Basketball Victoria is responsible for giving the each and every kid that plays in their comp "confidence" as you put it.

Wow! People these days think the world owes them something. How about you take some personal respsonsbility for your child and stop blaming the world?

do you even know what kids confidence is??? obviously you have none or no idea how to raise them.

no one owes anybody anything but you should not group kids in elite spots at 14 years of age every body develops at different ages

NITP is for the elite players - for FAR too long these programs catered to far too many player who quite obviously had no chance of playing at a national level.

Good decision to narrow the focus to those with obvious national potential.

Exactly. 12-14 years of age is the ideal age to start the TI process for an international sport like basketball. If they grow late, and show potential then add them later.

It is important clubs respond to the NITP becoming more elite by developing their own tiered accademies and programs. This will give your son/daughter the recognition that kids crave.

In terms of moving to other to sports. Most sports have TI processes starting at 14. Gymnastics starts at 8, swimming at 12, tennis at 13 etc. AFL starts a little later but then again AFL isn't an international sport and really doesn't require the sport specific motor skills of some of these other sports.

If your son is a legitimate prospect and if your son feels like they missed out just do what a few poorly skilled parents do and tell them that NITP is corrupt, meaningless, full of nepotism and run by fools. That will solve your problem of them feeling inadequate by missing out, instead of focussing what they can do to get an opportunity to make the NITP program.

^ love everything about this comment

I'm sure if Basketball Victoria had more funding they would offer the NITP to more kids. Sadly they don't have it, so have to limit the numbers.

Broken record here, however:

Basketball is not funded equitably when compared to "Aussie sports" like cricket, netball and AFL
Basketball is controlled by the lowest levels, so domestic clubs control associations, and associations control BV . So money sits in the accounts of domestic clubs, associations overpay administrators and fund SEABL imports from junior fees, and people complain that there are no places available in NITP.

*and why was it a "son"???

When little Johnny playing met 4 doesn't get an invite to ITC camp everyone bitches about equality. when he get cut its because the coaches play favs.
The only kids invited to ITC tryouts should be kids playing VC. The rest can go work on thier game more to get to that level. ITC is a REWARD not a right.

It has nothing to do with funding, it's because basketball Australia wants to make it an elite program. And rightly so! The same has happened here in SA. There used to be 30 excellent players running around under 2 coaches. Now there are 15 elite players trained under about 6 or 7 coaches. Much better system for elite development don't you think? Not sure how it works in Vic, but here coaches of clubs nominate players who they consider "elite". They go to a camp, and the kids basketball sa identify as elite (top 15) are invited to train in the NITP, and develop as elite players. If your child isn't considered an elite player by your div 1 club coach (or whatever the VIC equivant is) chances are basketball Victoria are not going to consider your kid elite either. In this case having elite potential means potential to play for a senior national team. Again chances are if your not top 100 in your state, you have little chance of playing for the opals or boomers. Be realistic. I think it's an excellent incentive from basketball Australia to make the NITP in all the states a true elite program. Well done BA

Ah, not to do with funding?

And why only VC players?

Why should playing at a weaker club or team exclude you?

spoken like a true parent of a mediocre player.

Why is it so bad to focus on elite players, where do you think our state and national players come from.

I am in NSW. NITP starts at 13 here, finishes at 17. About 120 kids total in the programme.

Is this similar to SA?

Is this similar in SA and VIC?

Anybody know if the structure or number of players is due to change in NSW?

to anon ##463365 you have no idea, there are current VIC NITP and State team players not in VC, and no my kid is not one of them, I am just very respectful of the fact great talent can possibly exist outside the 200 boys and 200 girls in VC.

If they are good then why aren't they playing VC? Why aren't VC clubs chasing them hard? Maybe they just aren't very good yet??? Oh no, I just said a child isn't very good at something and they need to learn/work hard to get better??!?!?!

Wow! Child abuse! Child abuse!

463374, you represent so much of what is wrong with our society at the moment.

#463375 you once again demonstrate how clueless you are.

Poaching is not allowed by the VJBL

Ah, they made the State team so I think they're ok?

Poaching or recruiting or whatever you want to call it is all over the VJBL. Clubs like Waverley, Bulleen, Dandenong. and the KINGS of it all Diamond Valley, have been actively chasing kids for years. The VJBL knows this goes on but refuse to do anything about it. Partly because some of the coaches involved are in the ITC and state system. The lies told and tactics used by some coaches are disgraceful.

The VJBL does have a rule restricting only 2 players PER TEAM to transfer to another club but its easy to grab 4 and build up your twos into a stronger team which is what happens. The next season you put all four into the same team and bingo goal achieved.
There are many ways to stop this with the most obvious being that they apply the rules they have now and enforce them with bans on coaches or fines on clubs. I can name 4 coaches who openly talk to players and their parents during a season about moving clubs and that is against the rules and BV/ VJBL know who they are yet they do nothing about it.

Here is an example of what you could do anonymous (original post).

I know of a boy who was not selected for the state academy under 14's a few years ago, he was mistaken for a top age kid because he was very tall for his age, but was shoved around a bit by the kids he was scrimmaging against (all top age and stronger than he), so coaches thought he wasn't up to the level they wanted (the level of the other top agers).

Although it was a rough decision and he was devastated as his brother made the academy but he didn't, his dad took him along to all Academy sessions and conducted one-on-one training with the boy on an adjacent court, every week.

That kid actually learned and developed faster than the Academy kids for the period, now he has been to Nationals, is a targeted athlete in the NITP and has a bright future if he chooses to pursue basketball.

What was the difference?

The attitude of the parent and the work ethic of the kid, ask yourself if you are a glass half empty or glass half full kind of guy?

Kids will generally respond to positive encouragement, don't drag your kid down with you if you are just being pessimistic.

The NITP and NPP process has changed several times, no it isn't perfect, but it is there for a purpose.

There are some good posts in this thread, which answer your question, just read tham again, with an open mind, cheers.

Interesting debate. My experience shows that if you want to be noticed you need to be known. To either selecting coaches or BV. An example is 2 kids arrived to U15 scc ecc selection last season both an hour late into a 2 hour selection and both got picked

Who made the under 15 nitp this year?

463452..... Care to put your name to that ridiculous post regarding Diamond Valley !!!!

Bet not,

BV nitp are is a joke only kids with coach's from their own club as selectors get through there are some who deserve their place but others are just kidding themselfs.

Can we have that post again in English?

There is no u15 NITP.

There is u16 NITP, there is u18 NITP.

Can someone please explain, in what is now deemed a fairer system and a clean slate start for NITP Vic country . Why at tryouts the boys who turn up injured or have excuses for not attending tryouts get into NITP without having to tryout at a later date. Could they not go to the State Centre on a Sunday and join in a NPP season or Vic Metro NITP session to see if they are indeed good enough for NITP.

yes my son did attend, worked hard and felt he was top 10 in top age boys and was overlooked for 5 boys who either did not attend or sat in the stands injured.

So very ture with the injurys and I agree with the earlier post with regard to coaches form clubs favouring kids from that very same club. The system is a joke.

If what you say is accurate then diamond valley will have some strange selections in this years nitp because they had the highest amount of coaches selecting. the proof will be in the pudding.

Do BV release the names of those who where selected?

Understand that those injured or " unavailable " that have been in NITP the previous year being known. My son has been in SPP for 2 years, trained weekly , showed noted improvement, been selected for Albury over the last 2 years and was apparently on the right pathway to NITP.

He is a guard and needed to prove he has speed and agility , he did against those on the floor. Congratulated by 2 coaches ( unkown to him) and then misses. He was disappointed , but when he read the complete list he and I questioned how they could truly judge if his speed etc was poorer then those sitting on the side line.

It's not selected on merit. The best players are not always selected your kid just has to keep going working hard. I know a boy who was never selected all the way through his junior years then at 17 once again missed the Victorian team however in that same year was selected to play for Australia. It's not what you know with BV it's who. Simple as that.

If what you say is accurate then diamond valley will have some strange selections in this years nitp because they had the highest amount of coaches selecting. the proof will be in the pudding.

Coaches selecting in the boys or the girls?

Girls NITP selection camp for U15 it will be very interesting to see who made it. If there is a few from DV then maybe there is something too what others are claiming.

Once again, there is no u15 NITP.

NITP is u16, u18 etc. just like the VC age groups.

The 2 player rule is not necessarily a good thing.

Sometimes players simply want to go somewhere they can be well coached, and have very little choice because of geography.

There are 5 players right now whose choice would be not to move clubs, but seem destined to another year of terrible coaching if they stay with their current club who treats girls basketball as a joke. What should they do?

NITP last year in VIC was 16 spots, 10 top age, 6 bottom and then seemed to grow and shrink a bit based on injuries - so assuming the same system this year?

The point if you have coaches from your club selecting like DV this year then more kids from said team get places it's not a meritorious selection process.

Of course coaches are going to pick kids from there home club why wouldn't they!

There are 5 players right now whose choice would be not to move clubs, but seem destined to another year of terrible coaching if they stay with their current club who treats girls basketball as a joke. What should they do?

That's a hard one if they want to stay together might have to go to the same club and play in different teams for one year.

How many coaches did DV have there?

I asked some that today DV only had two coaches there.

That's two more then just about ever other team!

No doubt it's not a fair system never has been.

At last year's NITP it was more a case of some girls who made it but maybe shouldn't have, rather than anyone obvious missing out.

Coaches are selected by Basketball Victoria, not Diamond Valley. If there is an issue with the amount of Diamond Valley coaches there, tell your coaches to go and offer up them selves for these camps.

The Head Coach of the program decides who gets in, not individual coaches, the fact that the State Coaches and staff are asked to be involved at these camps is a directive from Basketball Victoria.

Diamond Valley had 2 coaches involved with State Teams this year, assistant coaches at the U/16 level.

Head Coaches were both from Eltham.

At the NITP selection camp this year two coaches where from Diamond Valley. All I said was that the proof would be in the pudding regarding the number of kids selected from that club in that age group. We don't know at this stage who has and who hasn't made it.

That post was in relation to an earlier comment that suggested the selection process is floored because coaches favor kids from their home club. I wasn't suggesting anything.

I'm interested in finding out how many kids were selected from Diamond Valley. I hope for everybody's sake that it all makes sense and there is no clear favoritism shown.

If kids that don't deserve to be selected have been it destroys the NITP program.

Agree but no need to single out that club, Melbourne players , Bulleen players will no doubt make up a large number of selections accross the board particularly in the girls.

Singling out that club is unwarrented

Did they run the top age and bottom age camps together? Or were the runs at different times? Heard they were at diffenrent times.
If so, did the same coaches go to both camps? Or were there different people involved?

BVC had 80 boys on 5 courts , ranging from U16 bottom age to U18 top age

If you think that NITP selectors select the most talented kids you're kidding yourself. Favoritism exists at BV. Remember 200 kids play VC on a Friday.

Seems to be bigger numbers thinking they are through to NITP this year than the 16 last year? Isn't there another selection camp yet?

Is there some confusion re selection for SCC & ECC v being selected for NITP. Lots of kids who make those didn't make NITP last year.

Also hearing u16 VIC players are entering the NPP program, which didn't have any u16s last year.

So the program may be different again this year???

10 x 10 x 2 = 200

I have heard of a few surprise selections and many that have gone through this year and not wanting to add fuel to the fire but those surprise selections are from Diamond Valley.

The talls from Diamond Valley have made scc for the last few years that would be no surprise.

NITP is a donation to BV

That is rubbish, it was a really well run program last year, hopefully it keeps improving now it is back on track.

The program may well be great but the tryouts for most parents is nothing more than a donation.

It is inclusive as it should be. It is not compulsory.

Some people choose not to trial; others recognise it as part of basketball and coming to the selection camp is an opportunity for the kids to gain experience at being able to perform at trials.

$100

I have heard that there where some interesting selections this year but all innuendo at the moment it will be interesting to see the lists when they come out.

#486335

You make a great point with regard to NITP not being the be all and end all. My child has always been a dominant player on a Friday nights VC top age and Met 1 bottom age. Made state selection one year but has unfortunately missed a few since.

My issue is the amount work done since missing last year has been unbelievable the dedication shown has taught me what dedication and hard work truly is. I have been concerned that it's unsustainable.

To my eye and I’m aware of the difficulty that a parent has in being objective is that how my child was clearly in the top 10 in the age group both last year and this year but missed out on both occasions.

After a year in which I had to sit back and admire the hard work we find out that they have missed it again, I find it hard to believe that they were are not in the top 12-15 at NITP tryouts.

This time however the resolve has been broken and a decision to walk away devastated has been made. Others will make it because they had coaches from their association with them it’s simple as that.

Pfft. Sounds like the problem isn't with the selection coaches, but with you! If he was so CLEARLY in the top 10 he would have made it - he didn't, so I'd suggest the problem is your ability to spot talent, not the selectors!

Athletes suffer setbacks. Anyone that suceeds suffers setbacks, the only time you don't make it is when you quit. He quit, couldn't overcome the setbacks therefore it was the right decision by the coaches.

#486369

Yeah like you would know! Probably one of the ones who's kids going for a ride.

#486368
re: NITP selection camp for U16

Resilience is one of the most important values kids need to develop at this stage. Hopefully some encouragement in the right direction will help and see your boy not walk away.

If they don't love the game, they won't make it - NITP - or not.

#486395
re: NITP selection camp for U16

Netball?????
LMFAO

#486397

This is absolute rubbish. The best kids not always selected! I was chatting on Sunday to the father of a young man who is currently representing this country in basketball who never made an NITP or a state team he told me that he believes it's not what you know it’s who. His son actually made the Aus team before the state team..

It’s so easy to come out with the old "the parents of the kids that do make it are always the one that aren't happy". Thanks genius but perhaps the parents of the kids that made it try to protect their spot at all costs so they can sit back and feel special.

The fact is the vast majority who make it deserve but others are just kidding themselves and so are the parents.

That’s why kids like the above mentioned go unnoticed and there’s plenty of other examples such as a young girl who is playing div one college winning MVP’s as she goes who never made an NITP program or state team and those that did are now nowhere to be seen.

#486397
Kids aren't wheat or chaff

#486397

This is absolute rubbish. The best kids not always selected! I was chatting on Sunday to the father of a young man who is currently representing this country in basketball who never made an NITP or a state team he told me that he believes it's not what you know it’s who. His son actually made the Aus team before the state team..

It’s so easy to come out with the old "the parents of the kids that dont make it are always the one that aren't happy". Thanks genius but perhaps the parents of the kids that made it try to protect their spot at all costs so they can sit back and feel special.

The fact is the vast majority who make it deserve but others are just kidding themselves and so are the parents.

That’s why kids like the above mentioned go unnoticed and there’s plenty of other examples such as a young girl who is playing div one college winning MVP’s as she goes who never made an NITP program or state team and those that did are now nowhere to be seen.

No wonder this kid quit the sport when confronted with adversity - with such a sook for a parent what chance did he have?

Is the selection committee separate from the coaching staff?

No wonder this kid quit the sport when confronted with adversity - with such a sook for a parent what chance did he have?

Wow look out! they have pulled out the big words now "SOOK" did you use a dictionary? here is a clue for you sounds like you need one. Take the first three letters of the big word D I C T I O N A R Y and your personality is explained.

Is the selection committee separate from the coaching staff?

No it's not.

There are so many kids that could make it and don't and no doubt those did have worked hard to get there. However their is no need to take a pot shot at someone who's child is hurting a good parent will feel and live their child's pain.

A quote from an parent who also had a son miss out

" so the talls get picked because they are 6'9 and the guards get picked cause they have speed and agility, so what happens to the 6'3 90 kilo small power forwards ? NOTHING."

I love people on here that bag those who are working hard to make it and are clearly disappointed. Here is few truths:

-There is favoritism.

-The processed is floored.

-There is corruption.

This is a human condition it exists in every government,every work place, every school, every sporting club. it's the of the animal if you don't think so then wake up!

Is the selection committee separate from the coaching staff?

No it's not.

Beg to differ on this one. Coaches make recommendations but as far as BV Metro goes, GW has final say.

I have a feeling that some of the frustration actually emanates from parent's inability to influence the outcome.

Many parents ingratiate themselves into team management, committees and even coaching to influence selection at the rep club level. It sure as hell happens outrageously at ours. Amazingly though these same kids are almost universally unable to go any further as there is no merit or substance that comes from nepotism.

That's a great post and very ture.

What is the chance of making a State team if you did not make NITP as a top age player ?

The coaches want to win so will pick what they believe is the best team available at selection time, NITP or no NITP.

Thanks, just a myth then , talking about Vic Country U18 men. 4 in NPP and 7 in NITP wondering if it is worth turning up for tryouts

haha the parent has been called out and has resorted to name calling. I think the above has nailed it on the head - he is unhappy that he has been unable to influence selections - and his inadequate ability to recognise talent has left him bitter. Basketball is better of without parents like this!!

Well said Bear thanks for your advice

NITP in WA was a joke (I don't know what its like now). I would like to know the percentage of players in NITP squads from 5 years ago that are actually still playing basketball at anything but social level. I suspect it is very low. As with state team selection, nepotism is rife. I can understand team coaches choosing earlier maturers in order to win games, but NITP should focus on players with potential. It doesn't.

But it doesn't stop those who don't get selected going back to their Associations and getting some guidance in where they need to improve, then putting in the extra needed to succeed regardless!

If they are going to grow and develop into decent or elite players down the track, making NITP or not is not the be all and end all.

Nepotism: The practice among those with power or influence of favouring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.

This was talking about one out of control VIC association, and pointing out it was not a part of NITP selection.

Your chances are greatly increased if your club coaches are there I had one tell me that.

Coaches who assist at these camps are usually always from some club or assoc, they aren't just plucked from thin air. Without them the selectors and national or COE coaches attending can't do their job properly, so although people may have a perception that favourites are picked over more talented kids, this is not the norm.

Yes, there have been mistakes in the past and I dare say there will be again, no one is perfect, they fill the spots best they can with what they see and know.

Who do coaches show "favouritism" to anyway? Usually good kids who work hard and have the right attitude. I know for a fact that during my time spent in my state's NITP program as a coach there was a couple of athletes who weren't always so pleased so see me at a trial as they knew their poor attitude and work ethic was well known and they wouldn't get any favours.

Players are overlooked mostly because they are not good enough in one (or more) aspects of the desired criteria - not for the great conspiracies like the parent (an A-grade muppet) on here believes!

How do you measure success HO?

The program is just fine they get it right every time when selecting. How could anybody doubt the process come on people!
No parent, kid or coach has ever been given or shown any favoritism. In fact the coaches that are selected are put through a rigorous process to ensure they are of the utmost professionalism. They don't care if you are related, come from their club or are there very own child or god child or the child of a close personal friend. They are certainly not bothered if you are the child of a sworn enemy or somebody they just don't like none of this sort of thing ever ever happens! it's not and never will be a conspiracy just Muppet parents you see crazy stage parents yep that's it.

It's such a wonderful world full of sunshine and lollies pops.

And other substances by the looks of it^

Seems the parent has failed to influence the posters on here, much like the selectors at trails. Wonder if he went on a dummy spitting rant there too like he has here?

RE: Reply #486733
re: NITP selection camp for U16

Oh I so wish we did not have to stay Anon,( we all are for obvious reasons) as you and I would get along fine, with what I have been fed over the past 3 weeks is just a joke. Funny how different coaches see very different things.. and how our own children's coaches from both Domestic and VJBL are never asked.

Domestic???? Bahahaha

yes Domestic, most country kids play Div 1 or CBL with highly qualified coaches week in and week out.....

Yep Jamie O'loughlan, Jason Reardon , Nathan Herbert, Glenn sharp, Bruce Waldron and the list goes on, all coach Domestic Div 1 in Geelong

Quick, get them all involved in NITP selection!

NITP is a rubbish i heard some of the names today lol man it's funny!

I don't believe good player not make NITP it bad player making it very bad.

lol sunshine and lollie pops! so ture

Depending on your club the SPP is fantastic anyway and no travel involved. We had a great time at SPP last year our coach is an NPP coach.

Seems the parent has failed to influence the posters on here, much like the selectors at trails. Wonder if he went on a dummy spitting rant there too like he has here?

^
Is that you GW taking it a bit personally. lol ^ this guy

So true he has taken it personally lol poor bloke.

Clearly been product of the favouritism everybody's talking about

Kids who are injured or unavailable can and do go through.

@Anon^ while some of what you say bares reasonable common sense the facts are that sometimes a player is known to all coaches and selectors as suitable to the program, but may be unable to attend or is injured yet still selected.

This sometimes get people upset, especially when their kid busts a gut and doesn't get selected. It is a tough one to explain, but if a kid is really that good he/she should be in the program anyway.

Anon you make a good point. Some kids that are good enough don't make it for many reasons. Some that shouldn't do for other reasons. Over their journey however it will even out. If your kid is truly a more talented individual no amount of NITP is going to change that. Once they have reached youth league nobody remembers who made NITP. Time tells us that most who did don't even make that. Be patient if they love the game then remember it's a marathon not a sprint.

Whilst I agree with the sentiment, I'm not too sure of the facts about
"Once they have reached youth league nobody remembers who made NITP. Time tells us that most who did don't even make that."
I'd like to know some statistics to judge that more fully, and my thinking (from my own experience in NSW at least) would be that the majority of NITP athletes would go on to at least play YL level.

I dont think you realize just how many colleges and universities there are in the US.

Maribyrnong is the one the Victorian government have spent a lot of money on. They have been placing kids in the us college system.

Box Hill is the stand out basketball and academic program by some margin.

They are secondary schools that offer a sports stream as part of their curriculum.

Big Mac..same same at BVC under 18 Boys. Boy did not know he was nominated, did not go to try outs and wow he made it. How surprised was he when told by his peers...

There is u15 nitp see part of invite below. I still haven't heard back and BV go into hiding when teams are picked.

Dear Players and Parents,

Thank you for registering for the Basketball Victoria 2014 Under 15 NITP Selection Camp

Camp details are as follows:
Tuesday 1 & Wednesday 2 July 2014

Camps are broken into single years, NITP is not.

Everyone should have been advised successful or otherwise last weekend.

As your post confirms.

Been almost 24hrs since we heard how there are too many DV girls selected, thought we had better have another discussion about it!

I'm not sure why they don't publish the squads, maybe not until all of them are locked down and acceptances are in?

Remember though, not as clear cut as you suggest.

The selection is for next year's squads so the u16 group is from bottom age 16s and top age 14s from this current season.

Been almost 24hrs since we heard how there are too many DV girls selected, thought we had better have another discussion about it!


^you had to do it didn't you. lol

I heard a rumour another club who is not Diamond Valley has 4 as well, and another at least 3, and they both had nobody involved in the selection process from their associations.

Maybe these damned selectors are just picking the most talented kids available for the program regardless of what club they play at???

Big Mac......


Goat !!!!!!!


No concept, no idea, no nuts. Go ask GW why teams are selected the way they are.

Going to be some scarily super teams in VC next year. With that sort of talent coming out a couple of clubs.

Maybe these damned selectors are just picking the most talented kids available for the program regardless of what club they play at???

^When you see this sort of passionate response make you wonder if the guy or gal works for BV was one of the coaches or has a kid that is on the train.

Maybe it's all a joke!

I'll have a Big Mac and Cheese burger with extra NITP.

Sad to say, but maybe the kid wasn't selected due to his lunatic parents? Good decision too, judging by the sookfest on here.

Which post is from a parent. allot of people taking the piss i think.

I was a parent who asked a genuine question about those getting in with Injury and no-shows making it.

BVC do put their lists up, wish they did not as you start to question some of the decisions.

BVC started NITP with a verbal statement " this year it is a clean slate and you are on an even keel " before taking the same boys.

The thread has offered many incites and gone a little off track, but I have enjoyed the banter.

I do wish every player success , what ever that means for each. For us it is to walk away form BVC and look locally at pathways. We are encouraged by feed back and my son will always play because " I just wan't to play Ball, Mum "

Vic parent, you are misguided/misinformed/ignorant re Box Hill.

It is the best basketball school with by far the best coaches.

Ha ha ha

Good riddance, parents like you are better off in other sports.

@Anon #457 did you ask for clarification as to why your kid didn't get selected and what the kid can do to improve? Did the coaches offer you any feedback or where you only after an answer about other selections ahead of your kid?

"Doggy processes" haha

Reply #487683
re: NITP selection camp for U16

Well said, lets hope it now dies a natural death....until State Teams are announced lol.

Wait until the NPP lists are released.

I thought the summary was pretty doggy, but can someone please clarify this whole DV situation?

Miss out on NITP do not worry head over to Melbourne United.


Basketball Victoria partners with Melbourne United

Category: Frontpage News, General


Basketball Victoria is pleased to announce that the State's newest National Basketball League team, Melbourne United, has signed a three-year deal to become a major partner of Basketball Victoria.

This new partnership will see many great benefits flow down to the Victorian basketball community, including an exciting injection of funds to the amount of three quarters of a million dollars over three years. Much of these funds will go directly into the development of both playing and coaching talent in Victoria, with both parties committing to as many as 500 coaching development courses over that time as a starting point.

The agreement will also see Melbourne United become a key participant in elite player training and high performance programs moving forward, while providing a genuine avenue for a closer link between elite and grassroots level basketball associations and clubs. A major feature of the team’s objectives is to put a predominantly Victorian list on the floor, which it is hoped will help provide some clarity for junior players on how the pathway to the NBL is paved.

As Victoria’s sole representative at the NBL level, Melbourne United’s mission has been to 'bring together the entire Victorian basketball community, behind one team, with one voice, sharing in the successes of the past, and the excitement of the future’.

This partnership will see this mission go a step further, with Melbourne United committing to playing a key role and being a major contributor to the development of the sport in Victoria and an active participant in the development and nurturing of the sport at the grassroots level through to the professional ranks.

In turn, Melbourne United will utilise the partnership to consolidate a long-term relationship with Basketball Victoria, as well as increase awareness of their brand across all Basketball Victoria affiliated associations.

We will have further details and updates in the coming days and weeks relating to the specifics of how the Victorian basketball community will benefit from this new partnership.

Have a look at the track record of those running Melbourne United, will reveal everything you need to know.

Ohh my....

It's great that there are occasionally a few kids that don't get selected or were involved for the sports formal, national pathways still make it to a level beyond juniors. The fact is this is the exception rather than the rule.

The Federal Government has formal funding arrangements with the NSOs in every sport to develop well governed, planned, transparent and clearly identified pathways in their sport. NITP is our sports formally recognised, endorsed pathway.

You identify BV as an island unto itself. It is not. It is an affiliated of the sport's national pathway, they have formal high performance arrangements in place with the AIS and BA. Whilst BA staff may at times have a healthy tension with their state based counterparts, and seek to provide constructive feedback, performance measurement and guidance, this is a healthy aspect of the above.

By the above post it appears you are saying kids will "make it" if they don't participate in NITP and you accuse coaches stopping their players from attending.

If this is happening it is ill informed and uneducated and if I was a parent of a kid in this kind of environment that did not support the sports pathways, providing opportunities to my kid I would rip them out faster than you can blink. The kids that make it outside of the our countries' internationally recognised, nationally endorsed, federal government funded pathway is rare.

I find it very hard to believe that DV have got 5 girls through i call bullshit it's not possible. I call bullshit that they had the most coaches at tryouts and I call bullshit that one of them didn't have to tryout. What a load of crap just some parent that's kid didn't make it making stuff up.

Who has final say on who makes NITP and NPP?
Is it the coaches at these camps or is it someone at BV?

#105 I know for a fact that at BVC Boy Tryouts a Country Boy did not know of his nomination and did not attend, and yes he did get in..... NO BULLSHIT yeah

Don't the coaches make recommendations and then BV either agree or disagree with them? Surely GW would have ultimate say in who makes the grade?

105, hilarious.

The trials aren't the only thing the selections are based on. Everyone is getting into DV, but another club has 4 girls in - 1 in NITP and 3 in NPP.

And they had no coaches involved, and the 3 in NPP were not at the final trial.

Did you notice the state coaches and other BV folks watched every game at the classic?

Mike, maybe the classic wasn't their only input????

Very interesting

So what if our coach was selecting? He knows how good our girls are! Its that simple. When you work with them all the time you know how good they are. 2 of the 5 are in our 2s now anyway. Our girls worked harder.

Now that's funny!

2 players from their 2nd team in NITP, ha ha ha ha ha

How good is the program at DV? 5 kids selected and 2 from the 2's and they work harder. Must get my kid there. Do you think we mere mortals could get a spot in this star studded outfit. I have heard the the future opals are only going to selected out of this incredible bunch of harder working superstars.

I hear they are going to close the COE as don't need it now with it all happening at DV

Embarrassing that I called bullshit!

How dare you be so rude I know that almost all those girls have been playing together since bottom age 12's they have worked hard and are clearly better than others in their age group it's proven with there selection. So much jealousy in this forum. Maybe you can take a leaf out the book of these girls. We have great coaches so we will always have more selecting just because they know how good the girls are dose not mean we had any favouritism.

The ladders are not really relevant as it's next year's u16s not this year's.

Probably a better indication would be how the group performed when top age last year, did they win Nationals, the Classic or VC?

Or even two years before that did they win VC as they've apparently been together since bottom age under 12.

Surely with 5 NITP players they must dominate.

This is the forum that keeps on giving.

Is it true that DV are charging admission to see the 16'1s next season.

I'd pay just to watch them train.

Will a list get put up. I have heard that the ECC teams have been picked. No more camps this year.

Under 16 Victorian Metro Squad announced

The East Coast Challenge (ECC) is a concept originally set up by Basketball Victoria and Basketball New South Wales for Metropolitan athletes at Under 16 and Under 18 level to compete in a round robin style tournament in Sydney (NSW). Due to the success in recent years, South Australia Metro and ACT have joined.

In January, eight Victoria Metropolitan teams (x2 Under 16 Boys and Girls Teams and x2 Under 18 Boys & Girls Teams) play against teams from each of the other States. The Under 16 teams are selected from Victoria Metropolitan's selection Camps whilst the Under 18 teams consists of the final 24 athletes that remain in the Victoria Metro Under 18 State Team selection process for the upcoming Australian Junior Championships.

The ECC is a fantastic development tool as it takes the players away from the comfort zone they may find themselves in with their regular Friday night team and routine and in a tournament play environment. This creates somewhat of a challenge for the individual as they need to adapt whilst away from home yet still at the level expected of them.

2015 ECC Dates: Wednesday 7th - Friday 9th January 2015.

Congratulations to all selected Under 16 players listed below:

Under 16 Girls Victoria Metro
Sharna Ayres - Diamond Valley
Aneta Bandilovski - Diamond Valley
Daisy Bateman - Nunawading
Emmalia Blake - Melbourne
Enya Broadley - Sandringham
Tayla Cedamo - Nunawading
Georgia Cleary - Eltham
Lucy Cochrane - Sandringham
Indica Cohen - Melbourne
Leila DiVirgilio - Bulleen
Keeley Frawley - Sandringham
Kaia Giles - Werribee
Cassidy Gould - Altona
Brianna Hans - Knox
Olivia Henry - Diamond Valley
Chloe Hilderbrand - Diamond Valley
Tegan Hindle - Werribee
Lana Hollingsworth - Sandringham
Elli Leydin - Altona
Emma Nankervis - Frankston
Madeline Phillips - Bulleen
Christina Popa - Melbourne
Madeline Puli - Werribee
Romy Richardson - Bulleen
Ruby Shepherd - Knox
Destiny Valenti - Diamond Valley

Under 16 Boys Victoria Metro
Ben Adams - Kilsyth
Kye Agosta - Eltham
Liam Allison - Melbourne
Matthew Baggio - Collingwood
Nicholas Barro - Diamond Valley
Corey Battistin - Werribee
Callan Blackley - Dandenong
Ryan Bowkett - Diamond Valley
Austen Bradtke - Melbourne
Harrison Bridge - Sandringham
Jackson Burge - Melbourne
David Djukic - Waverley
Nick Formosa - Altona
TJ Hepi - Dandenong
Brad Heywood - Kilsyth
Nicholas Kiefer - Hawthorn
Keli Leaupepe - Bulleen
Trent Nathan - Nunawading
Kyle Potter - Pakenham
Ryan Rapp - Dandenong
Matthew Roberts - Ringwood
Tyler Robertson - Warrandyte
Wyatt Shantz - Eltham
Stefan Uzelac - Eltham
Ward Williams - Melbourne
Bailey Wraith - Hawthorn

The Under 18 teams will be known later in 2014.

For further enquires about Basketball Victoria's High Performance programs please contact Sami Gaal on 03 9837 8000.

Yes Dandenong team made it to Club Nationals with that group at least, DV not to be seen.

Not sure how many of the Dandenong girls are country in that age group?

One of the Melbourne girls is u17 unless she has decided to repeat u16

5 from DV what a joke! So it's all true. I wonder if the part about one of them not trying out is true that would prove favoritism.

None from Dandenong? Sad state at BV ATM. Maybe someone should send an FOI request and have a good look at the files over there.

How many players were at the selection camp and how many were from each club?

I heard about 40 kids were there. That DV team is going to be a fearsome unit in VC next season. Will be great to see how they go.

Next season DV look like they will be better then the U16 Girls Bulleen team this year. There is always a standout team and it looks like next season is DV'S turn.

This is a load of crap.

You're right, DV won't even get close in u16 girls next year.

That's what I think. The nitp selection is a joke. You shouldn't be able to make it if you didn't tryout.

When my son finally made it into NITP he pulled out because the volunteer coaches weren't teaching him anything he hadn't already learned from his professional coach. Don't feel bad if your kid doesn't make it.

"That's what I think. The nitp selection is a joke. You shouldn't be able to make it if you didn't tryout."

So this would discount plenty then based on the numbers of 40-50 kids trying out. 26 players names from 40-50 doesn't mean too many missed out if they tried out.

Heard only 1 Dandenong player attended try outs so that may explain the fact there is no Dandenong players in the list.

So your son quit the chance to get extra training against other elite athletes? Gee I bet he goes a long way in the sport...

Bear - agree completely. My child is in the NSW NITP program and it has been great. It teaches much more than basketball, and likewise it is very well run.

haha won't learn anything going against and with other elite basketballers? nice advice - probably will be the first one sooking when he doesn't make it!

No matter what you think surely you at least have to tryout!

No, you just have to pick the best kids. The trials aren't the only input to selection.

If the next Lauren Jackson isn't at trials because she's at state team training as a bottom age player, should you not pick her?

If the player has been there before absolutely. However some individuals this year have been selected that have never been in any team at that level before that didn't tryout and have been picked. How is that fair? it's ridiculous.

The bigger issue is there are many who get picked on the basis that they were in SCC or some other thing before, and turned up.

If you look at what everyone has been complaining about, that group from one club is continually picked on the basis they were here last time, or someone is a coach's daughter.

There is hardly a talented athlete or smart basketballer amongst the 5 of them.

Absolutely on the money (554). I think one of them should be there but a smart basketballer she is not.

And one of them didn't even tryout. How dose that work?

It seems the most selfish players make it.

Never seen this much frustration before clearly something not right this year.

BV have lost their way.

From afar (NSW) it seems the problem is the process... Is NITP squad really selected from a single trial???

How else can you select other than putting them against each other to see who really has the skill sets. I find it hard to believe that all best kids come from so few clubs. Its all based on bias.

I agree BV have lost the way. It's a shame. Get back to fair dinkum selection.

Again i think its process. I heard that vic dont have a head NITP coach employed by BV who is not employed by any association. Is that correct?

Yes that's true coaches from the clubs are selectors.

The new process is flawed, in regards to Vic Country you were picked after being noticed at AJCBC or Clubbies or Southern Cross.This gave selectors 3-5 days to watch players. Now 1 4 hour session .

To all those having a crack at the DV kids, time to man up and cut it out. They are young kids who paid and attended a state run try out. If you are not happy with the process, so be it and ask to see the Head guy there.

How petty that some kids got selected and some did not so let's attack the kids and their club.

People are justifiably upset with the lake of accountability and transparency. With the hopes and dreams of kids on the line the process should be more open.

Everybody should understand how the selection process works. However it's all done behind closed doors with veiled offering of process.

If we really do want the best athletes to make NITP then why not outsource the selection process. With a very and transparent process that setts out clear selection criteria.

This is the only way to get meritorious selection. Anyone who apposes this must have something to hide or lose.

More like the hopes and dreams of parents on the line...

I agree 852 and 876 has a vested interest. Easy to spot those who are the product^^^^^^^

vested interested? from sa? hardly. it's just easy to spot lunatic parents with delusions of conspiracies!

Re: #259 "So your son quit the chance to get extra training against other elite athletes? Gee I bet he goes a long way in the sport..."

There are only so many training opportunities during the week so he chose to train with a professional individuals coach, his SBL coach, his u20's coach and the state squad.

I was complaining he didn't make NITP early on when it would have helped him to develop as a player. Instead NITP took him after he had developed significantly but was looking at other, more advanced, opportunities. NITP should have identified his potential early on instead of working with kids who were early maturers but limited long term future in the sport.

So you had all these training choices, but quit the actual official elite basketball pathway one. How clever.

So VIC NPP/NITP finally kicked off today with athlete testing. Who were the shock selections or omissions???

http://www.hoops.com.au/forum/33975-nitp-selection-camp-for-u16/#p493311 "You need to get over yourself, sorry to be so blunt, but obviously he WASNT ready for NITP, and WASNT showing potential at the time compared to others, so he went off and improved, that's what you have to do, and then He was selected, and by not accepting you have just compromised his future within the basketball Australia pathway....good job mum or dad, let your own ego kill your kids opportunities. Parents need to butt out step back and let the kids do the work, it paid off for your son, but then you still were not happy"

You seem incapable of reading English. If you return to my earlier posts you will read that my son decided himself to pull out of NITP because the standard of coaching he was getting was less that what he was receiving elsewhere. He said something along the lines of "I don't want to go any more, I'm not learning anything new". I had butted out and left him to his decision, but I had to deal with the embarrassment of him knocking back the opportunity.

This post is dead..... Fair dinkum, choose a path for your kids, support them and leave it to the kids to decide what suits them

Wolves not Gators...

Somewhere in this thread we discussed if NITP players make State Teams. Today I checked BVC U18 State Team after being OS and wow 2 boys who never made NITP.

I bet no quitters made the team...

Unfortunately there are no DV girls through to the last 15 for the Vic Metro state team selection.

I think he is listening too much to an assistant who maybe has some favourites to push through, best guard in the competition gets cut, look out when they play hawthorn.Maybe they should madate that if your a state coach you cannot be a VJBL coach for that year so you can go around and look the player in a true environment and see them perform. I think the under process has been a joke they will be lucky to get a 4th

The assistant coach you speak of wouldn't possibly have been from the same club as the kid selected ahead of the "best guard in the state" would they? Or both of them aren't from the same club that the head coach used to coach at? Which is the same club that are rivals with diamond valley (whose second team has beaten hawthorn 1 twice to date)? And the head of basketball Vic wouldn't happen to be from the same club as all of the above, surely?

........oh wait

There are no girls from Diamond Valley, Hawthorn or Eltham in the squad.

The only other guard that possibly could have made it did her ACL, otherwise the best players are all in the squad.

'Unfortunately there are no DV girls through to the last 15 for the Vic Metro state team selection"

I'd be questioning the development they are getting at DV not the selection process or the coach who is selecting
whos head of DV ?

Eltham do have a player in the final 15, plays a 2/3.

^ and why would you question their development at DV?