New Chief Executive tackles challenges in New Zealand basketball

Just a few weeks into his new job, new Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) Chief Executive Iain Potter already has a list of priorities for the coming months.

Even before Potter's appointment last month, BBNZ and Sport NZ had been working on a planning document that sets out a pathway for the sport over the next decade. The document is an acknowledgement that some things can be done better in some cases, a lot better and the 'All of Basketball Pathway Plan' sets that blueprint.

Some of the changes set out in the document will affect high-profile programmes like New Zealand's international teams while others are lower profile but cut even deeper into how basketball operates in New Zealand.

Potter explains that his job is to drive change, explaining "in my first week, I saw a well-run international event at Porirua, where New Zealand teams competed hard against some of the best players in the world in that age group.

"As an organisation, we must try harder to give those teams a better chance of beating Australia in the future.

"The recent Sport NZ Young People's Survey suggests we have 357,000 people between the ages of five to 18 playing basketball, so that's a great starting point for us to grow interest in the sport. The 'All of Basketball Pathway Plan' is designed to enhance their experience, and make it easier for more people to get involved and stay involved longer at all levels."

The All of Basketball Pathway Plan seeks to build a support structure from the bottom up, beginning with the appointment of two key positions within BBNZ's fulltime staff a coach development manager to improve the standard of coaching education and a community participation manager, who would strengthen the running of the game at a grassroots level.

Potter states "these two roles will improve our long-term sustainability and provide the impetus for achieving other aspects of the plan ... and because they are funded roles, they provide a focus for the next year."

A few other early priorities include:

• Launching a new national competitions and tournaments structure, along with new age groups and new zones;
• Review of National Basketball League and women's basketball;
• Development of a commercial sponsorship plan to reduce reliance on Sport NZ and community trusts for funding.

Potter concludes "in my dealings with the basketball community so far, I've found everyone to be passionate about seeing their sport progress, which in turn will require some significant change.

"But this isn't just about Basketball New Zealand it's about basketball in New Zealand. It's not about how we deliver basketball it's how we help associations perform their roles.

"This won't come without adjustment in some people's individual roles, but I hope they'll recognise Basketball New Zealand is taking positive steps towards achieving the game's potential in this country and they have an important part to play in that."

The All of Basketball Pathway Plan can be viewed on the BBNZ website at www.basketball.org.nz/about/all-of-basketball-pathway-plan

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