Hoops

Junior National & Elite Basketball Programs

Anonymous^ you obviously have some experience in other sports at the elite level, this is important in the context of the OP I think as you have made a point about something that has been mentioned already, overloading athletes.

I have to agree with you on your main point of view and having spoken to some people very high up in the basketball sporting landscape it is interesting that I get mixed messages from them in relation to the recovery and overloading question.

This may be something that needs further attention, focus and understanding, however I am not sure it will get the necessary attention to make a huge difference due to the nature of selection and how basketaball differs in its structure to some of the other sports you have mentioned, perhaps.

I would be interested in your opinion in how much better, if better at all, other sports get this structure in place and how it may benefit elite athletes in their particular sport?

In basketball, I also see a real problem in some areas in the concepts of governance, control and structure.

Specifically I guess what I would like to see improved is that there is a clearer understanding between all of the coaches involved in an elite basketballer's pathway so their agendas are all on the same page and the health, wellbeing and future of the athlete is considered first and foremost, not treated like a piece of meat or just a number (for want of a better example)!

It is good practise to learn from other organisations I feel...

I don't think the size of the association has a bearing on a players ability to progress thru the ID process. The players skill set has the biggest influence. U12's in VC are invited to ID camps. If they impress they are invited to another camp later in the year. If your child plays in VJBL 1 or lower the association DOC can instigate an invite for skilled players. In U14 VC players are invited to ID camp. If they impress they are invited to another camp some time later in the year. And then are invited to another more one on one camp if they impress again. Players in VJBL 1 or lower can be invited if there DOC believe they are good enough. U16 players can be invited to attend tryouts if there coaches/DOC nominate them to attend camps as requested by BV.Skilled players progress by their own individual means. Ongoing assessment of players thru their junior years continues. Playing for any particular association shouldn't influence a players nomination. So encourage all players even if they miss out on one selection process as all players grow develop at different times.Cheers.

That has changed anon^, they do reviews now and kids will either be asked to stay or not endorsed next time around. Those not endorsed have the option to work hard on their own and get noticed again if they are fortunate enough and perhaps be asked back in.

Whether the justification for every decision is for the benefit of the individual or the pathway can be debated, but as I see it the performance indicators can be used to review these athletes and a decision made accordingly.

It has changed over the years, but the elite athletes are told up front, if they don't perform they may not return, end of story.

Don't forget the purpose is to find a small group that will eventually play for Australia!

Have this in mind every time you think about all that goes on and it will help you comprehend some of the things that happen and some of the experiences people share...

Yes it can offer great opportunities, however should you miss out on the early identification phase due to playing in a minor association then each year it will get progressively harder to get through that elusive elite pathway door, unless of course your 6'plus, many a good player both male and female have consistently been overlooked throughout the years because of this. You then find those kids begin to look to other sports or stop altogether.
Yes the amount you can take certainly is a factor, but it is and always has been a case of once your in , your in, and so if they are not reviewed seriously each year then that list rarely changes
Personally I think they need to put more into reviewing what they have each year rather than already having preselected names already on the list before they start.

To start with I will say this, our junior elite pathway offers great opportunity for those who can and are willing to do what it takes.

At one end we have:

IDENTIFICATION - JUSTIFICATION - RESPONSIBILITY - ACCOUNTABILITY - DIRECTION - TEACHING

At the other end you need to have:

CONSISTENCY - DESIRE - DEDICATION - APPLICATION - FOCUS - SACRIFICE - POTENTIAL

What can be improved in relation to all of this, let me have a think about it...

@Anon475, yes your right many do, but without hex fees and with more opportunities open to them should they do well over there.
Staying here limits most players as it's such a smaller pool, but college is not for everyone and both ways have their merits and pitfalls.
But when looking at pathways available in Australia, it's a very very very small percentage that will ever get the opportunities to play at an elite level, college fills more voids that's all.

^ just about sums it up lol

Most who don't stick it out are the ones who have gone thinking they are going to be the shinning stars they think they are in the small pool of australian basketball. They get there and find their bums sitting squarely on the bench that first year, AND they have to keep grades up.
You hear it over and over ' I'm going where I can get big minutes I'm not going to travel halfway round the world to sit on the bench' so they choose either a lower div college in a crap conference and find its not what they want, OR they choose a div 1 after thinking they WILL get good minutes only to find as a freshman they have to wait.

Better information and more realistic reasons to go to college as in education and development would be more beneficial than the so called 'glory' of I am going to college in USA.
But that being said, for those who actually stick it out and work hard the rewards usually come, it's not easy to be so far away from family and friends, but if their dream is to play at a good level , develop and experience life plus not have a massive hex fee at the end of uni, then it's a better option than staying in Australia for many.
Unfortunately very few ever really get into a top 20 college even fewer into a top 10, they are usually reserved for the elite USA kids, or the very very lucky Aussies/internationals who catch the eye of experienced coaches .

how many kids get a scholarship to college in the USA and pull out after 1 yr.

I know more that have quit than have finished.

Why is that????