I don't think it is teaching children good habits to allow them to switch clubs all the time. I think loyalty is important to a club but also i think it teaches the child to work towards being a better basketballer not just to play div one. Because ultimately if a child leaves a stronger club to play for a weaker one in div one does this necessarily mean that they will become a better player?? Probably not as they will always be behind those kids who beat them to a div one spot in the first place. Remaining at a club even in div two provides the opportunity to train against stronger players on a weekly basis and is probably more likely to improve the childs abilities than going to a weaker club where they can be the star.

What about 5 - 8 minutes court time in a strong div 1 team v a lot more court time in Div 1 at a weaker club. Surely more court time playing against stronger competition would be of some benefit. Given that very few people end up having a career from basketball surely the intention then is to play the game and not simply train.

It's never simple and never straight forward. Sometimes a coach may have a child playing in his or her team in the same position as your child.(move) Sometimes established players, naturally, are favoured because they've made their names.
Almost always the make-up of the team gets priority over ability. By this I mean if your child is a guard and the team is short on height,(and vice versa) it doesn't matter how good your are within reason.
Moving clubs is never about loyalty as it doesn't really exist in any material sense anymore. Few players stay at one club for their entire career.
Moving should not be seen as letting if its going to benefit the child. In fact in most cases its healthy as most kids in Div 1, in a good club wouldn't move unless they perceived they had a good reason.
Sometimes moving can result in the player improving and finding their niche and in other cases it proves to be 'the grass looked greener' scenario.
IMO players don't look around enough as this would put pressure on clubs to measure up. As I said established players (juniors)don't move because they'd have to restablish themselves and happy where they are

Too many people are to lazy to move. Go for it!

Here is another situation for you... player leaves club cause they (probably parents) dont want to play division 1 and struggle doesnt stay and play div 2 cause they dont want to play with the younger players (first year) in their age group

some players just move even though they play div 1 and get good court time. believe 3 or 4 from one club in one age group are about to go up a hill

Well if those 3-4 from Forestville are going up the hill (to Southern) then this might upset the apple cart a bit won't it? It will be a very competitive group indeed in U 16 girls.

Is there any restrictions on moving clubs. Can clubs withhold a clearance

Not unless you owe money. Mind you one or two clubs will always make you wait for the full time limit.(a month)

Yes and No! Not supposed to approach SASI players or poach juniors for the obvious reason that Clubs invest a lot of time and effort in juniors.
However,forget the above because the reality is quite the opposite with the leading clubs the culprits.

Believe Stephen D's lad plays for the club and grade that 3 or 4 are leaving - girls or boys, Tassie or Qld ?

How many times is too many? eg x4 by u16s

Agreed "intersting' that parents move kids, but for different reasons than you suggest. Very often coaches have baggage that impacts on players.
Nepotism can be a factor. Country kids keeping out better players is a real issue, look at Forestville this season just finished where better players hung in the 2's.
Clubs can screw up kids by not recognising for a multitude of reasons, their abilities.
Coaches are human and and sometimes don't like certain players or parents. Elite clubs are sometimes too big and one hand doesn't know what the other is doing and this allows some players to slip through.
Bottom line, if you can get opportunities to play at a higher level, do it. If you don't make it then you can only blame yourself and not the club.
It's an easy cop out for clubs to slam kids moving and create a blame situation. Good clubs would wish you well, hope you do well and look at themselves to see if maybe they could have done things differently.
Poor clubs make you feel stupid for going and guilty and Adelaide has a fair share of these types of clubs.

DaddyO, Can you name a dozen under 14's div 4 players that went on to NBL/WNBL? Maybe some boys that grew but a big call.
Also , How do you know if you'll enjoy the game more before swapping clubs? Only driven to succeed kids swap and ones who want to play not bench warm.
Im tired of the crap of juniors developing by playing 8- 10 minutes a game and being called good team players. Good team non-players IMO and at some considerable dollar cost.

I agree, training can only give you so much - you need to play to develop fully.