Basketball Australia Basketball Australia

Basketball Australia is the governing and controlling body for the sport of basketball in Australia - overseeing the sport at all levels, from the grass roots to national teams and national leagues.

Formed in 1939 (as the Australian Basketball Federation) the organisation was constituted in 1946. Basketball Australia became a member of FIBA in 1949 and was incorporated in 1982.

Following the 2004 Athens Olympics, Australia held a combined world ranking of third. The women finished the 2004 tournament with an equal-best silver medal performance, and the men in ninth position.

Competing in the Olympics since 1984, Australia's women's team has won two silver and one bronze medal in Olympic competition and two World Championship bronze medals. Australia's men have competed at the Olympics since Melbourne's 1956 Games, and despite a couple of close encounters (4th in 1996 and 2000), have yet to win a medal.

Flagship domestic basketball competitions in Australia are the Philips Championship National Basketball League and the Women's National Basketball League. These leagues run from October to March. 12 teams compete in the men's competition representing all states except Tasmania and the two territories. There are eight teams in the women's league, again representing all states except Tasmania and the Northern Territory. The men's league has been running since 1979 and the women's since 1981.

The Australian Basketball Association (ABA) is the national development competition under the NBL and WNBL. It features over 120 member teams from major cities and key regional centres. The season runs from March and culminates in the National Finals Weekend in August.

Australian basketball has extensive national and state-based programs to ensure that pathways are provided for all participants in the sport. This pathway, which includes the National Intensive Training Centre Program and the Australian Institute of the Sport, is regarded as one of the best in the world. It is not only athletes who reap the benefits of the development pathways, but also coaches, officials and administrators.

Juniors have the opportunity to compete in national representative competitions from the U16 age group, with the National Junior Championships providing a high level of competition between state teams. U14 Club Championships and the National Schools Basketball Tournament provide elite level competition for younger players.

Aussie Hoops is the sports grass roots program for primary school children. Launched in 2002, Aussie Hoops introduces children to basketball through the concepts of fun time, play time, game time, big time. Hundreds of thousands of children are exposed to Aussie Hoops each year, building the interest and participation base of the sport.

Basketball Australia is not-for-profit and is funded through membership, sponsorship, fund raising and government grants.

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