Hoops

Under 14 Girls: Nationals

aaah but is the relationship causal or do these clubs simply have better coaches across the board?

Kitty Kat - I beg to differ. A few of these kids will be playing in National U/17 (our U/18's) teams in four or five years time, not three. The evidence suggests that not too many of them will be (look at the first squad picked from National U/16's for next year's Gems squad (four years ago) and compare it to the current squad) and then, only those kids who can make a successful transition from the 'bully' mentality prevalent at U/14's to a more authentic form of basketball where you need to be able to keep your player in front of you defensively and find an open player offensively.

I don't think anybody is suggesting that you sit around singing folk songs (like you, I can't spell the name of that song so I wont even try) but I am advocating the teaching of basketball fundamentals - teach these kids TO play, rather than teaching them A play. Then when these kids, the vast majority of whom wont go on to higher representative honours, grow up they will be able to turn up to any stadium in the country and get involved in a sport that we all love and enjoy - as opposed to experiencing a basketball career highlight at age 13 and it all being downhill from there.

Is it just me or is there something a little odd about 13 replies to a post about 12 and 13 year old kids (now 14!)?

As a coach, I can't quite get my head around the resources and energy committed to these National Club Championships (Illawarra rumoured to have drawn $36K out of Illawarra basketball community to send two teams away this year (and they do it every year) yet they didn't field an Open Women's team in the WABL this year.

Imagine the coaching or refereeing resources $36K could purchase in your local association spread over a year and the good that could do.

I'm sure the experience is a lifetime highlight for these kids and I'd be loathe to deprive them of that (I still remember my first Nationals in another sport (at age 10 for God's sake) and that was many many moons ago - actually it was many leap years ago.)

From a coaching perspective, so little of what it takes to win at U/14's is transferable to older age groups, I'd actually rather kids weren't coached to win at 14's (where traps, premature and unsustainable size and guard-dominated play rule).

Congrats to the kids and coaches, but do we still need these championships - wouldn't State Championships suffice and let the kids aspire to further achievements down the track? By the way, the other sport no longer has Nationals for 10 year olds, a great move I think!