WELCOME TO THE MCKINNON COUGARS 

Welcome to the McKinnon Cougars Representative Program for the 2026/27 VJBL season. 

Firstly, thank you for committing your time, energy and knowledge to developing the next generation of McKinnon Cougars athletes. Our coaches play an essential role in creating an environment where young athletes can learn, compete and develop a lifelong love for basketball. 

Our goal is simple: to develop athletes and coaches to reach their full potential. 

We aim to achieve this through a consistent approach to athlete development, strong coaching standards and a shared basketball identity across our representative program. 

  • Our teams play with pace, space and purpose, creating advantages through movement, decision-making and teamwork. 

    Defensively, we pride ourselves on relentless ball pressure, strong individual defence, communication and a commitment to being the toughest team to play against. 

    Our basketball principles remain consistent across the program, progressing from foundational skills in the younger age groups to more advanced concepts as athletes develop. 

    Coaches are encouraged to bring their own creativity, knowledge and personality to their teams while maintaining our shared standards and principles. 

  • This Coaches Handbook outlines the expectations, coaching standards and basketball principles that guide our program throughout the season. 

    It is designed to be a living resource that continues to evolve through coach collaboration, feedback and ongoing development. 

    Thank you again for your commitment to the McKinnon Cougars. Together, we can continue building a program that develops great athletes, great coaches and great people. 

    James McKinnon 

    Performance and Pathways Manager, McKinnon Cougars 

BECOMING A “GREAT” PROGRAM 

At the McKinnon Cougars, our goal is not simply to participate. We strive to be a GREAT program in everything we do. 

Our five core values guide how we behave, train, compete and represent the Cougars. They establish the standards expected of every athlete, coach and member of our program. 

  • We value continuous learning and development.

    • Seek feedback and apply it. 

    • Set goals and pursue improvement every session. 

    • Be coachable, curious and committed to progress. 

  • We respect the game and everyone involved. 

    • Show respect to teammates, coaches, referees and opponents. 

    • Look after our facilities, equipment and the Cougars name. 

    • Compete with class, regardless of the result. 

  • We strive to be our best, on and off the court. 

    • Be prepared, consistent and professional. 

    • Take pride in the details and develop positive habits. 

    • Represent the Cougars with pride at all times. 

  • We bring positivity, energy and resilience. 

    • Encourage teammates and contribute to a positive environment. 

    • Respond positively to mistakes and challenges. 

    • Choose effort, regardless of the circumstances. 

  • We embrace physical and mental challenges. 

    • Compete with intensity and determination. 

    • Demonstrate resilience through adversity. 

    • Maintain our standards under pressure. 

OUR COUGAR DNA 

Our GREAT values establish who we are as people. Our Cougar DNA defines the type of basketball athletes we aim to develop. 

  • Develop technically skilled athletes who can dribble, pass, finish, shoot, defend and make effective decisions. 

  • Develop athletes who move efficiently, demonstrate strength and speed, and consistently produce repeated efforts. 

  • Develop disciplined, resilient and competitive athletes who embrace challenges and perform under pressure. 

GREAT programs aren’t born — they’re built. 

Let’s build ours together.