Its a cash cow for BV and the local associations.The more the merrier means more $$$

Anon, it is the VJBL promoting its own competition, I don't see your point?

Yes, there are issues on Friday night, such as late game times and obviously the travel people have to endure, however it is widely recognised that if an Association wants to enter representative teams they have to allocate court time on Friday nights for this.

To be honest, the VJBL is becoming so large that I think Friday night domestic should be called off altogether to cater for the VJBL teams, otherwise kids will start games at 10.30pm or later, this is the biggest issue, not diluting any domestic competitions which can be played on other nights IMHO.........

OP, I am not sure you can draw all those conclusions from one article which is about a number of topics, not just growth.

#505288

who says kids have to play domestic on a friday night?

HO, if they don't play domestic, who are they representing? They are the representative teams of the association. Many associations have a hard and fast rule that if you don't play domestic, then you don't play rep ball.

@Anon#288, you are correct, I am well aware how important it is to keep kids off the streets at night and playing hoops is a great past time for them.

The issue may be the lack of courts and venues to cater for the growth of the sport?

Another change of government, a few big basketball projects under way and proposed, let's see how it all transpires in the next year or two, I hope we can cater for all of the growth...

I am saying there are other issues more important to consider and if Friday night is unable to cater for domestic it should be changed (not for those venues that don't hold representative competitions, just for those that want to be part of the VJBL).

The Op however is stating something is seriously wrong with BV because of all this growth in the junior sector of basketball, that may be a stretch!

#505396

You miss the point.

Domestic does not have to be Friday night. Especially for those grades from whom representative kids don't come. Play your domestic A grades on Mon - thurs, and Saturday and play our weaker graded junior domestic on Friday.

Anon^ VJBL is the premier junior competition in Australia, parents pay quite a bit more for their kids to play than domestic and it is regarded as a potential pathway for the next generation of elite basketball players to feed into higher divisions, also hopefully the NBL.

Other than this, nothing much is really different I guess...

Should Melbourne be conferences?

#505509

So let me get this right. Basically you are saying that because not every parent can afford the cost of VJBL that every association should offer an alternate junior competition for every age group and standard BUT only on a Friday night?

What happens to the kids whose parents can't afford for there kids to play VJBL.I know one family that has 3 kids playing at $1000 a pop per season.Not easy when money tight.Do associations consider families that are doing it tough?

What club is $1000 a pop?

Hawthorn and Diamond Valley are $500+ and IMO rightfully so....they offer a superior product to 90% of the options available. I would guess these clubs to be the highest rego within the VJBL.

Diamond Valley is not $500+ it is $410, it's on their website, why do people make this stuff up. The only correct thing you said in your post was "I would guess", anything before and after it is rubbish.

Sorry accidentally posted that 3 times, apologies

Kilsyth is over $500, but its the extras that add up, $3 every person every week through the door, petrol all over town sometimes to two venues every week, petrol to training twice a week, if you have two and they are different times thats double.

It all adds up.

Easily over $1000.

Then if your in domestic comp away from your local area, you have to play domestic there. Rego, uniform, training, entry, rego fees and petrol.

Basketball would be the most expensive team sport to play for kids 100%.

Interesting topic and read...
Having experienced Rep basketball in other states, and recently becoming involved in the VJBL I can tell you that you have a much superior product.

A lot of the discussion above is based on the decision of parents/players. Rep vs Domestic, Costs of Rep, Level of Competition at each level etc are all decision points.

Yes the lower levels in VJBL are not elite but it does give the players a structured competition to compete against a lot of different teams and also an opportunity to move up levels.

A majority of players are involved in both Rep and Domestic, if you make Rep just elite and have say 3 level then what will players in Division 4 do? Just play domestic???

I think some people just like to complain about something instead of having a positive impact...

"they offer a superior product to 90% of the options available"

people say really really stupid things sometimes...

Start with the club fee, then the uniform,paying to train and play, petrol money, tournament fees, boots,accomodation for country tournaments you wont see much change out of $1000 for 12 months.
American company running 3.5 hour training session $165....Ouch!!!

Thanks for the breakdown anon^^ I have similar costs for elite basketball, I think anyone with kids in elite sport programs who also have travel and accommodation costs to consider are about par with you and your family.

It isn't easy, but we do it because we love our kids, correct? Don't worry, one day they will more than understand and appreciate what we do for them, especially when it is their turn...