Coach Guide
Melbourne Wolves Basketball Club
Thank you for volunteering to coach.
Most Melbourne Wolves Coaches are parent volunteers. You do not need previous coaching experience. We provide guidance and small-group workshops to help you get started.
For team matters, including games, training and player availability, contact your Team Manager.
Melbourne Wolves will contact Coaches about league information, accreditation and club coaching support.
New Coach Checklist
Complete these steps before the season starts.
Required
Join the Coaches' WhatsApp group
Use this group for Melbourne Wolves coaching updates and questions that may help other coaches.
Add your email to the Coach list
Melbourne Wolves will share a spreadsheet in the Coaches' WhatsApp group. Add your preferred email address. We will use it to send your personal Operandio link.
Your Operandio link may arrive shortly after the season starts.
Register as a Coach
Register through PlayHQ using your team's competition link. SBA and MBA use different links. These are the same links used by players.
Check your Working with Children Check
All Melbourne Wolves Coaches require a current Working with Children Check. It does not need to list Melbourne Wolves.
Working with Children CheckSBA Coach requirements
SBA Coaches must complete all four items below and upload them to Operandio:
- Community Coaching Course
- Play by the Rules child-protection module
- Working with Children Check
- Basketball Victoria Member Declaration
MBA Coach requirements
View MBA AccreditationsBefore the season
Confirm your training time
Your Team Manager will give you the team's allocated training time.
Training courts are tightly scheduled. Please confirm that you can attend before making coaching arrangements with the team.
Contact your Team Manager about training changes or absences.
Read the need-to-know guide
Please read the guide for your competition and keep it handy during the season. It answers common questions about fill-in players, forfeits, finals eligibility and game rules.
View By-LawsRead and agree to the Codes of Conduct
Coaches must promote respect for players, officials, opponents and other coaches.
Codes of ConductTraining
Teams generally have one 60-minute training session each week.
A simple session could include:
Choose activities that keep players moving. Avoid drills where players spend a long time waiting.
Adjust activities to suit the players' age, experience and ability.
Please leave the court and surrounding area tidy.
Coaching support
Melbourne Wolves runs small-group coaching workshops during the season. Workshops can help with session planning, drills and common coaching challenges.
Game day
Before the game
Prepare with your Team Manager:
Check player availability with the Team Manager.
Confirm whether any fill-in players have been arranged.
Confirm which uniform the team should wear.
Arrive early.
Make sure the scorer has the correct players and jersey numbers.
Remind players to remove watches and secure or tape jewellery.
During the game
Give players clear and positive instructions.
Provide equitable court time where practical.
Treat players, referees, opponents and other Coaches respectfully.
Speak to referees calmly during a break if clarification is needed.
Do not argue with referees.
After the game
Thank the referees and opposing Coach.
Give the Royal Stacks Coach's Award voucher to a player.
Move longer team discussions away from the court so the next game can start.
Player absences
Parents should notify the Team Manager when their child will miss training or a game.
The Team Manager will update the Coach and arrange any fill-in players.
Melbourne Wolves does not need to be notified of routine player absences.
Contact and support
Contact your Team Manager
For:
- Training arrangements
- Game information
- Player absences
- Fill-in players
- Team communication
Contact Melbourne Wolves
For:
- Accreditation
- Operandio
- League information
- Coaching workshops
- Club coaching support