Basketball is booming in Australia – wherever there are enough quality facilities to support growth.
NSW is currently leading the charge with over 160 courts in development. Queensland and Victoria are seeing similar surges in participation, thanks to significant investment in sporting infrastructure. Meanwhile, Tasmania lags behind with the lowest per capita basketball participation rate in the country. Yet, despite this, we’ve still seen an impressive 10% growth annually.
So, what is driving participation in sport?
It is not flashy marketing campaigns, elite sports experiences, or big-name endorsements. The answer is much simpler, though often overlooked – ACCESS.
What drives sport participation? It’s not marketing – it’s ACCESS.
In today’s world, kids are more connected to sport than ever before. Social media, television, and streaming platforms provide access to highlights, behind-the-scenes content and role models from leagues around the world. Walk into any Tasmanian schoolyard and you’ll see LeBron James singlets (soon Taran Armstrong), and kids imitating their heroes on the playground.
And yet, Tasmania’s most-played sport isn’t basketball. It’s soccer.
Why? Because it’s accessible.
Almost every primary school in Tasmania has a patch of grass big enough to serve as a junior soccer pitch. Portable goals are a ordable and easy to set up. With minimal infrastructure, kids can start playing immediately—before school, at lunchtime and after school.
This ease of access makes a significant difference. Soccer doesn’t require kids to travel long distances, pay expensive fees or rely on scheduled court time. It’s simply there, waiting to be played.
Basketball, on the other hand, isn’t so lucky. Without dedicated courts, kids have limited opportunities to play unless they are part of a structured program. The demand for court space is at an all-time high and families struggle to find training and game times that fit within their schedules.
As players progress to higher levels, access to full-size pitches and competitive opportunities becomes more challenging. But the participation numbers don’t lie—when access is easy, participation thrives.
Recognising this challenge, Basketball Tasmania recently released a state facility strategy—a long-term plan for improving infrastructure and making basketball more accessible to Tasmanians.
Our ambition is simple – provide access to fit-for-purpose facilities so that kids can train, play, and develop their skills without barriers.
We know Tasmania has talent. We’ve already seen Reyne Smith make waves in the U.S. college system, Carla Boyd and Hollie Grima represent Australia on the world stage and rising stars like Jacob Furphy, Nash Walker and Lucy Aherne make national underage teams. But how many more potential stars are out there—kids who never get the chance to develop because they don’t have a court to play on?
Beyond the elite level, increasing basketball access means more kids staying active, building confidence, and forming lifelong connections through sport. We’re not just talking about future professional players—we’re talking about future community leaders, healthier individuals and stronger social ties.
Despite basketball’s growing popularity, the City of Hobart does not have a single community basketball court.
Let that sink in.
In a capital city with thousands of kids eager to play, there is nowhere for them to shoot hoops outside of school or paid facilities.
This lack of infrastructure is a major barrier. It prevents casual participation, forces families into competitive schedules they may not be able to commit to and discourages potential new players from ever picking up a basketball in the first place.
With a Federal election approaching, we are calling on our representatives to prioritise investment in community sports infrastructure. The benefits extend far beyond basketball—investing in accessible, high-quality facilities improves public health, social inclusion and community wellbeing.
And the return on investment is undeniable: for every $1 invested in community sports infrastructure, the community receives $7.10 in value (SportWest Research).
The research is clear: sports participation creates healthier, happier and more connected communities.
If we truly want to see basketball—and sport in general—thrive in Tasmania, we need to start with the basics: access to facilities.
Because when kids have the space and opportunity to play, the impact extends well beyond the game itself. It shapes their future, strengthens our communities and sets the foundation for a healthier, more active Tasmania.
So, whether you love basketball, support another sport, or simply care about building better communities, there’s one thing we can all agree on- it’s time to invest in access.
For more news on Basketball in Tasmania, visit their website here.
