Perth Lynx star Maddie Allen has launched a free online basketball training program to help people get through social distancing and isolation.

The 26-year-old joined forces with her new SBL club, the Perth Redbacks, to launch her first video on Facebook and YouTube yesterday.

Allen said it was difficult for parents to keep their children active and interested when staying home all day and that made her want to help.

“Parents can’t be expected to do everything at the moment,” Allen said.

“I could run the Aussie Hoops program in my sleep but transferring that into video and not making it too long when there are no other kids to do it with was the question.

“It’s had a good reaction. My video editing is a little bit rough because I don’t have any experience doing that. Hopefully the longer I do it and the more I learn, they will become a bit more polished.

“The point of it is that kids will get some exercise and the parents will get a break.”

Allen said spending her time planning, filming and editing the videos had been beneficial for her own mental health. Having battled anxiety for most of her life, she said focusing on something other than coronavirus had made her feel refreshed.

“My partner always says that if you’re stressed or upset – and we are all so anxious right now – that you are focusing on yourself too much,” Allen explained.

“This is giving me a chance to focus on something else. I’m already learning new skills with the video stuff too.

“I need to keep active, need to be physical and need to keep using my brain.

“I think we’re all finding that learning how to help other people when we can’t see other people is new for everyone.”

Allen has also expanded her educational tutorials by opening the Together Learning Academy on Facebook, and offered her services for whatever price families can afford.

The tutorials are done through Zoom and Google Hangout. Allen previously tutored a small group of students in between her basketball commitments, but with a Bachelor of Anthropology and a Masters in Environmental Management, she is keen to maximise her love of education.

“Everyone deserves to learn,” Allen said.

“It shouldn’t just be the parents who can afford to pay a lot of money for a tutor who can help their kids throughout this.

“I have a passion for learning and want to help kids to find what they like learning. Kids can no discover how they like to learn.”