Hoops

Coaches for next season 06/07

The issue is not country kids playing in a metro comp vee three and other misfiring cylinders...
The issue is where country kids play and if it helps or hinders metro kids development and in turn SA basketball.
On other threads Ive been critical of Sturts 14 and 16 girls program because they run 5 or 6 country kids, most of whom are very good players. My criticism is, that prevents the development of metro kids who are near or at the same level.
I am appreciative of the time and efort country players and parents put in and the sacrifices made to play in the city so in no way should you read this as criticism of that commitment. However we need to strengthen SA basketball and you don't do that by limiting access to metro kid's Div 1 development. In fact you half the talent pool by blocking their path.
As you will discover this is not a universally held tenet!
But with the number of country kids coming to town, my belief is that a southern club and a northern club should be nominated to field country teams in the district comp.
I don't think the eagles puting another country state coach at 14's is a forward looking step and will heighten the perception that their focus is country state especially in the girls where they have 14 and 16 covered.
As to the statement that country state players are all worthy of playing Div 1-I think this would depend entirely on the club they played with. I think their were some very unlucky metro district players in some clubs not getting Div 1 spots and Div 1 players not played enough to give country players time.
Keep your criticisms of this reply to the points not to whether or not Im a disgruntled parent. It is also not a Sturt bashing, as whilst I disagree with their country policy I am a strong supporter( replace with envious) of their coaching talent.
And finally-
Dear mrs Bankrupt : no there are NOT more clubs than players.
Mambo

U/16 coach may have a lot to do with the exodus from eagles. His priorities are country players first and foremost and his preferential treatment of country players has worn a bit thin. A good junior program wont last if the smoke about Boti and Ilze turns out to have a fire fanning it. Players and coaches can't continue to face blocking tactics indefinitely.