Talking Split

Both internally, and externally, everyone expects something different from coaches. This week we unpack how to set yourself up as a coach for success in the preseason meeting with parents and players to make sure it’s a good environment for everyone moving forward, but also how to make sure you stay on track. We also discuss the African Australian CALD Camp, Robs Rants is back for another week, and some framework for difficult conversations.

Another week, another podcast debutant as the Metro State Development Coach, Nathan Geer, joins us this week. A piece of Coach Education that has been floating around for a few years gets a bit of a review from us this week, as we encourage coaches to think more like a farmer. There are various takes on weeds, fertiliser, the environment and why it’s usually not a great idea to shout at players, or plants if you want to see growth!

Sometimes it can feel a bit like you’re running in mud with your own development as a coach, and that you’re not progressing as quickly as you would like to. We discuss what you can do to address this and look at some of the reasons why it might be happening in the first place. DP also takes us through the Japan visit with the Victoria Select team and the experiences there.

Joining on the pod this week is Daniel Hamilton, the Director of the Ballarat (and Bendigo) Concussion Clinic. An unfortunate area of the sport is navigating head knocks, and Daniel talks us through some of the danger signs for diagnosing a concussion, symptoms to look out for, and the repercussions of not rehabbing from a possible concussion properly. With the long-term impact of a head knock being significant, it’s a pod not to be missed by coaches, players and parents to try and keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible!The link to the AIS resources on concussion are here: https://www.ausport.gov.au/concussion

Making sure we get the topics that the listeners want to hear about, we asked for some questions and the listeners delivered! We go on to discuss advice for U18 coaches, coaching your own child, timeout use and management and everyone's favourite topic, zone defence. And if anyone sees Brenton’s bike being ridden around, let us know!Guidelines for Supporting Coaches U18: https://api.basketballvictoria.com.au/api/assets/n9zest6u3y80c00oLink to coach at U14 Skills Days: https://www.playhq.com/basketball-victoria/register/ae02f8

In sport and likely in life, we all want things to happen for us as soon as possible. Coaches and players can fall victims to this, but in most cases the patient route is the better path for people to go down. We discuss some of the things that those in the sport need to be careful of, and how to avoid the pitfalls of fast tracking or being too transfixed on short term wins over long term development.

As we all return to coaching for another year, we delve into what we are going to focus on in 2026, and what are we looking forward to leaving behind? Coaching is all about growth and reflection, so there are no doubt things in your coaching world that can do with a little bit of a review to make your coaching better for the year ahead. Time to do a review, and work out what you’re going to apply for your own coaching this year!

Neil Gray, Community Capability and Education Manager at Basketball Australia, led the new Coach Development Framework. He explains why the framework was updated and how accreditations will convert. Learn about the points system, online modules, coach-led learning, CoachLogic self-assessments, mentoring redesign and face-to-face event rewards.

Final episode for the year, and we are catching up with the Melbourne Tigers Head of High Performance, Nick Abdicevic, to discuss all things coaching that he’s experienced in his 25 years at the helm. We discuss his history in coaching, various mentors he’s had and why they’re important, the role that the shuffle offence has played in his development, and his experiences in coaching from domestic basketball through to the senior level. Nick has been a key influence to a lot of players and coaches, and it’s great insight into the experiences of one of Victorian Basketballs elite coaches.

Whilst doing a bit of reflecting recently we looked back to some of the areas we wish we knew when we first started out as coaches. This probably could have gone on for a lot longer as there are a lot of things we have learned over the years, and we’ve all made a lot of mistakes. Reflection is one of the most important parts of being a coach, so hopefully this can help you avoid some of the mistakes we have made or at least speed up the process for you!