Where is our National Training Facility?

I read that USA basketball will be moving to a new state of the art training facility in Phoenix, Arizona.

Where is Canada's training facility?

When we wonder why we can not compete with the worlds best national basketball teams we can start with the fact that we don't have a dedicated facility for our program.

I see the Soccer Canada has been able to add a soccer only National Stadium in Toronto with BMO Field. Basketball Canada needs a facility that they can use to train and produce the best basketball players for our future.

Using an existing university facility won't do. They need a facility that they have control over to maximize it's effects on our national and Jr national players.

How much could it cost to build a basketball gym with some seating. A European sized (5000 seats) basketball building would be perfect for international games and some national tournaments. They could also rent it out for local tournaments and even a minor league team.

Right now Basketball Canada needs to start somewhere with something to get the program moving forward.

FIBA Organizer

Over the last few years basketballs international governing body, FIBA, has demanded that canadian basketball adopt FIBA rules at every level. I would say that this demand has been met with disdain as FIBA has rules that are very unfamiliar to North American basketball.

The question I had is what does FIBA have to offer us?

I think I have found one of the answers...The FIBA Organizer!

The FIBA Organizer is software that can be used to organize leagues and tournaments. This includes tournament draws, league schedules, standings, and all statistical categories. It includes a website to upload the schedule and statistics to.

This is excellent piece of software that can really help community basketball organizations be well prepared to run their basketball leagues each year. It's so good that it could easily be used in a professional league!

The best part is that FIBA offers this software for free. FIBA will pay for the licensing of any organization that wants to use the software. To top that off FIBA is also improving the Organizer, so any glitches or future needs will soon be fixed.

Without a doubt this is a valuable item that is simply not getting enough use. Basketball Canada and FIBA should be pushing the use of the Organizer in Canada. I suggest that any basketball organization use it.

Happy New Year

I resolve to make this a better blog!