UC Caps Tradies Hoops Clinic: At all levels, basketball is popular in the ACT, but facilities are not available to meet its popularity. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
With 15,000 players registered with Basketball ACT, along with plenty more participating in other competitions, the sport is currently grappling with a unique dilemma.
In some categories, Basketball ACT has been forced to turn players away, while in other areas, there is a drive to attract more people to the sport.
In the latter category, the Association has introduced a Mums and Bubs Program in an effort to entice new mothers back to basketball, along with a campaign to lift the numbers of women and girls taking part, with a higher percentage of male participants at the moment.
Then there is the Walking Basketball Program that encourages older players to stay involved in the sport.
To provide an idea of the challenges faced by Basketball ACT in ensuring that all who want to play the sport can do so with limited facilities, we need look no further than the statistics.
Part of the land next door to the Belconnen Basketball Stadium is suitable for the building of more courts. Photo: Jennifer Andrew.
A total of 6.8 per cent of the Canberra population is engaged in a Basketball ACT activity. In 2024, 10,382 games of domestic basketball were played, and 848 teams are registered in BACT winter competitions in 2025.
Basketball ACT CEO Nicole Bowles concedes its popularity is a double-edged sword.
“We love that we continue to cater to players of all ages, from primary school age right up to people in their 80s. We love that more girls and boys, men and women, are playing basketball than ever before. But our biggest challenge remains court space, and over the past five years, we have been looking at community facilities.”
Nicole explains, “Currently, we are playing across 11 competition courts with games being played seven days a week. We need to be creative with our draws.”
Nicole is fully aware of the implications of limited infrastructure.
“There are players being turned away in some groups while at the same time we’d love to see more women and girls playing at all levels as we don’t have a 50/50 split in participation.”
Where to from here?
Basketball ACT has signed a head of agreement with the ACT Government to proceed with the long-awaited three indoor court facility on the land adjacent to the existing Belconnen Basketball Stadium.
The tender process for the facility is underway, and as yet, no potential costing has been revealed.
One of the new courts will have seating for 1,800 spectators, with the prospect of hosting a UC Capitals pre-season game or junior Australian teams at the boutique stadium.
Nicole Bowles is optimistic it will be up and running within five years.
There had previously been a proposal to cover the existing outdoor courts at Belconnen, but that was dropped.
Beyond these plans, though, the sport will continue to face challenges in catering for the continued growth in the sport.
