depends on the player.

I like what 1 club has which is "no more than 2" per team.

However there is country and there is country - ie Murray bridge vrs Port Augusta.

Murray bridge should be expected to keep up with the group - however Pt Augusta can be excused.

generally my experiences of country basketball puts it about metro Div 3 standard in seniors and juniors. however there are exceptions and the occasional Div 1 elite athlete stands out - generally the better country players are comfortable Div 2s.

Unless a long distance country player has a long term strategy for 'ball in the city - I really wonder if they are worth it at a strong club. If they will commit for a few years - then yes.

but the continual absence from training is of concern at Div 1 level.

The commitment they make is huge and they need to be rewarded for that with concessions and good court time.

it is awkward to have a full bench of 10 with country players - who drive all that way for a few minutes - or the coach feels pressured to play them.

it is obvious country players radiate to certain clubs, which is fine.

It really gets down to the team and the type of players commuting - if you want a tall and the country player is a tall - then you walk on water to get them etc, etc.

it is not fair on the metro players who deserve selection as well. there is no clear answer.

What the...

What exactly is your experience with country players. Do you realise that some of the best players in this state are from the country. Any country player driving down to town will probably have a long term strategy, and at my club we expect them to train each time they play, plus they train and play at home as well. How exactly are metro players disadvantaged. If they aren't in the top 8 or 9 in the squad, then they havn't done the work and don't deserve their spot.

No player should be rewarded with court time that they don't earn, and I know of country players who have not got on in games. But all in all each player earn's their court time with their efforts. The key is communication and being fair.

plenty of country contact my end, lived in country myself.

It was a general statement country basketball is of Div 3 metro standard, like I said there are exceptions with the elite shining thru.

You are deluded to think that country basketball - where they play usually summer only - is better than metro. very few country associations play over winter - Mt gambier, whyalla barossa are some of the very few country associations to play all year round.

How can a country player be better when they only play in the off season.

You need to differ between mt barker "country" (hardly country nowdays) and Pt pirie country.

If country was that good why does metro win all the time.

I have never known a distance based country player to attend every training at my club, so you must be very special to get your country players at training all the time.

Country players often have "big fish small pond" situation.

What the...

I didn't state that they make every training for my club. But that when they play they train, and infact they would generally train more times than they play.

Country players also have ITC trainings which take the place of second trainings, as well as their local games (of which they usually play in more than one). And I don;t know of too many metro players who make it to every training. Maybe it is more to do with your club.

Plus I don't think I said anywhere in the last post that it was better. Or is your ability to read as poor as your ability to write relevent posts. But then again Broken Hill did qualify fo rthe u/14 National Champs the other year by finishing 2nd in State Champs.