Move over rugby, basketball is taking Southeast Queensland by storm, with more and more young athletes opting to hit the court instead of the pitch or the oval. And it’s not hard to see why – basketball is versatile, accessible, and exciting, making it an ideal choice for kids who want to stay active and engaged in a sport that offers plenty of challenges and rewards.
With a participation rate of 30.5%, basketball is currently the second most popular sport in Australia for our youth, and with a national competition on the rise and better access to the NBA, its easy to see why the popularity has ramped so high, proving this is more than just a trend, it’s a movement!
So, what is it about basketball that makes it so attractive to our young athletes in Southeast Queensland? For starters, it’s obvious there is some appeal to playing indoors in QLD, with our startling hot weather or unpreditable rain playing an indoor game makes sports enjoyable during all weather conditions in the Sunshine State. And with a wide range of facilities available across the region (with more being built in time for the Brisbane Olympics), young athletes have plenty of opportunities to hone their skills and develop their game on the court.
It’s important to note that the rise of professional basketball leagues like the NBL is also contributing. Since its revamp under Larry Kestelman, the NBL is looking at introducing more expansion teams whilst increasing its payments to players to make sure it can attract top overseas ballers. This has a huge influence on young kids who can watch current and future stars battle it out most weekends in the summer months (in airconditioning). And if course, our youth have never had more and easier access to watch the world’s best basketballers play in the NBA. With a record amount of Aussies playing ball in the NBA, it’s becoming more realistic to assume to our youth can dream of making it big after all.
Basketball is enjoying its renaissance after a dominant spell in the 90’s, and with more opportunities than ever for young athletes to take their game to the next level and pursue a career in basketball, you can see why the uptake has been so incredible. Of course, with any rise in a sport we need an increase in facilities aswell, so if you young kids or teenagers are bugging you for more time on the courts, make sure you have a look into installing a Cutch Court to help them realise their dreams.
So, there’s never been a better time to get involved in this fast-paced and dynamic sport. If your interested in boosting your properties value with a cost effective professional home court, contact our team today so you can get out there with your kids and start shooting some hoops!