Basketball bounces back to keep Canberra mums on the court

Posted on 16 May, 2025

A refreshed and revitalised program is back on the court to help mums and their bubs get active and social this winter – and it’s just as cute as it sounds.

Hosted by Basketball ACT and returning to the Belconnen Basketball Stadium, Mum’s & Bub’s Basketball has relaunched to bring regular on-court sessions for mums looking to get active, refresh their basketball skills and connect with other like-minded women.

Running on Monday mornings from 10 am, in the 45-minute session, mums will get a chance to run through drills and play basketball while their little ones are kept entertained with toys, games and more (with some basketball chucked in as well).

According to program coordinator Elijah Duke, Basketball ACT decided to bring back the program after looking at the drop-off rate of mums with caring responsibilities in the sport.

“We thought it was a great all-round program,” he says.

“We keep it as simple as possible – it’s more about the physical fitness aspect. But it’s open for all abilities and skill levels.”

For Canberra mum Christie Lees, it offers a way for her to reconnect with a sport she loves, while her two children – her nearly two-year-old son and seven-month-old daughter – are cared for.

“I played basketball as a teenager and young adult, and I moved to Canberra just before my son was born. I just thought that it looked like a really fun thing to do,” she says.

“I’m a stay-at-home mum and the gym is good, but it’s pretty nice to play sport and be able to do that with my kids nearby.”

Christie with her son.

While the mums are taken through drills and games by Basketball ACT coaches, on the court right next door, the children play under the supervision of staff members focussing on helping them develop their fine motor skills.

Ranging from six months to four years (with some flexibility in the ages), the beauty of the program is that anytime they’re needed, the mums can step away to care for their little one.

“You just go between the two courts to play with your kids or help them or take them to the toilet, whatever they need. It’s really low stress,” explains Christie.

“Some places might have a crèche, but this is different because you can see your kids the whole time.”

With more mums joining in, this is the second term of running the program. Currently hosting 12 mums, Elijah is hoping to get more women involved.

Priced at $10 per session – which includes a coffee and cake at the end – both Elijah and Christie say that there aren’t many programs like it with a focus on keeping exercise fun and social.

Christie also says that any mums thinking about signing up should give it a go – even if they have multiple children.

“If you have more than one, they’re all welcome,” she says.

“It just makes your job a little bit trickier!”