Seb brings basketball skills to TAFE Queensland

Delivered under the TAFE at School Program, Seb teaches foundation-level basketball coaching, expanding career opportunities for young players off the court.

"I had a lot of success in high school, which led me to play for Queensland and Australian school boys. After this, I received a basketball scholarship to a university in Canada for three years," explained Seb.

"It was a great experience and gave me that taste of what it's like to be a full-time player. Then, when I came home, I played in the NBL1 for Logan Thunder."

As well as playing at a high level, Seb is a qualified personal trainer passionate about the strength and conditioning of players for injury prevention.

"I coach players to be successful, and as well as skills, we’re adding basketball-specific strength and conditioning training to the course to teach students about injury prevention.”

“There’ll be plyometric training to increase the strength in their core, ankles and knees to care for their body and be consistent on the court. Their vertical leap, agility, and speed of the mark will all improve, and by honing individual basketball skills and rebuilding elements of their game in the gym, they will perform more efficiently on the court.”

Based at the dedicated basketball facility in South Bank, with a fully equipped gym and modern classroom spaces, creating a great learning environment for the student-athletes to thrive.

The course is tailored for basketball players in senior secondary school looking to take their game to the next level while gaining nationally recognised qualifications through TAFE Queensland.

As part of the Academy of Sport Program, year 10 and 11 students will pursue their passion for basketball while undertaking the nationally accredited Certificate II in Sport Coaching (SIS20321) and setting themselves on a career in the sports industry.

Students undertake sports-specific training in an immersive athlete development environment that combines theory and hands-on delivery to advance their learning through basketball and physical education programs.

"I thrive on getting athletes to perform consistently and teach them what they need to do to make themselves be able to play their best," continued Seb.

"Teaching them the mental skills, resilience, nutrition and communication skills they need to excel in basketball are transferrable into other areas of life – essential as they make their way into the world."

Seb will also teach the essential skills for coaching sessions in community-based sports clubs and organisations.

"They'll learn to coach age-specific groups, basic dribbling, passing, catching, pivot, and footwork.”

“They'll also learn how to do what we call scaffolding - analysing the players they're coaching through drills that gauge their skill level, finding an area they need to improve and breaking it down into little drills that build up into a game situation."

"It could be something as simple as hand-eye coordination, slowing their footwork down until they can do it at game speed, and mapping out a session to ensure it flows so players are engaged from start to finish and feel like they have achieved something.”

The program fits in with students existing high school studies, replacing one of their senior schooling subjects, which also contributes to their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).

The course is offered in partnership with the Brisbane Bullets, and students are introduced to all elements of basketball, developing their skills and knowledge of the game.

As part of this program, students will engage with guest speakers and participate in on-court sessions with the Brisbane Bullets coaches and players. Students will also go behind the scenes at NBL training sessions and assist in activating Brisbane Bullets home games.

"We'll be visiting the Nissan Centre, the home of the Bullets and give students access to their strength and conditioning, coaches and players as well as do some game day setup – which is invaluable for their learning."

Seb is a passionate and experienced coach who understands what it takes to build self-belief, athletic ability and winning team culture. He will provide students with a strong foundation of basketball skills by helping them master the fundamentals of all game components.

“My biggest strength is the player mentoring side of it, and bringing my background to this role and seeing things from a player's perspective will benefit my students.”

"By understanding every player's unique personality and abilities, we can bring the best out of them within a tailored approach in this incredibly enriching environment."

"Basketball is a rewarding game with many benefits for students on and off the court. My goal is to educate, upskill, motivate and support my students to help them reach their potential and live a healthy lifestyle while enjoying the great game of basketball,” concluded Seb.