Basketball Academy
The Cathedral School Basketball Academy was established in 2023 along with the school representative team ‘Cathedral Cyclones’.
Basketball Academy is available to girls (Year 4 to Year 10), and boys (Year 7 to Year 10). Representatives have the opportunity to play in the Cathedral Cyclones team, competing in tournaments and competitions across the state. The Basketball Program is delivered by highly experienced coaches with the goal of developing students basketball ability and equally for fitness, fun, grit, commitment, team work, and respect.
The program runs over the school year but has two distinct components; a Skills Squad and representative team trainings for The Cathedral Cyclones.
Skills Squad: During Term 1 and 2 the focus is on developing each individual players skills for the game. The squad is a large group training session held weekly where individuals of all ages are put through their paces in a series of drills recognised by the most successful coaches in the NBA. The drills hone players skills of ball handling, passing, catching, shooting and defence. The Skills Squad caters to new players with no basketball experience, through to representative level players. The skills taught are essential for basketball success and form part of the daily regimes of elite NBA players. No matter how experienced, all players will improve their basketball ability as a result of their participation in the Skills Squad.
The Cathedral Cyclones: At the end of Term 2, selection trials are held for the schools representative team, The Cathedral Cyclones. Then, in Terms 3 and 4 weekly trainings are reserved for Cathedral Cyclone team members only. Team-specific groups of 10 – 12 players focus on developing their advanced knowledge of the game, team culture and commitment and team playing skills including offence, defence, inbound and transition plays. Practice games are organised against local club, representative and school teams to put this learning into practice. The end goal is to qualify for entry into the state championships and for the team to prove themselves competitive to the best of the team’s ability. Competitive opportunities cannot be assured and are dependent on the team, their commitment and ability and each competitions entry criteria.
Although it is not mandatory to attend the Skills Squad for selection in the Cyclones, it is assumed that players who train and develop their skills will be optimally positioned to be playing at their best by the time of the trails.
Basketball Academy (Girls)
Deb Bracken – Coach
Girls Coach – Year 4 to Year 10
Deb has loved the opportunity to introduce basketball to Cathedral girls. With over forty years of coaching and playing experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the program and has been delighted to deliver a basic skills introduction to basketball for new and current players from Years 4 – 10.
Deb is heavily involved with Cannons Club in the Townsville Basketball Competition and is passionate about teaching skills and fundamentals to young players. She is a fully licensed Coach with Basketball Queensland and has previously coached junior representative teams and also assisted in Townsville’s first State League Championship.
The goal for the Cathedral girls program in 2025 is to develop squads in Junior and Senior grades to compete in inter-school competitions throughout the state.
Deb is dedicated to developing young players and providing a pathway for young girls to represent their school at a high level and continues to strive to improve her own coaching ability and foster a love of the game for all levels of players.
