A scheme that helps children to keep off the streets and away from the couch is proving a success in Adelaide suburb Salisbury.
Source: 7.30 South Australia | Duration: 5min 30sec
IAN HENSCHKE, PRESENTER: Now to a scheme helping older children. Dribbling on a basketball court at midnight may not sound like much fun but it's proving a hit in Salisbury.
The Midnight Basketball program aims to keep kids off the street, off the couch and away from temptation.
Simon Royal has more.
SIMON ROYAL, REPORTER: The SA Lakers and the Mighty Ninjas are locked in battle. The Ninjas star performer TJ performs a trademark steal.
He and his team-mates have trained hard.
The Ninjas are number two but the Lakers are number one.
TJ, MIDNIGHT BASKETBALLER: We should win it I think we should.
SIMON ROYAL: What would winning mean?
TJ: A lot. I would be happy to win. So would everyone else.
SIMON ROYAL: It's grand final night at the Salisbury recreation centre and while there will be just one winner, ultimate success in this tournament will be measured as much by hopes as it is in hoops.
DARREN BIGG, MIDNIGHT BASKETBALL VOLUNTEER: Because it's a good chance to give back to these kids.
I grew up in the north myself and hopefully I can get them out of that way before they make a mistake.
SIMON ROYAL: This is Midnight Basketball, an eight-week program that began in late July.
Karen Reimann, manager of Midnight Basketball Australia, came from Sydney for the first game.
KAREN REIMANN, MIDNIGHT BASKETBALL MANAGER: Midnight Basketball Australia is a program that got up and running in 2007 in Redfern.
It got started through a group of people who had been through the Sydney leadership program through the Benevolent Society who wanted to give back.
SIMON ROYAL: Salisbury is the first South Australian community to run the program and a lot of people are giving back to make sure it happens, from the local police to the Adelaide 36ers.
ADAM BALLINGER, ADELAIDE 36ERS: It's weird, the kids all over the world play basketball and it's become a world sport a lot like soccer, and I think like this program, it's a lot easier to do, you know, it's indoors, all you need is a ball and the basket and that's all you need and kids can come in and run around and have fun.
SIMON ROYAL: The philosophy is pretty simple too.
If kids are involved in basketball then they haven't got time to be involved in trouble.
DARREN BIGG: It's at night where most crimes by youths are committed.
So at least they are here and not out on the street doing other things.
SIMON ROYAL: And it keeps them off the couch as well.
If you weren't doing this on a Saturday night, what would you be doing?
MIDNIGHT BASKETBALLER: Probably sitting at home watching the TV.
SIMON ROYAL: There are some rules and the most important one is no workshop, no jump shot, as a condition of playing kids must take a variety of workshops from career choices to health choices and on that note they're also given a healthy meal, fruit and water, as part of the night.
And on week five dinner is snags and mash. In this week's workshop, the Midnight Basketballers hear from veterans and current members of the Defence Forces.
SPEAKER: And it taught me things that I still use today.
SIMON ROYAL: Out on the courts its business as usual, the nation though is going through an election.
It's Saturday night, the 21st of August, and most of Australia right now is in front of a screen of some description wanting to find out is it going to be Gillard or will it be Abbott? This is the midway point of the Midnight Basketball program and there's been a few changes here as well.
DARREN BIGG: Now they're really starting to come out of their shells and they're all working as a team, getting to know each other which is good and you can see some of the attitudes have changed.
SIMON ROYAL: What Darren Bigg hasn't told his team though is they are bumping along at the bottom of the ladder.
DARREN BIGG: It's all technicalities in the end. They kind of knew.
SIMON ROYAL: August the 21st was also the night that news came through another two servicemen had been killed in Afghanistan so the workshop gave the youngsters an unplanned insight into the costs of democracy.
DAVE KEARNS, MALAYSIA VETERAN: We don't believe in war, we don't advocate war; we believe in peace-keeping and believe that our country is safe because of our peace-keepers and that's about as much as we said.
SIMON ROYAL: It does give the kids pause for some reflection but as the young do, they take it all in their stride.
After all, the Grand Final is just three weeks away.
The big night arrives soon enough. Midnight Basketball is coming to an end, though not in the place the mighty Ninjas and TJ had hoped.
He was the stand-out performer but still the young basketballer blames himself for the loss.
TJ: I got angry and when I get angry I can't play and I pull everyone else down. That's not good.
SIMON ROYAL: 12-year-old Jessica though is over the hoop. She scored a medal for perfect attendance and for workshops.
JESSICA: It means a really lot to me because I'm going to show my teacher because she's been thinking, you've done good this is the last day and I'm going to show her this so I'm going to take it to school on Monday.
SIMON ROYAL: As for Darren Bigg, he never did tell his team how they were doing. Last by the way. But after eight weeks, he also has some hopes of his own.
DARREN BIGG: I wanted to see it keep going. It's great. Everybody loves it and it's just great for the community.