Great Southern regional development officer Luke McGuire selected in Basketball Australia Emerging Coach initiative

Basketball WA’s Great Southern regional development officer Luke McGuire has been selected in the inaugural intake for the Basketball Australia Emerging Coach initiative. McGuire was one of 30 development coaches around Australia to be selected in the year-long program that is designed to provide identified coaches aged between 22 and 35 with professional development, training and opportunities for mentoring. There was an application process that occurred over a couple of months, and close to 100 coaches nationwide applied before a selection committee chose the 30 successful coaches. The 23-year-old will take part in a 12-month course that is delivered primarily online and via remote learning with the odd face-to-face session. McGuire will be involved in monthly webinars online and individual meetings with the program co-ordinator, attend a Basketball Australia development or junior national team camp in Canberra and mentoring sessions, and will end up with several coaching accreditations. A Basketball Australia performance coach accreditation, Basketball Australia coach developer accreditation and Hudl Sports Code Level II certificate are the qualifications McGuire will earn through the program. “It’s very humbling to be selected and I’m very lucky to be involved,” McGuire said. “There are some great coaches involved who I’m sure I will learn a lot from. “It’s going to be a great experience. “Fingers crossed the borders open as I’ll get to head over to a junior Australian national team camp and be involved.” McGuire said he was keen to improve his coaching and keep helping young talent rise to the top in the Great Southern. He has been in his role for 18 months as the development officer in the Great Southern. “Coaching is great, I love seeing the development of young athletes and the improvement as they get older,” he said. “We are building something in the Great Southern which will hopefully pay dividends in the long run. “I owe a lot to BWA and the Great Southern for giving me the opportunity to run things down here.”