Objectives and Responsibilities

• To ensure the enjoyment of all players within the club - through equal participation.

• To place players in teams appropriate to their current or future skill level and development.

• To develop all players to the maximum of their ability.

Guiding Principles

• We understand friendships are important consideration for children playing sport. We encourage parents to help guide coordinators when it comes to a child playing with a friend but it needs to be understood that fielding friendship groups can be a challenge and in some cases it is secondary to selecting teams. Experience tells us that as the children move into older age groups moving and playing with different children is a benefit to them socially and also to their basketball development.

• If players are required to be moved between teams, where possible they are moved with an existing friend or teammate.

• Players that play both summer and winter seasons are always given preference in team assignments.

• In an age group where there are more than 4 teams the club will only field two teams in the same age group grade if both teams will be competitive and/or if no other grade is available. In such situations, the team makeup may be selected and/or changed to ensure team balance.

selection process

The Saints Basketball Club appoints Age Group Co-Ordinators for both boys and girls’ competitions.

Each of the Co-ordinators are volunteers and have a range of duties they perform. Included in their duties is the responsibility for forming the team lists for each season.

The allocation of teams each season is a complex and time-consuming process and every new season brings many factors that must be taken into account including:

• New players coming to the club

• Players returning from previous seasons

• Players moving up an age group and/or changing grading

• Player evaluations at the end of the season from every team coach

• Requests received indicating a preference for previous and/or newly formed friendships

• Number of players registered in an age group

Additionally, the Co-Ordinators are also forced to adjust teams as players leave teams for various reasons outside the club's control.

The primary focus on team allocation, however, is on the individual player. The club, whilst considering all factors including previous or newly formed friendship groups, will attempt to place each player in the most appropriate team for the ongoing development of their fundamental skills and team play.

Requests

Please note that, where a parent, player, or coach makes a request regarding team allocations to an age-group coordinator, that request must be in writing and must be submitted prior to the end of the current season.

summary

The team selection process is a challenging one and is often one of trying to find a balance between placing children in the best team for their ongoing basketball development and other considerations.

Given that some Age Group Co-Ordinator’s are responsible for more than 100 children, requests and preferences are noted and taken into account where circumstances allow. Whilst the club attempts to satisfy all such requests, it may not always be able to do so. Particularly, requests relating to friendship groups are considered, however they are considered secondary to issues of player development, skill, team composition and full participation for all players. As a result, whilst the club makes every attempt to do so, there is no guarantee that all requests can be met.

The Age Group Co-Ordinator’s, and the members of the Committee have all been very involved with the club and the sport, and most will have been through team selections and changes in previous season as a parent, coach or team manager. As a result, they understand the many situations that can arise at the change of each season, and most times, the Co-Ordinator’s will work with parents so that their requirements can be accommodated. If not, there will be a legitimate reason for not being able to do so.

Finally, whilst recognising that friendships are important, the central focus of the club must be on promoting equal player participation and basketball development. In fact, the Saints believe that friendships and associations naturally develop through sport, and that many new friendships will be formed amongst both players and parents through playing in new teams.

The club asks all parents that they be understanding and respectful when the club makes a decision for change relating to issues of basketball development and full participation for all players.