Welcome

Fortitude Training Academy was founded in April 2015 by Cassie Dover. 

The name "Fortitude" means to face adversity with courage and strength. The Academy focuses heavily on these values as well as the development of athletes overall basketball ability. 

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Coach Cassie was born on the Gold Coast and played majority of her Juniors for Gold Coast Basketball Association and represent Junior QLD and Schools QLD teams on a number of occasions winning multiple State Junior Titles and a National Junior title. She played QBL for Townsville winning 2x QBL Titles and 2x National Titles. All her efforts were rewarded when she began her journey to the Women's National Basketball league playing for both Townsville Fire and Dandenong Rangers. After suffering a serious knee injury now player-turned-coach, Cassie has a new-found love for the game and is extremely passionate about the development of basketball and mental strength of the junior players. Learning from her past, Cassie uses her downfalls as a player to assist players in ensuring they understand what it takes from every aspect to be a successful player and person.

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Coach Cassie's goals for athletes who come to Fortitude are to assist with building self-confidence, persevering through tough times, understanding the importance of working hard and becoming smarter basketball players all while working and developing their skill set on the court. She works with players of all ages and skill levels. Whatever their goals are whether elite or local, she ensures they have the best guidance and coaching. 

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"As a player in juniors I had the talent and I made teams based on that. As I progressed into Senior programs like the WNBL I became complacent and was happy that I had made it but didn't push myself to be better. At the same time I had off court battles to deal with and I didn't have the tools to know how  to handle that and play basketball. I wish I had worked harder and knew what it took to continue to grow. I also had alot of things happening in my life that took a mental toll on me and I lacked resilience and guidance to get through those times. I live with alot of regrets in how I was as a team mate, as a player and that I was my own worst enemy because I didn't have the right attitude, or approach to my game and constant development. This is the kind of mentality I want young players to understand. I want them to feel safe, supported and confident no matter what their basketball goals are and for them to understand that talent does not dictate success - work ethic, good mindsets and being a good person will get you much further"

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You will see Cassie Head Coaching the Women's NBL1 RedCity Roar team as well as Junior Club and Rep teams. She took her 2019 Gold Coast QBL (now NBL1) team to the Grand Final Series in her inaugural year and was awarded the Women's Coach of the Year.

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Fortitude Training Academy welcome players of all ages and abilities. Whether your goal is to stay fit and healthy, or to pursue a basketball career, Fortitude is the ultimate basketball development academy both on and off the court.