So, you've seen every club poach players? If so, why not report it?

All rumors and no facts once again.

Example

One club offered a ferrari and a white picket fence in front of my new property they were prepared to give me.

If you're gonna start threads about this topic, why dont you offer up some real and logical solutions. Personally, I dont have any ideas, so I normally dont comment - but it just seems these threads on poaching just end up being an endless bitch session with no real solutions, or the solutions are as wishy-washy as the poaching rules, so really solve nothing.

You might as well start a thread with "Hey, arent petrol prices high? I remember when petrol was cheap. Maybe we could steal petrol or make our own "

If there is a Ferrari are involved I know who is gonna get a lot of fingers pointed his way....(all of you conspiracy theorists don't be surprised if this thread and/or post is deleted)

Or it might just be deleted for bad grammar.

Anon 202775, Naive no. All I am saying is you have listed a few things that you know have gone on. They all couldn't of happened to your son/daughter so if you know something report it. If BSA hands out punishment for these sort of actions then it might stop it. Otherwise it will just go on and on.

I can't see why the city and country areas aren't zoned just as they are in footy. Seems to work for them and then this whole issue would be gone. Wouldn't be too hard to administer - especially with a bit of advice from somebody in SANFL.

Oh, no, of course, that involves some change for the better which BSA are very anti!!!

Great, another poaching topic based on hearsay. Remember the last one? Did you check in on that to see how the parent of the player in question emailed me, denied the stories mentioned and implied that they'd left the club for good reason.

A club offering a player a HS academic scholarship at an elite college.
A club employing a players mother in an admin capacity and offering their children free fees to play.
A Coaching Director becoming friendly with random parents of tall kids at certain clubs when they see them at stadiums.
A club telling a young player that their best chance to play college basketball would be at their club.
A club offering free uniforms and $25 fees for a country based player to transfer.

I'm sure no club would be offering scholarships at elite HS colleges - these come to the tune of around $15K - I don't think so Tim.

I think you will find they may provide assistance in applying for part scholarships. Its something like that anyway. I know of some country kids have gone down that path.

Is poaching illegal? Where is the rule? There is a fine for a SASI scholarship holder moving to the club with the state coach in that age group, but the clearance is still processed. So why report poaching if it is legal? Isn't the Ferrari a legitimate recruitment incentive in the U12s?

If there are any of those academic scholarships going around, clubs are spending more on their U16 teams than they are on their ABA teams. Wait until the ABA teams find out.

Cowboyslimdusty... goodness I havnt had such a good laugh in a long time; district teams offering scholarships to elite colleges? Baaaahahahahahahahaha!

And then scooby backs it up with "Its something like that anyway. I know of some country kids have gone down that path" Bahahahahahahaha! You two are up there with the greats; The two ronnies, Morcam & Wise, Jerry Lewis & Dean Martin.

Ask any country parent who has a child boarding at a college in Adelaide and you will find nearly all of them have applied for some sort of assistance or scholarship. Why? because its BLOODY EXPENSIVE.

As for the "back in my day it was all about playing for fun and learning the game" comment, I have heard a number of parents say that they are sick of hearing the "just have fun" comments from others. The fact is if you want your kids to just go out and have fun, stick them in a social comp or run them in div 3 or 4; if you are fair dinkum about your bball, put your hand up for div 1 or 2, sit down, hold on and get ready for the ride.

The meek will whine; the true leaders will shine.

Networking, 'grooming' a parent or whatever - it's not poaching by definition and is too subjective to police.

If the parent isn't interested in moving their child, they can not initiate any conversation on that topic. Or they can simply not shift their kid.

What else are you going to do? Forbid socialising between clubs?

I wonder how much of this "move your kid to Club Z to increase their chances of making such and such a team" is a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts. They might've made that team anyway had they stayed put. Now, because they moved, and xx% of the team is from Club Z, it looks like it's a crucial move in order to succeed.

anon #212819,

Just plain wrong!

A player is incapable of developing an intricate skill DURING a game. That is common skill aquisition principle.

Otherwise why would we practice at all? And why would coaches be necessary at either?

A couple of suggestions from afar.

My local association has a 'no transfer' rule - completely stuffs the comp because some coaches are better at player development than others. End up with 80% of the rep team in one team 'organically'. Doesn't work.

But... was implemented in response to abuse of 'open slather' rule where kids became mates in rep (read State teams for your situation) teams and naturally (they are kids after all) wanted to play with the kids they spend a lot of time with. Doesn't work.

Obviously the 'no poaching' rule doesn't seem to be working in SA.

Don't be too quick to write off the possibility of school scholarships. Should I be so inclined my daughter would have no trouble getting a boarding scholarship in Sydney based on her contribution to the school - the club getting her would simply be a bonus but the suggestion has been made by the club. Not poaching by your definitions but the effect is the same.

Don't think there is a perfect system (particularly one that is enforceable - it'd be great if triathlons were draft-free but how do you enforce it - so it becomes a runner's race) so perhaps the answer lies in improving coaching standards.

What is the driver for most families? The best deal for their kids - improvement, environment, playing time, representative honours, social environment, coaching - probably all in the mix to varying degrees depending on the family. Get that mix right and you'll hang on to kids (at least the kids that you want!?!).

If you are worried about poaching - fix your club!

To the original poster - I know that one of your claims is true, it also indicates to me which club you are from. Were you told confidentially and have you broken that trust - yes. Is it poaching - no, I dont think so. Are you bitter because your kid will miss a spot for the new player coming in - yes. All things apparently are not equal, if your kid misses out it is because she perhaps is not ready for the grade that you wish her to be in.

"Anon", you seem to know of a particular incident at a particular club. Are you willing to share with us?

This thread and another have had a lot of hearsay thrown up.

(#202820)"nearly all apply" is very different to "all get" anon!

Just pointing out that applying for full or part scholarships at "elite colleges" is happening every year by people from all walks of life.

No mystery; nothing underhanded, just plain fact.

The original poster probably subscribes to the theory that man never walked on the moon as well.

Imporve the standard of service at some clubs and they wouldn't have so many players leave.

I agree 067. As much grief as NG gets, I asked him for help, he sent me info via email. I asked him to clarify the info and he agreed to meet with me and we talked for about an hour. Not only did he discuss what SASI and current state teams are doing, he also printed a heap of notes for me to take home.

Am I interested in SASI, not at the moment due to work and family commitments, but if you are interested, stick your hand up and see what happens.

But that wouldn't mean that the best coaches are developing the best players.

SASI is not a coach development program, it is the underpinning AIS/Australian Junior team program.

It's results directly reflect on the head coach, as such, the head coach should be in charge of decisions regarding player and coach selections. Not people at clubs who are not accountable for the results.

Again, players move because they are unhappy, try fixing your club first. Ask your committee if they even consider juniors to be their main priority. Or more importantly, what they are doing about improving coaches at your club. Better still, ask them if your senior coaches (who are looking after 1 team) are getting paid more than your junior coaching director who is looking after 30+ teams.