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Trinbago, NBA & World Basketball / Interesting article about BBall development problems in the states
« on: October 16, 2006, 07:06:34 PM »
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=137124
Draw your own conclusions...........
College Basketball Expert Mike DeCourcy
Basketball is broken; here's a program to fix it
Posted: October 11, 2006
If you've been watching Dwyane Wade, Joakim Noah or O.J. Mayo, it might be hard to tell, but basketball in this country is broken. Well, maybe not broken. It's more like a car leaking oil, stuttering through second gear and ominously hissing.
The people in charge of the sport -- leaders in the NCAA, NBA, USA Basketball, the high school federations and the two largest sneaker companies -- know that, and late last month they gathered in Indianapolis. There they agreed to form a group to study issues surrounding the youth game and produce a report early next year.
What will the group discuss? Its members won't say. So I'll tell you what they should consider.
Acknowledge basketball is not simply an "activity." So long as the folks running school athletics view the game as if it's no more important than French Club, nothing will change. When people in charge treat the game that way, players ignore the people in charge.
Only a select few will make their livings playing professionally. But then, only a select few actors, dancers and musicians make it big. Treating those disciplines with respect in the academic world allows participants who don't become stars to proudly teach their skills to young people. What about at least some course credit for playing hoops at the college level?
Make learning a prerequisite to playing. We wouldn't hand a piano to an 8-year-old kid and expect him to play Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata." Why do we expect young basketball players to excel without comprehending the game? One elite college freshman recently admitted to a coach that he didn't understand basic terms such as back screen and down screen.
Develop a certification program for coaches. With assistance from the other organizations, USA Basketball could develop a program for training and certifying coaches who work with youth, club, high school and collegiate teams. That is done for officials at all levels; there's no reason refs should know the game better than those teaching it.
Allow coaches to coach. High school federations started the AAU basketball problem, if you want to call it that, by passing rules preventing high school coaches from running summer league teams. If high school coaches were more involved, there'd be less of a void for the questionable AAU guys to fill.
With college coaches prevented from offering summer training, players employ workout coaches to help them get better. So who pays for such sessions? Those whose families have money usually pay for themselves. Those whose families are not as well off might wind up being funded by friends or agents or agents' friends.
Start an elite basketball academy. The NCAA views this -- the formation of an academy allowing about 40 high school players to spend mornings in school and afternoons training and competing -- as a narrow issue. Perhaps, but most amateurism problems are concentrated among elite players, and training those players differently would impact the quality of play at college and pro levels.
These academies have worked in baseball, soccer and, overseas, in basketball. The United States is behind on this but not so far behind it cannot catch up.
Draw your own conclusions...........
College Basketball Expert Mike DeCourcy
Basketball is broken; here's a program to fix it
Posted: October 11, 2006
If you've been watching Dwyane Wade, Joakim Noah or O.J. Mayo, it might be hard to tell, but basketball in this country is broken. Well, maybe not broken. It's more like a car leaking oil, stuttering through second gear and ominously hissing.
The people in charge of the sport -- leaders in the NCAA, NBA, USA Basketball, the high school federations and the two largest sneaker companies -- know that, and late last month they gathered in Indianapolis. There they agreed to form a group to study issues surrounding the youth game and produce a report early next year.
What will the group discuss? Its members won't say. So I'll tell you what they should consider.
Acknowledge basketball is not simply an "activity." So long as the folks running school athletics view the game as if it's no more important than French Club, nothing will change. When people in charge treat the game that way, players ignore the people in charge.
Only a select few will make their livings playing professionally. But then, only a select few actors, dancers and musicians make it big. Treating those disciplines with respect in the academic world allows participants who don't become stars to proudly teach their skills to young people. What about at least some course credit for playing hoops at the college level?
Make learning a prerequisite to playing. We wouldn't hand a piano to an 8-year-old kid and expect him to play Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata." Why do we expect young basketball players to excel without comprehending the game? One elite college freshman recently admitted to a coach that he didn't understand basic terms such as back screen and down screen.
Develop a certification program for coaches. With assistance from the other organizations, USA Basketball could develop a program for training and certifying coaches who work with youth, club, high school and collegiate teams. That is done for officials at all levels; there's no reason refs should know the game better than those teaching it.
Allow coaches to coach. High school federations started the AAU basketball problem, if you want to call it that, by passing rules preventing high school coaches from running summer league teams. If high school coaches were more involved, there'd be less of a void for the questionable AAU guys to fill.
With college coaches prevented from offering summer training, players employ workout coaches to help them get better. So who pays for such sessions? Those whose families have money usually pay for themselves. Those whose families are not as well off might wind up being funded by friends or agents or agents' friends.
Start an elite basketball academy. The NCAA views this -- the formation of an academy allowing about 40 high school players to spend mornings in school and afternoons training and competing -- as a narrow issue. Perhaps, but most amateurism problems are concentrated among elite players, and training those players differently would impact the quality of play at college and pro levels.
These academies have worked in baseball, soccer and, overseas, in basketball. The United States is behind on this but not so far behind it cannot catch up.
3
Football / Why the U16s should be held out of SSFL
« on: September 06, 2006, 07:36:15 AM »
From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center:
U.S. UNDER-17 MNT TO FACE BRAZIL, MEXICO AND PORTUGAL
IN NIKE NATIONAL TEAM FRIENDLIES ON NIKE CAMPUS FROM SEPT. 7-10
Draw to Determine Match Schedule to Be Held at Nike Campus on Eve of Friendlies;
U.S. U-17s Arrive in Beaverton Directly From FA Tournament in England
CHICAGO (Sept. 5, 2006) – The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team will compete in the Nike National Team Friendlies along with Brazil, Mexico and Portugal from Sept. 7-10 on the Nike Campus in Beaverton, Ore.
The friendlies are structured in a six-game round-robin format with two games a day on Sept. 7, 8 and 10, but the actual match-ups on those dates will not be decided until the night before the event. On Wednesday, Sept. 6, a draw to determine the match schedule will be held during a reception for all four teams at the Tiger Woods Center.
All six games will be played on the Ronaldo Fields at the Nike Campus. The back-to-back matches on Sept. 7 and 10 will be played in the morning (9 and 11 a.m. PT), while the two matches on Sept. 8 will take place in the afternoon (3 and 5 p.m. PT).
“We are looking forward to playing three of the best international youth teams in the world during the Nike National Team Friendlies,” said U.S. Under-17 head coach John Hackworth. “We’re coming off international tournaments in Japan and England, but this three-game series will no doubt be the most challenging this group of players has encountered. By putting on this event, Nike has provided us with a great stage on our home soil to measure ourselves and continue our preparations for next year as we attempt to qualify for the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup.”
The U.S. Under-17s will be traveling straight to Beaverton from England where they spent the past week competing in the FA Under-17 Friendly International Tournament against England, Turkey and Portugal. The U.S. finished third in the four-team tournament, coming away with draws against Turkey as well as Portugal, who also traveled to Beaverton after their last match.
Before losing to England in the FA tournament, the U.S. was on a five-game unbeaten streak against international teams. Overall this year, the Under-17s are 5-3-8 in international matches, with victories over Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Jamaica and the Czech Republic.
Hackworth’s roster for the Nike National Team Friendlies will be exactly the same as the 18-player roster he took to England, which includes six new members that joined U.S. Soccer's Under-17 Residency Program this August: Howard Turk, Brendan King, Ryan Garcia, Gregory Garza, Ryan Finley and Zac MacMath.
Three players will be returning to their northwest roots as midfielders Daniel Wenzel and Brandon Zimmerman, and forward Ellis McLoughlin all hail from Washington. Wenzel has been one of the most consistent players for the U-17s during his year in Residency, while Zimmerman has impressed so far as he follows in the footsteps of his older brother, Preston, who was one of the leaders for Hackworth’s squad at the 2005 FIFA Under-17 World Championship. McLoughlin is considered one of the most dangerous strikers for the U.S., as the Seattle native leads the team with seven international goals and two assists.
Leading the way for the U.S. in the back is goalkeeper Josh Lambo who has earned the starting position in the net during the past year in Residency. Lambo can count on his consistent defenders Brandon Lee, Matthew Uy, Mykell Bates and Sheanon Williams, who has also played forward during his time with the Under-17s and is still a scoring threat from the back.
Along with Wenzel and Zimmerman, Hackworth can call on midfielders Jared Jeffrey, Daniel Barerra and Axel Levry, who scored the USA’s lone goal in their 1-1 draw with Portugal last week. Up front, Bryan Dominguez has been a regular starter with McLoughlin.
All the players on the U.S. roster are eligible for the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup which will take place from Aug. 18 to Sept. 9, in South Korea. The U.S. is the only country that has qualified and competed in all 11 FIFA World Championships at this age group, and will attempt to keep the streak alive next April when they compete in the CONCACAF Under-17 Qualifying Tournament at a location still to be determined.
Brazil and Mexico have won the past two FIFA U-17 World Championships (now called the FIFA U-17 World Cup), with Brazil winning the championship in 2003 and Mexico taking the crown last year. Portugal last competed in the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship, finishing in eighth place.
- ussoccer.com -
******************************************************
****************************************************************
U.S. UNDER-17 MNT TO FACE BRAZIL, MEXICO AND PORTUGAL
IN NIKE NATIONAL TEAM FRIENDLIES ON NIKE CAMPUS FROM SEPT. 7-10
Draw to Determine Match Schedule to Be Held at Nike Campus on Eve of Friendlies;
U.S. U-17s Arrive in Beaverton Directly From FA Tournament in England
CHICAGO (Sept. 5, 2006) – The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team will compete in the Nike National Team Friendlies along with Brazil, Mexico and Portugal from Sept. 7-10 on the Nike Campus in Beaverton, Ore.
The friendlies are structured in a six-game round-robin format with two games a day on Sept. 7, 8 and 10, but the actual match-ups on those dates will not be decided until the night before the event. On Wednesday, Sept. 6, a draw to determine the match schedule will be held during a reception for all four teams at the Tiger Woods Center.
All six games will be played on the Ronaldo Fields at the Nike Campus. The back-to-back matches on Sept. 7 and 10 will be played in the morning (9 and 11 a.m. PT), while the two matches on Sept. 8 will take place in the afternoon (3 and 5 p.m. PT).
“We are looking forward to playing three of the best international youth teams in the world during the Nike National Team Friendlies,” said U.S. Under-17 head coach John Hackworth. “We’re coming off international tournaments in Japan and England, but this three-game series will no doubt be the most challenging this group of players has encountered. By putting on this event, Nike has provided us with a great stage on our home soil to measure ourselves and continue our preparations for next year as we attempt to qualify for the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup.”
The U.S. Under-17s will be traveling straight to Beaverton from England where they spent the past week competing in the FA Under-17 Friendly International Tournament against England, Turkey and Portugal. The U.S. finished third in the four-team tournament, coming away with draws against Turkey as well as Portugal, who also traveled to Beaverton after their last match.
Before losing to England in the FA tournament, the U.S. was on a five-game unbeaten streak against international teams. Overall this year, the Under-17s are 5-3-8 in international matches, with victories over Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Jamaica and the Czech Republic.
Hackworth’s roster for the Nike National Team Friendlies will be exactly the same as the 18-player roster he took to England, which includes six new members that joined U.S. Soccer's Under-17 Residency Program this August: Howard Turk, Brendan King, Ryan Garcia, Gregory Garza, Ryan Finley and Zac MacMath.
Three players will be returning to their northwest roots as midfielders Daniel Wenzel and Brandon Zimmerman, and forward Ellis McLoughlin all hail from Washington. Wenzel has been one of the most consistent players for the U-17s during his year in Residency, while Zimmerman has impressed so far as he follows in the footsteps of his older brother, Preston, who was one of the leaders for Hackworth’s squad at the 2005 FIFA Under-17 World Championship. McLoughlin is considered one of the most dangerous strikers for the U.S., as the Seattle native leads the team with seven international goals and two assists.
Leading the way for the U.S. in the back is goalkeeper Josh Lambo who has earned the starting position in the net during the past year in Residency. Lambo can count on his consistent defenders Brandon Lee, Matthew Uy, Mykell Bates and Sheanon Williams, who has also played forward during his time with the Under-17s and is still a scoring threat from the back.
Along with Wenzel and Zimmerman, Hackworth can call on midfielders Jared Jeffrey, Daniel Barerra and Axel Levry, who scored the USA’s lone goal in their 1-1 draw with Portugal last week. Up front, Bryan Dominguez has been a regular starter with McLoughlin.
All the players on the U.S. roster are eligible for the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup which will take place from Aug. 18 to Sept. 9, in South Korea. The U.S. is the only country that has qualified and competed in all 11 FIFA World Championships at this age group, and will attempt to keep the streak alive next April when they compete in the CONCACAF Under-17 Qualifying Tournament at a location still to be determined.
Brazil and Mexico have won the past two FIFA U-17 World Championships (now called the FIFA U-17 World Cup), with Brazil winning the championship in 2003 and Mexico taking the crown last year. Portugal last competed in the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship, finishing in eighth place.
- ussoccer.com -
******************************************************
****************************************************************
5
Football / Gov't Intervention goes wrong in Greece
« on: July 03, 2006, 12:53:09 PM »
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/5141866.stm
Greece given suspension by Fifa
European champions Greece ignored repeated warnings, say Fifa
Fifa has suspended European champions Greece and its member clubs from international competition because of government interference in the sport.
World governing body Fifa said the Hellenic Football Federation had broken rules on "the independence of members and decision-making in each country".
It means Greek clubs and officials are banned from European competitions.
And it jeopardises Steve McClaren's first game as England boss - a friendly against Greece on 16 August.
The suspension will be in place with "immediate effect and until further notice", according to a Fifa statement.
HFF spokesman Michalis Tsapidis said the federation was shocked at the verdict.
"It is something that was not expected," he said.
"There will be an emergency press conference on Tuesday at our headquarters at midday when our president Mr (Vasilis) Gagatsis will give our official reactions and news of what steps we plan to take.
"Fifa's ruling deals specifically with the independence of the national federation but it is a very complicated issue.
"We, of course, hope for a quick and favourable solution to this problem for the good of Greek football."
Fifa said that it had issued several warnings to the HFF to guarantee, by a 15 July deadline, that the running of football in the country would be free from political movement - but this had been ignored.
If Greece have been suspended by Fifa, we would want to speak to Fifa and the Greek Federation to clarify the situation
FA spokesman Adrian Bevington
In particular, Fifa cited a proposed new Greek law on professional football leagues in the country that "constitutes another example of interference from the government in football affairs".
Sports Minister George Orfanos drafted the law shortly after the conservatives came to power in 2004, and the Greek FA claim it compromises its independence.
Orfanos had repeatedly publicly pledged to revise the law but never did.
Therefore, the statement added, "the Fifa Emergency Committee has determined that this suspension is necessary".
The HFF released their own comunique, accusing Orfanos of "playing with fire".
"He is leading Greek football to international isolation and placing it outside the international soccer community," read the statement.
"Instead of fully freeing Greek soccer from state intervention, (Orfanos) has legalized state intervention and sidelined the federation, with no concern for the consequences that have been explained to him in detail."
Under the suspension, the likes of AEK Athens, Olympiakos and Panathinaikos will not be allowed to compete in the Champions League or Uefa Cup next season.
Greek FA chief Vassilis Gagatsis, who has repeatedly clashed with Sports Minister George Orfanos over the non-independence matter, refused to comment on the suspension.
Meanwhile, the Football Association's director of communications Adrian Bevington said that he would seek clarification on the matter to find out if England's friendly against Greece at Old Trafford could go ahead.
"Obviously, if Greece have been suspended by Fifa, we would want to speak to Fifa and the Greek Federation to clarify the situation," he said.
Greece given suspension by Fifa
European champions Greece ignored repeated warnings, say Fifa
Fifa has suspended European champions Greece and its member clubs from international competition because of government interference in the sport.
World governing body Fifa said the Hellenic Football Federation had broken rules on "the independence of members and decision-making in each country".
It means Greek clubs and officials are banned from European competitions.
And it jeopardises Steve McClaren's first game as England boss - a friendly against Greece on 16 August.
The suspension will be in place with "immediate effect and until further notice", according to a Fifa statement.
HFF spokesman Michalis Tsapidis said the federation was shocked at the verdict.
"It is something that was not expected," he said.
"There will be an emergency press conference on Tuesday at our headquarters at midday when our president Mr (Vasilis) Gagatsis will give our official reactions and news of what steps we plan to take.
"Fifa's ruling deals specifically with the independence of the national federation but it is a very complicated issue.
"We, of course, hope for a quick and favourable solution to this problem for the good of Greek football."
Fifa said that it had issued several warnings to the HFF to guarantee, by a 15 July deadline, that the running of football in the country would be free from political movement - but this had been ignored.
If Greece have been suspended by Fifa, we would want to speak to Fifa and the Greek Federation to clarify the situation
FA spokesman Adrian Bevington
In particular, Fifa cited a proposed new Greek law on professional football leagues in the country that "constitutes another example of interference from the government in football affairs".
Sports Minister George Orfanos drafted the law shortly after the conservatives came to power in 2004, and the Greek FA claim it compromises its independence.
Orfanos had repeatedly publicly pledged to revise the law but never did.
Therefore, the statement added, "the Fifa Emergency Committee has determined that this suspension is necessary".
The HFF released their own comunique, accusing Orfanos of "playing with fire".
"He is leading Greek football to international isolation and placing it outside the international soccer community," read the statement.
"Instead of fully freeing Greek soccer from state intervention, (Orfanos) has legalized state intervention and sidelined the federation, with no concern for the consequences that have been explained to him in detail."
Under the suspension, the likes of AEK Athens, Olympiakos and Panathinaikos will not be allowed to compete in the Champions League or Uefa Cup next season.
Greek FA chief Vassilis Gagatsis, who has repeatedly clashed with Sports Minister George Orfanos over the non-independence matter, refused to comment on the suspension.
Meanwhile, the Football Association's director of communications Adrian Bevington said that he would seek clarification on the matter to find out if England's friendly against Greece at Old Trafford could go ahead.
"Obviously, if Greece have been suspended by Fifa, we would want to speak to Fifa and the Greek Federation to clarify the situation," he said.
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