Basketball Australia

Basketball Australia is the governing and controlling body of basketball in Australia, responsible for the development and promotion of the sport at all levels.

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.

Basketball Australia sanctions Australia's two professional leagues, the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) as well as the semi-professional Australian Basketball Association (ABA) which features over 120 member teams from major cities and key regional centres.

Basketball Australia also fields representative teams in FIBA and Olympic competition.

Australian basketball has extensive national and state-based programs to ensure that pathways are provided for all participants in the sport, which includes the National Intensive Training Centre Program and the Australian Institute of Sport.

Basketball Australia provides juniors with 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.

Basketball Australia's Aussie Hoops program is the sports grass roots program for primary school children launched in 2002.

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

International representative teams

* the Boomers, Australia's senior men's team. The Boomers finished ninth at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, and made the quarter-finals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, losing to the United States of America.

* the Opals, Australia's senior women's team. The Opals took the silver medal in Athens and Beijing, finishing behind the USA in both tournaments. They are also the current FIBA World Champions, defeating Russia in 2006.

* the Crocodiles, Australia's junior (under-21) men's team. (Not to be confused with the NBL's Townsville Crocodiles.)

* the Gems, Australia's junior (under-21) women's team.

* The Emus, Australia's junior (under 19) men's team

* The Gems, Australia's junior (under 19) woman's team

* the Gliders, Australia's senior women's wheelchair basketball team. The Gliders took the silver medal in the Athens Paralympics, finishing behind the United States of America.

* the Rollers, Australia's senior men's wheelchair basketball team. The Rollers took the silver medal in the Athens Paralympics, finishing behind Canada.

External links

* [http://www.basketball.net.au Official Basketball Australia site]
* [http://www.aussiebball.com AussieBBall]
* [http://www.cv.basketball.net.au Official Country Victorian Basketball site]