McDonalds Ballarat Youth League Rush Name Head Coach
Basketball Ballarat is excited to announce the appointment of Kristy Trahair-Merrett as the McDonalds Ballarat Youth League Rush Head Coach for the 2019 Big V Youth Championship Season.
Trahair-Merrett has been involved with Basketball Ballarat’s Elite Teams’ program for the past three years working amongst junior players progressing through to the senior program in 2018 as the under 18 Thrifty Rush Head Coach and Assistant Coach for the Youth League Rush.
Trahair-Merrett is a former SEABL Bendigo Lady Braves player who developed her basketball through the Basketball Victoria Country Pathway. Since hanging up her playing shoes, Trahair-Merrett has moved to Ballarat and found a passion for coaching at the youth level.
“I remember travelling to and from Bendigo to Melbourne to play basketball at the highest level as a teenager. The friendships and life experiences I learnt from that were invaluable for Basketball and life and I look forward to passing these on to the Rush girls,” Trahair-Merrett said.
Basketball Ballarat Elite Teams Sub-Committee Chair, Kim Holloway said “We are excited about the appointment of Kristy. Last year she coached the under 18 Rush to a back to back Grand Final win in the Victoria Junior Basketball League and she has a great relationship with the current Youth League players and the ones that will be coming through our junior pathway”.
Trahair-Merrett will be assisted by under 18 Thrifty Rush Head Coach, Lidina Constable. Constable has been coaching with Ballarat since 2016 and has had success with the under 14 Thrifty Rush whilst also stepping up as Youth League Head Coach mid-way through last season. Holloway said “Lidina and Kristy worked together last year and are a proven and successful combination. Our under 18’s, Youth League and senior Rush teams will all train together during the week creating a competitive and supportive program with the opportunity for all athletes to progress through all levels.”
Trahair-Merrett and Constable will also be supported by senior Head Coach Eric Hayes and his assistant Megan Collins.
Trahair-Merrett on planning for the 2019 season said “We will be a young team on the floor, but we will not be push overs. While our aim is to win all our games I also want the girls to learn to love the game, because athletes are always at their best when they are enjoying themselves.” Trahair-Merrett added “I know that we will have a great season, and if we can keep a core group of athletes across two or three years we will be in a really strong position to be winning a Championship in the future
The McDonalds Youth League Rush are still recruiting players for 2019 and anyone interested in playing should contact Melissa Thomas at Basketball Ballarat.
For more information on the Basketball Ballarat Elite Teams please contact Elite Teams Administrator Melissa Thomas via 5330 7604 or Melissa.Thomas@ballaratbasketball.com