Coaching

The South Waverley Sonics committee aims to create an environment where all players improve their skills, play in competitive sides and enjoy playing the game.

To ensure all players improve their basketball skills, the committee has formed a coaching panel. The role of the panel is to assist all coaches to improve their skills and understanding of the game. Regular coaches’ meetings and workshops are held to develop and encourage coaching skills.

The club and coaching philosophy is that winning is not the most important thing. The aim is to develop skills and teamwork and thus form a competitive side. Winning games will then be the outcome from this simple strategy.

It is important that every team has team rules as this helps the players develop self-discipline, as well as emphasising that the team is as important as the individual player. Each rule has a consequence if it is broken. The rules must apply equally to all players.

The club is always looking for new coaches. If you would like to become a coach, please contact us.

In accordance with current legislation, all coaches must have a police check. As of July 1st 2008, in order to comply with new legislation all coaches will be required to obtain a Working With Children Check - details on this legally mandated requirement can be found in the Working With Children Check section of this website.

The South Waverley Sonics Basketball Club hold regular coaches meetings in which drills, tactics and strategies are discussed and demonstrated. These meetings also serve as a general forum for discussion amongst the club's coaches.

The South Waverley Sonics Selected Coaching Drills document is an example of the kind of things demonstated and discussed at these meetings. This document was presented and all drills demonstrated (using players from the club) at a recent coaches' meeting.

Coaching Expectations

The South Waverley Sonics Basketball Club has established a set of guidelines to define the expectations the club has of its coaches and that coaches should have of the club. In the event that one or more of the club’s expectations are not met the club’s response is solely at the discretion of the committee. The expectations are primarily based upon Basketball Victoria’s “Coaches Code of Conduct”.

What the South Waverley Sonics Basketball Club expects of its coaches.

Strive to coach your players not simply to become better basketballers but better people.
Be familiar with the rules of the game of basketball and abide by both the letter and spirit of these rules.
Ensure that your players and others compete in a safe and happy environment free from harassment of any kind, including “sledging”.
Lead by example. Remember that as a coach you are always being watched – by your own players and their parents as well as those of your opponents and of course also by the officials.
Remind your players that whenever they wear the South Waverley Sonics uniform they represent not simply themselves but the club.
All players should be provided equal opportunity regardless of ability, and where necessary the differentiating factors being commitment to training, the club and the team.
Remember that the South Waverley Sonics Basketball Club does not exist to win; we exist to encourage players to have fun, make friends and become better players.
Win gracefully and lose with dignity. It is right to be pleased and proud of winning, but not to the extent that it further aggravates the pain of losing for your opponents. Similarly, it is normal to be disappointed or upset at losing but not to the extent that it diminishes the joy of winning for your opponents.
Coaches must by necessity criticise players or entire teams on occasions. Be always cautious in your criticism and generous in your praise. Never be aggressive.
Ensure that equipment and facilities are safe and appropriate for your players and team.
Encourage at all times an impeccable sporting attitude in yourself, your players and those associated with the team and club. Respect your opponents and the officials.
At all times follow the advice of qualified persons (doctors, physiotherapists or similar) as regards injured players.
Be reasonable in your demands. Young players often have short attention spans - this can vary wildly between even players of the same age. Older players often have study or work commitments as well as greater social activity. A coach should respect these other priorities but is entitled to expect player to respect their own commitment to the team.
Commit yourself to becoming and remaining as informed of basketball and coaching principles as you are able.
Absolutely no alcohol is allowed at matches or during practice sessions.
Smoking whilst actively coaching at training or matches is prohibited – we ask our coaches who do smoke to make the effort to wait until the end of training or matches and where possible to do so away from locations at which junior players are congregating.
Coaches should remain vigilant and alert to the real and perceived risks in being left in supervision of children, especially when left one-on-one with children.
Under both Victorian Law and the guidelines of Basketball Victoria all coaches must hold a current Working with Children Check. The club must be informed of your application number if your check is still being processed and your card number once obtained. A committee member must physically sight your card at the commencement of each season.
Coaches must hold a Level 0 coaching certification or enrol (costs of enrolment but not travel or other possible costs will be covered by the club) in a course to obtain such certification as soon as possible and practical. Level 0 courses are typically run at either Nunawading or Ringwood stadiums and involve one or two session of one or two hours each along with a brief and simple workbook requirement.
Ensure that your time as a coach, and your player’s experience of you as a coach, are both positive experiences.

What Coaches should expect from the South Waverley Sonics Basketball Club.

The knowledge and commitment of a coach deserves respect from players, parents, officials and the club.
Coaches will be provided with avenues to improve their coaching knowledge and ability. Examples might include DVDs, books, official certification programs or coaching clinics.
Coaches should expect a safe and appropriate training facility and equipment to be provided by the club. All coaches are entitled to a clipboard-style coaching whiteboard and a single ball from the club. Further equipment may be provided upon request.
Players and teams should be matched with the age and competence of coaches to ensure that everyone’s expectations are met and opportunities for growth exist on both sides.
Coaches will be paid an honorarium for every season they coach, the amount to be determined by the South Waverley Sonics Basketball Club committee. As of July 1^st 2009 the annual honorarium was set to $100 per season regardless of the number of teams coached.