Given the impact COVID-19 is having both globally and within our own country, we are just thrilled our players are getting the chance to experience a WABL season at all, much less one that is only marginally shorter than normal (14 games instead of 18 games).

While we would love all our WABL teams to experience traditional ‘success’ in the form of winning games, the main goals for the 2020 season are for them to:

• Enjoy being able to play at this level,
• Enjoy being part of a team of other committed individuals,
• Enjoy being part of the Perth Redbacks family, and
• Continue developing their skills and their team play.

To facilitate the achievement of our stated goals for this WABL season, and with a view to ensuring a uniform baseline of development for all our WABL players and teams, we have created the ‘5 Pillars of Redbacks Basketball’. 

These pillars establish minimum standards of focus and accountability for Redbacks WABL teams. All five pillars are more about attitude and effort and the understanding of basic basketball principles than they are about basketball skill.

The 5 Pillars represent a foundation upon which technique, skill and the nuances of plays can then be layered. They are summarised quickly below (and then outlined in more detail at the end of this briefing).

Parents - if you wish to have conversations with your children about their performance during games, we’d like those conversations to focus on these 5 Pillars (as opposed to other measures such as how many points they scored).

Pillar 1: Attitude

All Redbacks players should bring positive energy and discipline to training, games and interactions with anyone involved in their basketball experience.

Pillar 2: Defence in transition

When the ball is turned over every Redbacks player should EXPLODE back into defence. 

Pillar 3: Rebounding

Anyone watching a Redbacks team play should see a visible and single-minded determination to WIN THE BALL every time there is a rebound up for grabs.

Pillar 4: Offensive spacing

All Redbacks players should understand fundamental strategies for creating space on a basketball court and be able to execute those strategies as a team.

Pillar 5: Defence in the half-court

All Redbacks teams should own the keyway in defence via an understanding of split line team defence and shell defence principles

CJ Jackson (men’s SBL coach) and Craig Allen (women’s SBL coach) have been appointed Head of WABL Selections for the men’s and women’s programs respectively.

As part of this role, both CJ and Craig will be in attendance at WABL games every Sunday during the season. They will be there observing games to develop a good understanding of our players and teams, and to provide assistance to our WABL coaches if those coaches request it.

CJ and Craig will also meet with our WABL coaches on a monthly basis to assist with their ongoing development. 

We respectfully ask that parents do not approach CJ or Craig while they are observing games as this will compromise their ability to perform their role.

For 2021 WABL, the following is a rough outline of how we anticipate selections unfolding:

• As noted above, CJ Jackson (men’s program) and Craig Allen (women’s program) have been appointed Head of WABL Selections.

• At the conclusion of the 2020 WABL season, they will conduct a ‘soft’ pre-selection of teams for the 2020 State Champs Carnival (run in late November/early December 2020). These 'soft selections' will be based on information gathered from their observations of 2020 WABL season games + the input of both the incoming and outgoing coaches for each team.

• State Champs Selection Trials will then run for one Sunday. These trials will be used to:
  • Appropriately assess line ball selections
  • Appropriately assess new players to the club
  • Turn the 'soft selections' into 'final selections' for 2020 State Champs
• The final teams chosen for 2020 State Champs will be the 'soft selections' starting point for 2021 WABL selections.

• The 2021 WABL Selection Trials will run over two Sundays (in late January/early February 2021). These trials will be used to:
  • Appropriately assess line ball selections
  • Appropriately assess new players to the club
  • Turn the 'soft selections' into 'final selections' for 2021 WABL
• 2021 WABL Teams will be announced in the week immediately following the second weekend of trials.

The following are our fees for the 2020 WABL season:

• WABL Season Fee - $385
• WABL Train on - $187

These fees need to be paid by Friday 7th August. All the details regarding the payment of fees (Kidsport vouchers, Team Codes and links) are here.

All Perth Redbacks WABL players must have:

• Red WABL playing shorts
• Black WABL playing/training shorts
• Redbacks reversible training singlet

The costs of these items and other merchandise items for purchase are:

• Red shorts - $55
• Black shorts - $50
• Reversible training singlet - $30
• Black hoodie - $40-50
• Black warm up top - $60
• Socks - $20/pair

All items can be purchased from the Perth Redbacks office at Vic Park Leisurelife, Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm most weeks. (Best to ring ahead and confirm someone is there and not out running errands, however: 9472 8110.)

As our WABL program is run entirely by a volunteer task force (this includes our coaches, managers, WABL Director and WABL Committee members) it’s important that everyone involved in the program adhere to the following communication protocols:

• Parents are not permitted to approach the score bench, umpires or their team’s coach on game day.
• If players have a problem regarding their performance, court time, or issues within the playing group, it is up to the player to raise it with their coach.
• If parents have questions regarding training, games or other administrative type issues, they should first check with their team manager. If the team manager is unsure of the answer, they will consult with Jen Saliacus (men’s teams) or Lee Deshon (women’s teams).
• If parents have an issue they would like to bring to the attention of the WABL Committee, this must be lodged via this online form. At no time should an issue be raised via a phone call to a WABL Committee member or the WABL Director.

Additionally, all parents are required to have Team App installed on their phones, be logged into Team App, and have notifications enabled for the team(s) their child or children are in. Team App is the primary way team manager, coaches and the club will communicate with parents during the season.

WABL is representative basketball. It’s important that our players understand their selection in a team has meant another player has missed out and thus their selection must be respected and appreciated.

Basketball is a team sport and it’s important that all players bring the same level of commitment to their team by:

• Always attending training (unless ill). Injured players should still attend training sessions. 
• Wearing the Redbacks training uniform (black Redbacks shorts and Redbacks reversible training singlet) to training.
• Being available for all games (unless ill) and arriving at the game venue 30 minutes before the game starts with all requisite equipment (game uniform, shoes, water bottle and mouthguard).
• Paying attention to their coaches and bringing a great attitude to training and games.
• Respecting the huge volunteer commitment their coaches are making to the club and their team.
• Understanding the Player Responsibilities, Player Code of Conduct, Zero Tolerance Policy and Social Media Policy as outlined in the 2020 WABL Handbook.

The Perth Redbacks acknowledge and appreciate the role our WABL parents play in getting our players to games and training, paying their fees, and providing the myriad forms of support elite junior athletes require to be at their best. 

The key expectations of our WABL parents are that you help us create a family-friendly, nurturing environment for everyone in our club by:

• Respecting your team’s coach even if you don’t understand or agree with their approach/decisions
• Respecting referee decisions even if you don’t understand or agree with them
• Supporting the whole team rather than just your child
• Cheering positively from the sidelines
• Assuming the best rather than the worst when there is a club decision you don't agree with
• Seeking clarity about things you're unsure about in a respectful manner
• Using Team App for all team communications
• Reading the Perth Redbacks 2020 WABL Handbook in full including Player, Parents and Spectators Codes of Conduct, Social Media Policy and Zero Tolerance Policy and agreeing that you, your children and any spectators you bring to games abide by these policies

The finals format for WABL 2020 will be different to previous years. This year there are only two weeks of finals instead of three, and only the top 4 teams make finals:

• Week 1 of finals = Semi-finals: 1v4, 2v3
• Week 2 of finals = Grand finals: Winners of the two semi-finals

These pillars establish minimum standards of focus and accountability for Redbacks WABL teams. All five pillars are more about attitude and effort and the understanding of basic basketball principles than they are about basketball skill.

Pillar 1: Attitude

In a phrase: Positive energy brings positive results

In one line: All Redbacks players should bring positive energy and discipline to training, games and interactions with anyone involved in their basketball experience.

In more detail:

• Turn up to training 10 minutes early and be ready to go the moment the coach blows the whistle for the session to start
• Turn up to games 30 minutes early and be ready to go the moment the previous game ends
• Interact in a positive manner with your teammates, coach, umpires and opposition players and coaches during training and games
• Respect and accept that:
  • Referees will get things wrong
  • Coaches will get things wrong
  • Teammates will make mistakes
• Understand there is no excuse for poor behaviour (trash talking other players, backchatting refs, backchatting coaches, berating or being unkind to players in your own team)
• Understand you can’t control the behaviour of others but you can control your own and that it’s important to take personal responsibility for your:
  • Actions
  • Reactions
  • Performance

Pillar 2: Defence in Transition

In one line: No Redbacks player should ever be seen walking or jogging back into defence when the ball is turned over

In more detail:

• Unless specifically instructed otherwise by their coach, when the ball is turned over every Redbacks player should EXPLODE back into defence. They should sprint back to the keyway to get in front of the opposition, turn, and show their number to the opposition players (hands up).
• As they become more competent they can start to influence to sideline and corner going down the court as long as they are in front of (and not beside) the player. 
• There should always be off the ball defender support for the weakside offensive runner.

Pillar 3: Rebounding

In a phrase: Own the boards

In one line: Anyone watching a Redbacks team play should see a visible and single-minded determination to WIN THE BALL every time there is a rebound up for grabs.

In more detail:

• At junior level rebounding is more than 80% effort and aggression and less than 20% skill. 
• Players should assume every shot is going to miss and thus there will be a rebound to be won. 
• As skill develops, coaches can teach the subtler nuances of technique and positioning.

A Redbacks team should always be identified by their aggression to defend our keyway and attack the opposition keyway. This should be especially evident after an opposition shot where our keyway should be filled with defenders aggressively rebounding. 

Pillar 4: Offensive Spacing

In one line: All Redbacks players should understand fundamental strategies for creating space on a basketball court and be able to execute those strategies as a team.

In more detail:

Backcourt spacing principles

• Have a clear, team-agreed backcourt inbound plan (press breaker)
• Understand the principle of 3 lanes
• Pass rather than dribble
• Pass easy and pass early
• Don’t dribble into a trapping situation
• Never abandon your ball handler (provide multiple passing options)

Motion offence (pass and cut)

• Fast-moving passing and cutting in smooth motion
• 5 out principles
• 4 out (including post principles)

Pillar 5: Defence in the half-court

In a phrase: The keyway is ours

In one line: All Redbacks teams should own the keyway in defence via an understanding of split line team defence

In more detail:

Understand and be able to execute shell defence principles to:

• Demonstrate player positions (split line)
• Demonstrate defensive rotations (shell drill)
• Demonstrate defender help and recover - stop the drive one pass away
• Push offence to the corner (never middle)
• Isolate offence in the corner and restrict rotation and switch

A Redbacks team should always be able to work as a team to own the keyway by stopping the offence from driving into the keyway, influencing the offence to the sideline and corner and then defending the split line. 

The keyway is ours and the WEB will protect it.

Our club's Communications Director, Kelly Exeter, is always happy to answer any questions you may have after reading through this parent briefing. She does, however, get really grumpy when asked questions that have been answered in a communication she's prepared.

So please ensure you've read everything carefully first. And then if you still have a question, drop her an email.