The second edition of our coaching masterclass series. Colin Donovan on court, Kate Thomas off it — practical skills and strategies you can use with your team the very next week. Free for every coach.
About the Day
Edition 02 of WBA's Coaching Masterclass Series brings together two expert presenters for a full afternoon of professional development. The day is designed for coaches at every level — whether you're just starting out or leading a rep program.
Coaches will leave with practical skills and strategies they can apply immediately, both on and off the court.
The Masterclass Series
The Coaching Masterclass is a recurring WBA program — expert presenters, free for every coach, building season on season.
The Sessions
Colin returns to WBA for an all-new on-court skills session. Building on the foundations he laid at Edition 01 in July, this session goes deeper into skill development methodology and practical coaching tools that coaches can implement straight away with their squads.
meet colin →Practical brain-based coaching strategies to support learning, wellbeing and performance — grounded in the research of Dr Bruce Perry and the Neurosequential Network.
meet kate →
Session 1 Presenter
Basketball Skills & Player Development · On Court
Colin Donovan is one of Australia's most decorated basketball coaches, with a career spanning more than three decades at the highest levels of the game.
Coaching philosophyColin's approach centres on building complete players — athletes who understand the game deeply, move purposefully and can execute under pressure. His sessions combine technical precision with an emphasis on decision-making and game intelligence, grounded in decades of coaching experience at every level from junior representative through to the NBL.
Session 2 · What You'll Explore
Every coach wants what's best for their athletes — but in sporting systems that often prioritise performance and results, many coaches can feel stuck using approaches that don't reflect what we now know about how young people's brains develop, learn and respond to stress.
This session gives coaches practical tools to create environments where young people don't just perform better — they feel safe, connected, supported and able to thrive both on and off the court. When athletes feel regulated, connected and understood, they're more likely to learn, perform, stay involved in sport and build resilience over time.
A brain-aware approach that helps athletes regulate and access their "thinking brain" when it matters most. Understand why connection must come before instruction — and how to build this sequence into every session.
Why patterned, repetitive and rhythmic activities are powerful tools for regulation, connection and team culture — not just fitness. Learn to use movement intentionally to prepare athletes to learn.
How strong, supportive relationships help young people feel safe enough to learn, grow and perform. Trust isn't just nice to have — it's a prerequisite for high performance.
How to create manageable, resilience-building stress and stretch athletes without tipping them into overwhelm. Learn to read when athletes are ready to be pushed — and when they first need support.
Session 2 Presenter
Developing Young Athletes · Off Court
Kate Thomas is the Australasian Lead Consultant and Trainer for The Centre for Healing and Justice through Sport and Manager of Welcoming Clubs at Welcoming Australia.
With a background in psychology and over 20 years of experience across sport, education and community services, Kate brings together a deep understanding of young people's development with real, practical experience on the court. She helps coaches understand how young athletes learn, respond to stress and build confidence — and offers practical strategies to create environments where players feel safe, connected and can truly thrive.
Kate's work is grounded in the latest neuroscience and trauma-informed practice, delivered in a way that is accessible, relevant and immediately usable for coaches at every level.
Who Should Attend
Open to all coaches across the association — from junior club coaches through to representative staff. No prior experience or accreditation required; just a willingness to learn and improve.
All ages & levels
CRP & VJBL coaches
Interested in development
Coach Development Points
Session 2, Kate Thomas’ Developing Young Athletes, is eligible to contribute Coach Development Points toward Basketball Victoria coaching accreditation. CDP is how coaches progress from their current accreditation level toward Silver and Gold, and attending approved sessions like this one is one of the most practical ways to earn them.
Want your points recorded? Tick the CDP box when you register and add your Basketball Australia coach ID if you have it.
learn about the coaching pathways
Accreditation via Basketball Victoria
Clubs and Associations can request a coaching clinic or workshop from Basketball Victoria for their coaches to earn points toward progressing to Silver and Gold level accreditations. Clubs can also facilitate their own sessions that accrue CDP, with prior approval from Basketball Victoria.