In her exclusive blog, Birmingham Panthers head coach Jo Trip provides insights as the season progresses. In this post she discusses how she has built a squad for the upcoming season.

As a new team, ambition drives everything we do, and building the right squad has been central to that vision. This ambition made for an exciting signing period as I carefully constructed a team designed to thrive.

I must mention a significant part of this squad are a core group of players I’ve worked with previously, having coached them at Severn Stars. These experienced players, many in their late 20s, bring invaluable leadership and expertise. They will play a pivotal role in shaping our team culture and setting high standards—something I’ve spoken about previously (link).

What makes our set-up distinctive is the integration of our NSL and NXT GEN squads. Although there are only 10 players in the NSL squad, from the outset, I’ve made it clear that we treat both squads as one cohesive unit. This ensures every player is ready to step up and take their place on the court when called upon, creating depth and (hopefully) a seamless transition between squads.

This approach also fosters an exciting blend of youth and experience. While we have seasoned players leading the way, the majority of the squad—including those from NXT GEN —fall within the 20–25 age range, offering energy, dynamism, and a forward-looking foundation for the future.

In building this team, I prioritised versatility. Instead of focusing on like-for-like replacements, I sought players who bring positional flexibility and varied styles. This allows us to create diverse structure and utilise different strategies and game plans, giving our opponents something different to think about. The combinations within this squad are extensive, and I can really see these coming together strongly. 

How do I do it? I believe it’s a skill I excel in. Much of it comes down to extensive video analysis—watching footage to identify specific traits, physical characteristics, and styles that align with our vision. Beyond skill, I assess how players fit into the broader team dynamic, their potential for growth, and the unique challenges they can pose to opponents as well as how I can work with these players to build on their game and develop them. 

At this level, skill levels are so similar, so I look for what makes a player stand out—be it their mentality, movement, or their ability to disrupt or challenge the opposition. Balance is critical, not only in gameplay but also in personalities. Fan favourites like Sigi Burger and Jas Brown bring charisma, but there are also the players who don’t love being in the spotlight. There is such huge value in the quieter players who lead in their own way and elevate everyone around them

Right now, we are somewhat of an unknown quantity, and that’s exciting. I don’t know how we will end up looking this season but that excites me and it should really excite the fans as well. 

What I do know is that the squad we have built is ambitious and highly competitive and I can say with certainty that they are ready to make an impact!