Vic county girls no good this year?

Damn if some people just don't get it, it's not just about winning, for the majority of these kids it is and will be the time of their young lives and everyone needs to take a step back (take a chill pill) and give them some freedom to enjoy this incredible opportunity...

Agreed Bear. The original poster wanted names of kids when this forum doesn't allow names for U/18 even if it starts with just names in a roster type of way it always ends in sledging or parents promoting their own kid. Leave the National squads to those that have the job - the coaches, I'm sure they have a pretty good idea now who will be around the mark.
Let the kids be kids.

Well said Bear and D-train.

SA metro girls will be a tough unit to beat. Any team getting a W over them has earned it. Hope the kids all have awesome, injury free champs.

Is it normal practice for employees of a state's peak governing body to fill coaching positions on State Teams?

What would be the reasons for doing so?

Which State?

Im imagining 'Salty' is referring to the WA teams. Two employees on coaching staff at 18s - 1 x head coach and 1 x assistant coach. If they're the most qualified for the position where is the issue.

My question after listening to DN on the radio show, is how does only having five or six training sessions prior to a National Championships constitute an adequate preparation. That's the talking point here I think

SA Country boys are the same but the coach in question is passionate and is the best qualified by a mile. His assistants are the same and they buy in to the process!

You want the best from your kids and you pay a big cost, so why not have the very best available.

Perhaps the process did not attract enough quality applications and the two employees were seconded to these positions?

Perhaps the process facilitates cronyism?

I don't know what the qualifications are of the two employees appointed however if it was based on the most 'qualified' person being appointed then shouldn't the Head Coach of High Performance be coaching State Teams?

Just because you are a Level 2 or 3 Coach doesn't mean you are the BEST person for these roles.

From my perspective, the National Championships is still a development pathway for both coaches and players (albeit high performance) and those coaches who have achieved results in the state-based junior representative competition should be recognized and rewarded with these appointments.

Just my two cents worth...

I think the coaches are selected by the High Performance Manager and possibly the Coach Development & Pathways Manager???

Which coaches who are achieving at wabl weren't selected Salty?

There are 12 associations that compete in the WABL Competition therefore I don't profess to know specific coaches who are achieving at this level however suffice to say there would be quite a few. I understand the second assistant coach of the WA Metro Women's Team is an outstanding coach and has achieved sustained success - perhaps she (as a volunteer coach) could have been rewarded with the Head Coach appointment?

What I am not privvy to is 1) was she offered the opportunity & declined or 2) is she a BETTER coach than the incumbent?

As long as the selection process for coaches is open and transparent I don't have an issue with coaching appointments - particularly if there is precedence from other states of employees being appointed to these positions. I just think the current process in WA looks like cronyism and that is not good governance nor good management from a peak governing body. It becomes counter-productive.

I would like to see a process implemented whereby the Head Coach of the Team/Association that wins the U16 or U18 age group at WABL is invited to coach the corresponding age group at the following year's National Championships.

That would be a clear and transparent process and also provides a performance pathway for coaches that creates incentive, rewards effort & recognizes performance.

Fair & reasonable.

I don't agree a club like Willetton has a monopoly on the U16 & U18 age groups at WABL level however you do make a valid point. I don't think it was a ridiculous idea - just an idea.

So back to talking about U18 Nationals...WA Men to win Gold this year on the back of the Crocs contingent and some OUTSTANDING shooting guards.

Vic Metro taking care of business without really getting out of first gear. Team is 10 deep with lots of rotations so should be fresher come finals.
Qld south impressing. Will see if they are for real on Wednesday against Vics.
Other side of draw is wide open. Qld north and Tasmania undefeated with vic country and nsw metro right behind them. Could be a four way draw coming out of qualifying rounds.
SA metro 0-2 and although SA country are 2-0 they haven't looked that impressive in wins.

Indeed - WA Metro Men VERY disappointing in the first two rounds. As expected Crocs contingent has been outstanding but drop away pretty quickly after that. WA appears to lack a genuine point-guard without Bacus from U16 Tourney.

Couple of players there on 'potential' and 'reputation' and need to lift or be moved on...

Salty you are either an underperforming / overlooked coach who needs to get over themselves or another clueless WABL parent who spends hundreds of dollars each month on private coaching sessions for their talent-limited son, who still can't make a state squad despite your uneducated opinion.

Yes the boys haven't began the Tournament as well as they or the coaching staff obviously would have liked but the last thing they need is to see some clown from their own state laying the boot in. Show an ounce of maturity rather than just some amateurish grub-wannabe journalism putting your two cents worth in when nobody wants to hear that crap. Go back to wondering where you have gone wrong rather than criticizing others at every opportunity.

Sorry Antichrist - you are correct. I am both and I apologize...