ASCEND Player Development Program

Ascend is back for Term 4. The program continues to be innovative and dynamic and is integral to our athletes to assist with their long-term development and basketball IQ. The program provides our athletes development opportunities by ensuring they understand both the Altona Gators Style of Play and the Basketball Victoria Style of Play and expectations.

ASCEND FAQs:

Why do we run ASCEND?

We started Ascend because I was getting calls from clubs to do sessions with their players and they were outperforming our Altona players when I would watch Friday night games. We have provided the program consistently throughout the years to ensure our players have access to a) skill work that coaches don’t have time to cover in a team training, b) training the skills that are specific to our style of play, and c) to ensure players are working directly with a high-performance accredited coach who specialises in skill development.

What is the benefit of long-term athlete development?

The benefit of long-term development is like building a house. Building long-term for basic skills that lead to complete layers of developmental growth for each developmental stage. While all athletes start and develop at different times, careful consideration is relied on when instructing this program.

What are the benefits for participants of ASCEND?

The benefits of the program for athletes to practise skill maintenance and the program provides a safe learning environment and helps the athletes build the skills needed to gain confidence in applying their skills in game situations.

In the past 19 years the program has produced over 100 athletes that have been identified by basketball Victoria, multiple Victorian State players, two Australian representatives, Big V award winners and several players that went on to play in the US and Australian professional leagues.

Why it is important to have experience coaching in line with Gator’s Style of Play?

While all basketball training is beneficial to an athlete, coaching that is compatible with the club’s style of play is more likely to increase the players ability to perform the necessary skills for their team’s success. It is imperative that player development is holistic and players are given the tools to make good decisions with and without the ball and have the opportunity to enhance their decision making and competitiveness in addition to skill acquisition.

We are very proud of the fact that as a club, we ensure our junior players are able to transition to our senior program and excel. Every player who played for a Victorian Championship Women’s Team on the weekend has been or is a current junior player at Altona.

What pathways are there in basketball?

There are several pathways in basketball and no athlete should have their heart set on one. For example, if the goal is to play college basketball in the US this can be achieved through the club’s pathway to senior basketball or through Basketball Victoria’s representative pathway should your skills and club play reach those levels.

Both have produced significant results for players who have stayed here to play W/NBL1 and those who played abroad.

The details:

• Weekly commencing, Wednesday, 8 October 2025
• Altona Sports Centre
• Under 12 & 14s: 5:30pm – 6:30pm
• Under 16 & Up: 6:30pm – 7:30pm