Flinders80, I think you've communicated effectively your treatise - would Basketball in Australia be better off IF it would have developed along the lines of the US system (Schools > College > Pro Bball), as opposed to how it actually developed (Club > Assocn > Pro Bball)?

Whilst this is really a theoretical question, the only supporting argument you've made is the one I've heard time and again - that is the passion and fevour that HS (to a lesser extent) and College ball has in the US, is missing in Aussie basketball, because we play Association Basketball. Sorry, this is an apples and oranges comparison; Basketball in Australia is not a first tier sport like it is in the states alongside Gridiron and Baseball, We do not have professionally administered University sport like the NCAA, and we are barely 8% of the population base of the US.

Asking (theorising) that BA could or should strip down the Club and Association structure that Aussie (and Europe) Basketball is built upon is also a bit short-sighted. Could they be doing more for HS or University level sport? No, I think University's could be doing a whole lot more. BA made concerted effort over the past few years, however AUS (Aust Uni. Sport) are so poorly funded that they are reluctant to give up the cash generating piss-ups that masquerade as Uni Games to focus on potentially high-cost and high-risk quality competition.

Once Universities (not AUS) recognise the value of Sport/Basketball to Campus life their Universities and invest in Scholarships and competition support then you may see less talent traffic crossing the Pacific. I apologise for focussing on the College/University part of the argument and not addressing the HS v Club part, however happy to add after a bit more input from others.

interesting article today on GRantland about American College Football. well, more interesting was the footnotes and the books about College sports existing as a solely American phenonemon. there is no way we have the population or money base to sustain any form of that model. club /association system > education system. let the schools do what they were designed to do.

I beg to differ. Private Schools with boarding facilities that cost $30k a year to attend need a competitive advantage over other schools. Elite sporting programs, with strong links to pathways can provide that advantage. I think our model will still very different to what exists in US because of our small population.

The links to pathways can be provided by district clubs and BA. The school must deliver on certain criteria to maintain these links.

At the end of the day money talks and a schools core business income generator is enrolments by delivering certain services. Strong culture of success. Great community feel. High academic standards. Access to pathways in sport and vocational fields etc. The problem for district clubs is its impossible to deliver the level of services or personnel required to deliver legitimately elite programs. You don't make money from this endeavour whereas schools can take a hit on these programs if they generate the enrollments.

Trust me I know of a number of private schools across Australia that are very keen to invest in sporting programs. What most of the schools don't realise is they need to work WITH sporting pathways, not against them, as some do, to deliver real meaningful outcomes to their bottomline AND their students. Imagine a daily training regime of been able to get to school at 8AM do a weights program under the guidance of a trained professional, then head straight to class, from class head to the school gym, train from 3.30 - 4.30 and home in time for dinner and homework and whatever else kids want to do. The way our athletes currently work is inefficient for the athletes and causes burnout. IE get home from school at 4.15pm, have tea, get ready for basketball, drive 10-20 mins to basketball, train for 2 hrs, travel home again, home by 9ish, with no time to do anything.

School programs have Al Green, Mark Davis, Kevin Brooks coaching there. However the athletes do the vast bulk of their development in their district clubs. To me this is an inefficient use of resources and these people should be coaching where the athletes do the bulk of their development. If schools were stakeholders in basketball pathways and vice versa then these resources would be allocated where its most needed.

Its up to basketball clubs and pathways to see this opportunity understand what drives our private schools and make it in their interest.

Totally with you Flinders80. What good do associations provide apart from being money hungry, passionate and meaningless.

Tyrell - That was not the point I was trying to make

CreativePoint was more on the money.

I was also not suggesting a change. I don't think would ever be possible.

Just throwing it out there and wanting to know the main differences in the two styles of basketball progression. Whose to say one is better than the other.

I think the point I was making is how to we get more passion into sport in Australia. Take new orleans with a population on 1.2m people. Not to dissimilar to Adelaide. Ok so bit of a stretch here but Adelaide Crows being the equivalent to New Orleans Saints. Average attendance at New Orleans saints games in 2011 around 69,000. Crows average in 2011 was 30,000

What ever they are doing to make a city come together to be passionate about one team. Ok so the floods and them winning probably played some part in the city coming together.

But like I said in my first post I wonder if its more about the entire process from High School to College to Pro Ball. Are we spreading a fan base in each town two small. Heading to a basketball example.

New Orleans Hornets 15,998
Adelaide 36ers Around 4,800

Ok I'm sure some not great comparisons there but I know I would much rather school spirit and rivalrys created that makes them passionate about something. Go to a Friday night game and see how many non basketball familys are there to watch the games. Now if School sport was played during a time when students could attend, are you likely to increase the amount of people turning up. PAC vs St Marys intercol game is a great example of people turning up to the game in school passion.

I agree with your comments flinders80- but I am asking as an aside-What good do associations provide apart from being money hungry, passionate and meaningless?

Anonymous, that is exactly the passion I'm talking about. But what about the size of the crowd. Mostly fellow students I believe

I'll cop that! I'm not a fan of the association 'way'- would much prefer the college/high school system for reasons already mentioned!

I played district for years and now coach, and one of the best games I have ever been involved in was in high school, in a round robin tournament. I played for a public school and travelled to a high priced private school, they packed out the stadium, and the noise was huge. It was incredible to play in front of a huge crowd at a young age(we won by a point! - still would of been a great experience if we lost).

Having bball running through schools has my support, it would cost less, kids would get involved, spectating and playing, more kids would be exposed to the game. Jobs would be created, schools would need a fultime bball coordinator-coach.

My son often tells me kids at his school want to play district, once the parents find out the cost, plus the travelling to 2 training sessions they dont bother, the kids continue to play soccer. If bball was a program they could have try, training would either be during or after school at school. Cost would be minimal.

Great dream, might happen one day, but i doubt it.

Good point #345881.

Competitiveness:

Schools could be graded, we currently have about 5 divs. Therefore schools could be put in divs and they work there way to the top division. From my experience years ago, plently of schools had talent, and they were basically combine district teams.

More kids would be involved as there is more exposure to the sport, with more kids = more competitiveness.

Playing in front of crowd also creates competitiveness. And there would be crowds, for example due to kids hormones, boys will check out the girls and vice-versa, and it could be the thing to do, kids follow the pack, if the cool kids are at the game, then its the place to be (sad world...i blame the media).

Add in scholarships and this also may add a competetive edge, play hard, get good grades or back to the troublesome school.

I played district for 10 yrs and the best atmosphere I played in were when our high school (willunga) played on the road in a packed gym against cabra and another game vs wirreanda. Also hosted cardign college one year. Lost all 3 games but loved it. Bring on high school ball. Someone above mentioned the price of club ball scares parents- dead right!

When I played basketball High School basketball there were no divisions when I played, there was only one division. So if you don't make the high school tryout you miss out on playing. Now I know some have suggested divisions but I know when I played friday night basketball in my local High School there was no divisions if you failed to make the team your were out. Club basketball includes everyone weather your good or you need a chance to improve your game.