RUN IT BACK ACADEMY
TERM TWO!
Welcome to Run It Back Academy, where we focus on building strong fundamentals, advanced skills, and overall athletic development for youth athletes.
Our Term 2 program begins April 20 and offers a structured pathway for players of all levels to grow their game. Each session combines expert coaching, high-energy training, and a supportive environment to help your child reach their full potential.
U10, U12, U14, U16
U18, U20: PRO HOOPS DEVELOPMENT
4-7 Y/O FUTURE BALLERS
QUESTIONS?
Registration is via the Google Form. Payment is made via the secure stripe payment links in the form. Payment can be made on the week the program commences. Payment can either be weekly direct debit, or a bank transfer for an upfront term payment.
HOW DO I REGISTER?
Please select the appropriate age group for your child. There will be two basketball coaches at every training session for skill differentiation, and the strength and conditioning will be age appropriate.
Under 8's (2019, 2020, 2021)
Under 10's and 12's (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015)
Under 14's and 16's (2014, 2013, 2012, 2011)
Under 18's and 20's (2010, 2009, 2008, 2007)
You can then select which days you wish to train on, and whether you wish to attend basketball, strength and conditioning, or both.
Discounts apply for additional sessions.
WHAT SHOULD I SELECT?
Strength & Conditioning (S&C) classes are structured training sessions designed to help youth basketball players move better, get stronger, and stay injury-free. Sessions focus on age-appropriate strength, speed, agility, balance, and coordination, while teaching proper technique and good movement habits. The goal is to support on-court performance, build athletic confidence, and safely prepare players’ bodies for the demands of basketball as they grow.
WHAT IS ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT?
At RIB Academy, our skill sessions are led by coaches who have played and coached at the highest levels of the game. Our coaches bring real-world experience from NCAA, national teams, NBL1, JUCO, Youth League, and elite junior pathways. This means players aren’t just going through basic cone drills, they’re learning why and how skills translate to real game situations. We focus on strong fundamentals, advanced skill work, decision-making, and confidence, with coaching that adapts to each athlete’s age and stage of development. Our proven track record includes guiding players from grassroots basketball through to elite junior, collegiate, and professional pathways.
Our Athletic Development Program is built specifically for basketball athletes and delivered by qualified Exercise & Sport Science professionals and S&C coaches, with experience in elite high-performance environments. Sessions focus on safe, age-appropriate strength training, speed, agility, movement quality, and injury prevention. With current experience working alongside junior and elite athletes, and formal training in Physiotherapy and Osteopathy, our approach supports long-term athletic development, not just short-term gains. The result is stronger, more resilient players who move better, reduce injury risk, and perform with confidence both on and off the court.
WHY RIB ACADEMY?
MEET THE COACHES
DENG KUANY
DK is the Founder of Pro Hoops Development and brings a wealth of experience as both a player and coach. His playing career includes time in the NCAA, representing the South Sudanese National Team, and competing in NBL1. Along the way, he became a Youth League Champion (2014), U18 National Classic Champion (2013), and a four-time SSNBA Champion.
With over a decade of coaching and player development experience, DK has established himself as a leading figure in skill development across all levels of the game. He has successfully run skills classes and camps that have guided athletes from grassroots basketball through to NCAA Division I and NBL prospects.
DK’s combination of high-level playing experience and proven coaching success allows him to identify and nurture talent, helping athletes unlock their potential and take their game to the next level.
GEORGE TOAISHARA
George has been immersed in basketball his entire life, progressing through the VJBL ranks before taking his game to the United States to compete at the JUCO level in Colorado. Upon returning to Australia, he continued his playing career with stints in Youth League, UBL, and Big V, experiences that shaped his understanding of the game from multiple perspectives.
Transitioning into coaching, George has become a respected figure across the Victorian basketball community. He is the Founder of TrenchWork Hoops, and currently serves as Head Coach at Westbourne Grammar, Skills Trainer with TrenchWork Hoops, Head Coach for Helping Hoops Footscray, and U20s Head Coach for the Kyneton Tigers.
George brings a wealth of coaching experience across all levels, from grassroots to elite development, and is recognised for his attention to detail, passion for teaching, and commitment to player growth both on and off the court.
ARIE VAN DER MERWE
After completing a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Health Science (Osteopathy), Arie spent his first four years working in a variety of settings, including private practice and semi-professional AFL. Arie continues to work as an Osteopath, but has since also become a Strength & Conditioning coach, pairing his passion for injury rehabilitation with performance.
Arie was a talented athlete, competing at a high level in athletics but he was limited by injury through his teenage years. His inspiration for entering the health and fitness industry was to help youth avoid the frustration and set backs injury cause. He believes youth athletic development is an excellent way to build an athletic foundation and base to learn to move well, from both an injury reduction and performance improvement perspective.
He also owns and runs the Academy and Facility alongside his lovely Wife Mikayla, who is involved in the administrative side of the Academy.
LUKE AXIAK
Luke brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Run It Back Academy, with a strong background in Exercise and Sport Science and hands-on work across multiple high-performance environments.
He has gained valuable experience at elite clubs including North Melbourne Football Club (NMFC), Western United FC, and CWFC VFL. He currently as a Strength & Conditioning Coach with a high-performance swimming club, where he supports Olympians and Paralympians in their pursuit of excellence.
Alongside his coaching, Luke is completing his Master of Physiotherapy at Swinburne University, with a long-term goal of supporting an entire athletes journey, be it through recovery, rehabilitation or peak performance.
As an athlete himself, having played Big V basketball, he understands the demands of high-level sport and is passionate about helping athletes not only perform better in their chosen field but also develop strength, resilience, and confidence that transfers to life outside of sport.
