Ease up. Some of them are only 12 years old. In front of big crowds the pressure probably gets to them.......

I don't dispute that, but some seem very unsure of what to do. I wonder if they are actually taught?That's all.

There's 15 seconds of my life I'd like back again...

As I said in the other thread, if they're a bit half-arsed with their approach and someone slips and goes out for the season, then it could become a big deal pretty quickly.

What made me say this is that in last week's game, a couple of players fell over in front of NZ's bench and then the ball went straight down the other end. The floor wasn't wiped, and I was dreading a fall when they got back to that end. Luckily nothing happened because they didn't run in that area.

I've watched games live & on TV, where the court wipers are so tuned in that they don't need to be called in by the refs or players, they just run out and do their jobs without the need to be asked, often with the game still going on down the other end.

Just thinking about player Safety.

Thanks Isaac. I don't even mean anything like 'half-arsed'.
I was thinking more along the line that maybe they aren't sure what to do, being kids and all. I've seen the same thing at Lightning games.

The lightning games are a bit different... I'm not sure those `bread head' kids can actually see what they are doing.

Call from some adult volunteers who would get out there as quick as a flash so there are no hold ups as there are now. Yes, most of those kids are quite young, but some of them are living on another planet. I really wonder what they have been told to do out there, ie what sort of training, if any, they have had.

Dana i thought the same thing Sat night and have thought it before-it is dangerous and we need someone alert and proactive. if we could get the floor wipers right I personally am prepared to get off the backs of the coaches.

I remember early in the season, one of the floor wipers was so "busy" checking out the cheer girls doing their thing during the time out, that they did not hear or see the umpire calling them over to clean up an area.

Would be funny if it was not so true...

Ballinger Fan, that is a legitimate excuse my friend.

Saw Italy play at the Olypics in 2000, at one point a bearded Italian player (the beard's not really crucial to the story) actually grabbed the towel off the wiper and gave the court a thorough wiping himself. Crowd responded by giving him a big round of applause, which he in turn responded to by raising both his hands in the air like he'd just won a title fight. Celebrate the humanity.

I prefer the floor wipers to be under the control of the refs, rather than deciding themselves when to wander onto the court in the middle of an NBL game.

If the court isn't safe, stop the game & fix the court. I don't want "bread head" in the key holding a mop when Erin is on a fast break!

The kids they get to do it are peanuts - no initiative or personality I'm afraid.

Wow DaddyO. with that concept in mind. The game would have to be stopped at every turnover, decent drive to the basket etc, after someone has hit the floor.

The best floor wipers I have seen are the ones that feel like they are part of the game. I have seen a referee as part of their pre-game duties get all the court wipers in together, explain how important their role is to game. That they need to get in there quick and get the court dry and that one goes in why the other one watches the play. That referee really G'd up the kids and made them feel really important. He even made sure he asked all their names, so during the game he could refer to them by name (not oih you).

To me, that was effective game management.

What next? The dome rats need training?

No way MW, they already have initiative, AND personality..

No training required.

Why don't we just remove the hardwood from our game, and install astro turf.
Still gives an even bounce, and will absorb the sweat.

DB5 - Did you have anything to do with the old court 3 at Morphett Vale by any chance?

Then again, who would own up to that!

(Mod: Removed at author's request.)

How long have you been in our country?

Did anyone see the Syndey game last night - they had two floor wipers that struggled for 5 mins to clean up with the assistance of the umpires pointing out the spots they missed.

Just curious - anyone know what they do in other leagues like the NBA?

Ha Ha FM, sorry, cannot get me on that one..

That deserves a basketball Sector7G.

Surely Spec is not for real. First he says the mops are to heavy then owns up to being 19 surely this guy has to cop it maybe he could enter Mr Puniverse.

That post by Spec just cracks me up.

I can't believe there has been so many posts on this topic.

Its wiping sweat from the floor for god's sake its not rocket science surely any 14 or 15 year old who has a basic understanding of the game of basketball and is not unconscious could manage it.

Probably nerves and a matter of the sweat being difficult to see at most angles. Could just be that a bit of training wouldn't go astray? Noticed the Breakers floor wipers in the game on Thursday - they had two at each end for moral support! - seemed to be motivated and quick to get out there.