FUTURE GEELONG: Basketball is one of Geelong’s most popular community sports, but it need better facilities to grow

Basketball associations across the Bellarine are in need more facilities to meet demand for one of the region’s most popular sports.

Point Lonsdale Basketball Association is raising funds to address a lack of court infrastructure. From left Luca 7 and Sam 7. Picture: Mark Wilson

Participation in community basketball has “absolutely exploded” in Geelong, but clubs throughout the region require better facilities to meet the demand.

Approximately 400 basketballers have been sidelined each week on the Bellarine amid a major court shortage.

There were only eight courts across 300 teams in 2023, and ageing facilities were at risk of flooding during heavy rain.

The Point Lonsdale Basketball Association (PLBA) commenced fundraising last year in the pursuit of improved infrastructure because the lack of courts had become a safety issue.

PLBA president Ben van Doren said new infrastructure was a necessity for his players.

“We can’t push the kids to train on the courts that are out there, it’s not acceptable,” he said at the time.

Leopold Lakers president Jayson Newman said his club was also impacted by court shortages.

“If I look at the Bellarine Basketball Association, we are probably at least two courts short just to manage capacity now,” he said.

Zoe, Georgia and Will Nicholson from the Leopold Lakers Basketball Club.

It is a problem common across the region with massive community participation in the sport: Geelong United Basketball hit record levels last year with close to 12,000 players.

Mr Newman said the sport had “absolutely exploded” in popularity.

To meet demand, City Hall has recognised the need to upgrade facilities.

In its 2025 priority list, it identified six separate projects that would upgrade basketball or netball facilities.

Dr Katherine Raw, a researcher at Swinburne University’s Sport Innovation Research Group, said when there was lack of access to sporting facilities in communities there was a decline in health and wellbeing.

“It is really vital to community wellbeing,” she said, noting that in growing cities like Geelong it was important to provide the infrastructure in new developments.

She emphasised that when building facilities it is important to cater for the whole community.

This includes accessibility for all-abilities programs, prayer rooms for multicultural engagement, and breastfeeding rooms to support families.

“I think that will make it the most inclusive and user friendly space possible, which is really important when you’re planning for the future,” she said.

Leopold Lakers girls teams were joined by five Geelong United WNBL players – Hannah Hank, Haley Jones, Jaz Shelley, Alex Sharp and Gemma Potter – for a skills session in February.

Mr Newman said basketball provided huge benefits for the children at his club.

“I think there’s lots of transferable skills from any sport into real life,” he said.

“We promote a lot of communicating effectively with our players … continuing to have a pretty positive mindset and to grow as individuals.”

Originally published as FUTURE GEELONG: Basketball is one of Geelong’s most popular community sports, but it need better facilities to grow