Hoops

State Champs - Was it worth all the hype?

Why do kids move? Access to better opportunities, access to better facilities, coaching or other intangibles (playing with friends, parental links, representative opportunities).

Why do kids stay? Because they are happy where they are!

I've just moved states so I've seen a couple of different systems (NSW and Qld) neither of which seem to have any real barriers to movement across Associations. Players move clubs frequently (in some cases) for a host of reasons - to be frank, most of them don't find the answers they were after, just a different set of problems which they can complain about/move away from.

I personally can't support a system which denies a child the opportunity to benefit from good coaching. As a parent my child has changed clubs once (I figured 800km was testing the boundaries of loyalty) but I have been guilty of trying to ensure quality coaches were always in charge of my kids' teams.

When we changed States we came in with a blank slate and the opportunity to pick and choose the club we were going to. My daughter chose to NOT go to the club which then was home to the country's best player in her age group and instead went somewhere she would get to compete against said player and she's been very happy to play in a team which battle shard but lacks the depth of some of the others. They finished 6th, said player's team finished 5th and teams with regular access to less 'stars' topped the ladder and won the tournaments. The modern development calendar means that often clubs are developing players (or poaching them - depends on your view point) only to see them available less and less as they get better and better.

I work in sport (not basketball) and am constantly reminded how powerful access to facilities and access to high quality coaching is to sporting success. There has been research done into the sporting 'hotspots' of elite talent development - why does Russia produce disproportionate numbers of elite female tennis players, South Korea female golfers, the Dominican Republic baseballers? Coaching, facilities and often innovative responses to lack of facilities are identified as the drivers.

If you want a balanced competition then you need to hope that you have a group of clubs who are all equally committed to the growth of the sport and meeting the needs of their PLAYERS (which are often distinctly different from the needs of their PARENTS). Keep the kids happy - treat them fairly, help them develop (they want to progress, they don't all want to be superstars but they do all like to think that sport should be fair!) and make their '3rd place' (basketball is where they spend most of their time - after home and school) an appealing and comfortable place to be and you will be knocking back kids.

Make it a win-at-costs place and let a 'super-parent' run the show and I suspect you'll be processing a bunch of transfer requests - as somebody earlier pointed out - both in and out!!

If your club doesn't want to work hard to rtetain players then it is your loss. All clubs shoud endeavour to develop and KEEP the players they have by giving them the best bball experience possible.

Anon, should your club ask itself why it is losing players? Shouldn't the club work harder to retain the players and improve the club rather than blaming another club for being successful.

Mavs is a combination of Hornets & Bullets in the District comp, in the Country comp Bullets & Hornets still exist but are seperate.

Much like Sturt FC draws on Mt B & Murray Bridge but HFL & RMFL play association football against each other.

Unfortunately, we have digressed a little, but we constantly seem to get onto zoning. Perhaps, a new thread is needed.

My personal thoughts:

* Vic Umpires: Bloody good idea and bloody good. Their umpiring showed how poor ours is. We could learn from them.
* Stadiums: Debacle. Having to travel across the city was a pain. How about BSA copy SAC and base a comp at a stadium, ie U12 boys at Port, U12 girls at Hillcrest etc. Then, rotate the stadiums year by year. Cuts out all the bulls%$t of home games etc. As far as I am concerned, all clubs must host some part of the "state champs"

Eg, let's pick on Mavs. 15 teams, 4 minor round games per team means 60 games. Therefore, they need to host 30 games at their home stadium.

* Finals: All finals should be played at a neutral stadium like the Dome.

Before I voice my concern with zoning, I have to ask, due to my lack of knowledge, do all the Junior coaches need some sort of accreditation to coach the kids? Or can it just be anyone who wants to commit the time?

The above questions lead to my concern. For, if a really talented young person with masses of untapped potential, was "zoned" to a club with maybe not as good coaching as other clubs had, would that be a huge mistake, not letting him get the coaching he needs to untap that potential?

This is my only concern with the zoning theory, because if it was my son/daughter, i would want him/her to be coached by the best option available, all the time, not just anyone. Maybe BSA/BA could organize a Coaching & Development Officer for each club to oversee this possible problem?

As i said earlier, I don't know what qualifications you need to be a Junior coach, so don't jump down my throat if it seems I'm backing Sturt or Forrestville as I have no affiliation with either....I'm just asking out of curiosity.

My apologies- tiring weekend

I am pretty sure no one actually thought Wam Soosnam is in any way associated to Sam. Just like people dont actually think you are physically hanging while surfing the net and using the alias Hanging round

Please change your name from someone who commands respect to your own name or 'post name' Tool!
This carnival does not involve Sam, so don't denigrate her while she is overseas on a break

HEy ppl, just some help.. we are playin north soon, wanting to know if there are any tips on beating the number 2 side?