Basketball looks at new way

Will Johnston 

Collaboration not competition is Basketball Taranaki’s aim.

This new organisation is the result of two years of conversations and attempts to formalise a structure for all Taranaki. It will  unite the New Plymouth Basketball Association and Taranaki Country Basketball Association (Hawera, Stratford and Opunake) under the one umbrella in order to provide opportunities and support for one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing sports.

There is much work to be done because both organisations work separately with north and south Taranaki representative teams competing at tournaments.

Work on the new organisation started at the end of last year and in February Leighton Littleworth became chair of the establishment committee.

He said Basketball New Zealand saw an opportunity to form the regional sports organisation (RSO).

“BBNZ [Basketball New Zealand] is trying to get the regions to work together to get that regional approach. We want kids to play for their teams and clubs but that next level is playing for Taranaki, that’s one of our key drivers.”

In addition to more formalised representative teams, Littlewood said the structure would be able to support clubs.

“It’s so volunteer-driven, the reality is that people have their jobs and work in their clubs – it survives on this.”

He said the RSO would provide resources to assist with the development inside clubs.  

“Clubs that are floundering the RSO can get in and help build a sustainable space. Part of the idea for the RSO is making more money available to support development and staff.”

Littleworth said the development would improve the overall quality of basketball in the region from referees and tournaments to players.

While much work needs to be done to officially form Basketball Taranaki, an already developed constitution needs to be adopted.

“All the associations want to move forward, so we’re trying to unpack what that looks like, what’s the best way, what’s involved, there are obviously legal hoops to jump through.”

Then a new organisation needs to be formed, he said.

The end goal is to slowly build the support and improve the experience of basketball participants and provide pathways for players.