109401,
This is my first post to this thread, but I read your posts. You are shooting the target with blanks.
Dont even get met started about clubs noses lining the troughs. That is so funny.
#344
"One reason clubs gave for maintaining a summer season was that the stadiums would just collect dust and no revenue."
- THe clubs dont own stadiums, they did not give that reason. The clubs derive almost no income from stadiums. Clubs dont run at a profit as such. Its the owners of stadiums would not let them not generate revenue. If clubs were not using them someone else would. Do you think owners (schools, councils, BSA) are going to be able to let millions of $$ in investment sit there and not be used. No club said that, I think you are lieing, clubs dont care about stadiums generating revenue, they do care about what they think is best for basketball.
"On your Olympic question, basketball is likely to be dropped from competition either in China or the following one so probably not worth arguing."
- I cannot see basketball been dropped as an olympic sport. Basketball is huge throughout Europe and the US and has been in the olympics since the 1936 olympics (when it was not a major international sport). It is already set for the 2012 olympics in London and CHina have been building their olympic infrastructure for the past 7-8 years (including basketball stadiums). Its too late they cant pull it out. Baseball is not going to be in 2012 though.
"Also there is a good argument for basketball being a winter sport given the stadiums and heat danger associated with them. Its an OHS&W issue but it will take a tragedy like always to have authorities act. "
- Are you serious? BSA have had a policy in place for this for over 5 years. I can safely tell you no one has died from heat in a District game in SA in the past 20 yrs. They worked with the authorities to set up the policy. Leading Doctors, yes those that study for 10 yrs to get a PHD.
"Netball does play year round but is not compulsory or valued and gradings for the real season occur and teams are selected that often contain very few of the players from their crazy season."
- Valid point. Maybe this is something basketball needs to look at. However your good point is clouded by sooo many misinformed statements it really does not do this point any justice.
"The most telling point here is the pressure exerted upon Div 1 players to play summer and the consequences for not playing. No junior Div 1 player can afford not to play under the present structure so it is idiotic to suggest they have a choice and can do otherwise."
- No pressure on the kids. The kids put the pressure on themselves because they want to play Div 1. Do you think a Div 3 kid is goign to care about taking a summer season off as much as a div 1 kid? Its simple, its their choice, if you didnt play summer season then someone else could take their spot. They can always come back through the lower divisions and earn their spot back.
- Do the maths. District basketball is the elite level. You get 9 in the top team. Its a big commitment if you are not up to the level. Yes kids drop off because they dont want to compete at that level or dont want to/cant put the time in. Plenty of kids could be playing under 17s/19s for SANFL clubs but chose not to. They play for local clubs. What is needed is better competitions between district and social.
- This is coming from somone that played right through the junior basketball system, have been an administrator and into seniors and now coaches in it. Ive experienced it from all the angles. Your comments make it appear that you dont really have much knowledge and prefer to paint "the clubs" in a poor light, morally, ethically, knowledgably (made up word). Let me kindly suggest you get your facts right and then contribute what you know not what you don't.