact Maintain communication with family, friends, and the community. Stay connected with daily SMS, FaceTime, Zoom sessions. Tell them how you're feeling and what you're doing with your time. Online team challenges are excellent for holding your team accountable - your team still requires you! Maintain A Routine Many athletes may have a sense of loss of identity as a flow on effect of Covid-19 due to not being able to see their teammates on a daily basis, attend training or school, and so on. Maintaining a typical daily routine, especially while alone, is critical for mental health support. Continue to get up early, have breakfast, go outside, move your body, and then go to work on some activities. Learn a New Skill Finding time away from basketball to continue developing new skills is important. The focus on learning away from the court and on different topics can help destress: an online training course whether big or little can help give the sense of accomplishment. Even some low-grade training at home with an emphasis on fun is important. Always remember to pause and recognise and celebrate your achievements as you go! Practice Self Care Looking after your body and practising self-care is more than just a warm down and stretching. Move often, eat well, drink plenty of water and make sure that your body has plenty of sleep so as to recover well. Being physically and mentally healthy will help improve our on court performance. Resources Mental health benefits of playing team sport Mental health & wellbeing in community sport Supporting mental wellness in sport Good Sports Healthy Minds program New RUOK? Sport Guide RUOK have produced the new resource called the RUOK? Guide for Sport Coaches. The Guide and RUOK? Coach Toolkit are excellent resources for anyone working in sport. The Guide teaches coaches and sport officials how to deal with a person’s emotions such as sadness, anxiety and anger, and how to respond appropriately to support the athlete or another person. Links to the RUOK? Resources https://www.ruok.org.au/sport RUOK? Sport Coaches Guide RUOK? Sport Coaches Toolkit Help is here There are many resources available to support our players and basketball community during difficult times, so don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help or visit some of the websites below. It’s okay to not be feeling on top of your game at all times and taking a little self-inflicted pressure off yourself is important. There are many people in the organisations below who understand what it is like to not be feeling like yourself anymore or not coping with things, these people can help you start to understand why you might be feeling the way you are and may help you find ways that work for you to start feeling better. If you would prefer to speak to someone who already knows you, consider going to see (or ask your parents to take you to see) your family Doctor as they can listen to your concerns and offer advice or even give you a referral to see a counsellor or another professional who can assist you. Ask your family Doctor about seeing a counsellor under a Medicare treatment plan. Below is a list of resources you can use to assist you, a fellow teammate, a club, an association and anyone else in this tough period: Youth Support Kids Helpline Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/KidsHelpline/ Lifeline website – https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Lifeline 24/7 telephone support – 13 11 14 Beyond Blue – support for children & youth https://www.beyondblue.org.au/who-does-it-affect/young-people/helpful-contacts-and-websites Health Services for Young People – https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/kidsfamilies/youth/Pages/health-services-yp.aspx Kids & Youth Helpline – https://kidshelpline.com.au/ Speak with a Counsellor – free and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling Call 1800 55 1800 (24 hours a day) Talk one-on-one with web counselling Check the website for more details. General Mental Health & Wellbeing Contacts & Websites Parent Helpline – https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/how-parentline-can-help-you Dietary tips to help support your mental health: https://www.nswis.com.au/nutrition/mood-food-how-to-use-nutrition-for-mental-wellbeing/ Supporting children and young people: https://www.headtohealth.gov.au/covid-19-support/chatstarter Black Dog Institute – https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/education-services/communities/ Headspace – http://www.headspace.org.au/ Reach Out – http://au.reachout.com/ BNSW Child Safety and Basketball For information on creating a child safe sport, visit BNSW Child Safety and Basketball page: https://www.bnsw.com.au/about/child-safety-and-basketball/ and to lodge concerns, please email Basketball Illawarra’s Board of Directors at board@snakepit.com.au