Are you looking for an exciting and engaging after-school or weekend activity for your kids in the Blue Mountains region? Our Development Programs are the perfect choice for children aged 4-12 who are eager to learn the fundamentals of basketball in a safe and supportive environment.
Blue Mountains Basketball is proud to deliver our programs in alignment with Ford Aussie Hoops — Basketball Australia’s official introductory basketball program for children. Aussie Hoops provides a nationally recognised curriculum designed to teach kids the skills they need to enjoy and progress in the game. By integrating Aussie Hoops into our pathway, we ensure every child experiences high-quality, age-appropriate development from their very first session.
Our junior development model is built around two core program types — Skills Sessions and Development Academies — each designed to meet players where they are in their basketball journey:
– Skills Sessions are non-competitive, training-focused programs more akin to basketball workshops than games. They focus on building strong fundamentals, motor skills, and game understanding through drills, skill challenges, and fun activities—without structured gameplay.
– Development Academies are the next step in the pathway. These sessions combine targeted skill work with modified, coach-supported gameplay. While still non-competitive, the focus here shifts toward applying skills in a game-like context. Coaches actively guide players during games, with the freedom to pause play to teach, correct, and reinforce learning. This format helps bridge the gap between training and competition, ensuring players are prepared—physically and mentally—for their next step, whether that’s domestic competition or representative basketball.
Our development programs are organised by stage of development rather than strictly by the “under” age model used in competitions. This means players will be grouped by developmental readiness and general age range:
– Rookies: 4–6
– Rising Stars: 7–9
– All-Stars: 10–12
Whether your child is just starting out or building toward competitive play, our pathway is designed to grow with them — helping them build skills, confidence, and a lifelong love for the game.