CanuckHoops

Buying into Basketball Canada and their plans

2009-06-15T15:54:00.005-07:00

When I was attending my coaching level 3 technical course we had many animated discussions in my class. An ongoing theme was whether Basketball Canada deserved our support or needs to change. One of the instructors had this suggestion: Buy into what Basketball Canada has planned!

What he was getting at is that while it's fine to complain about what Basketball Canada has planned for future isn't it best that we all give it our best effort and then make a judgement on the plans. It's hard to say whether something will work or not if you never try it.

Perhaps local basketball organizations are just too small and tightly budgeted to be able to buy in. Most local house leagues prefer not to use referees from the local board in order to keep costs low, despite that good referees can help kids better learn the rules of the game, not to mention the insurance issues involved with not using board officials. I have even seen this in the mens league level.

I often wonder why local leagues will spend money on nicer jerseys than they will on training for coaches, properly run camps for kids, properly trained officials and use of basketball canada's many programs, clinics and camps.

I don't know how many people I've met who could use a whole lot more knowledge about the details of the game. Usually most coaches only know a few offensive and defensive schemes and ride them out, but our young players would benefit so much more by having coaches that are up to date and connected in the system to mentors and other coaches that can share ideas.

How can Basketball Canada help those who don't want to be helped?

Why no pro league?

2009-06-15T15:54:00.003-07:00

Why doesn't Canada have a national professional basketball league? Although we do have the Toronto Raptors (NBA), Montreal Matrix (Premier League) and a few other teams at varying time. However the fact that Canada does not have a professional basketball league is a travesty. Canada has been able to support minor league hockey, the Canadian Football League, national major lacrosse and many individual sports teams. But we have never been able to get a basketball league past the infant stages despite having a sports infrastructure that makes basketball an obvious choice for a sports league.

The fact that the Canadian landscape is dominated by minor hockey teams with arenas should be reminicent of how the NBA got it's start playing second fiddle in NHL venues, but professional basketball has just failed to find a solid foothold.

Now there are minor pro teams in Halifax, Montreal, Quebec City, and Winnipeg. Why can we not have a national league?

What's the use of FIBA?

2009-06-15T15:54:00.001-07:00

So in the last few years FIBA, basketballs international governing body, has really put a lot of pressure on Basketball Canada to have all basketball in this country play by their rules.

My question with this is what is FIBA doing to help expand or improve basketball in Canada, and what does adopting these rules at the grassroots level do for basketball here?

I have put some thought into what the answer is, and what it should be.

First I feel that the biggest advantage to adopting FIBA rules is at the officials level. If we use FIBA rules then we will produce FIBA referee's and scorekeepers that can then be used when we host FIBA tournaments. This could be very important for Canada's basketball future as it could lessen the logistical costs of running a high quality tournament.

What it does not do is give our young players a better chance at playing professional basketball. The highest ameteur level in North America is the NCAA and they do not play using FIBA rules.

Premium play

2009-02-28T04:19:00.001-08:00

I recently read an article in the Globe & Mail about a guy who has started a premium basketball mens league in Vancouver. I got to thinking what would I consider a premium league and what would I pay to be in one?

The average mens league is $200-$250 with about ten games plus playoffs. Usually some sort of jersey, a reversable or a t-shirt. Most use qualified officials from the local board. If statistics are kept it's usually only scoring average.

So what do I think a premium league must offer? Lets start with a high quality stitched jersey and shorts with the players name on it. Teams should have names and logo's.

Full statistics including points, rebounds(offensive and defensive), assists, blocks, field goal percentage, free-throw percentage, and three point percentage, turnovers. I think a shot chart would be a nice touch.

I would have pictures and video of the games available via the league website. The website would also include sports section styled stories about each game and previews of the upcoming contests.

The question is would anyone pay extra for this and how much would they be willing to pay?

Let me know what you think.

Where is our National Training Facility?

2009-01-16T04:04:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-02T18:56:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-01T12:28:00.001-08:00

I resolve to make this a better blog!

Team Canada did right keeping Leo!

2008-12-20T18:59:00.001-08:00

Should Leo Rautins continue to be the Canadian Men's Basketball team coach?

Leo has not had a very successful record as the National Teams head coach. I think the thing that irked me about his hiring the most was the fact that he had no previous coaching experience and did not have any of the Coaching courses or levels that are required by the Canadian Coaches association and Basketball Canada.

That being said Leo has coached a very young team that has developed and improved during his tenure.

The situation with Samuel Dalembert was certainly unusual and embarrassing, but Rautins has handled it with some level of class.

I think that at this point in time there is little sense in a coaching change as the organization as a whole seems to lack direction. Rautins is certainly an intelligent basketball mind and has been working with Basketball Canada's shoestring budget to try and lift this team.

Basketball Canada does seem to be heading in the right direction by bringing together this new committee to lend advice and possibly raise some funds for the struggling organization. Whether it is anything more than window dressing or a real attempt to push the organization forward remains to be seen, but if Leo is not the best coach for the future then it gives him an opportunity to gracefully leave and be added to that committee. At the very least he knows all the weaknesses of the organization as well as anyone.

College playoffs

2008-12-15T21:50:00.001-08:00

I think that in Canadian college and university should have all of their teams qualify for the post season conference tournaments!

Currently only the top six or eight teams in each Canadian conference or league make it to the championship tournaments. I don't think that this format promotes what college basketball is about. Student athletes should be allowed to get the most out their season and represent their school and sport in a positive way while having the opportunity to participate in league championships.

Embarrassing for Canadian basketball that NCAA conferences such as the ACC and Big East include all of their teams in the conference tournaments. If the big NCAA feels that it can allow all it's players to enjoy being part of a school team in the post season then why can't Canadian schools?

The CIS and CCAA should put the student/athlete experience first and allow all league/conference teams to participate in the post season championship tournaments!

Triano is the Raptors Head Coach

2008-12-03T22:24:00.001-08:00

Suddenly Jay Triano is the first Canadian Head Coach in the NBA. This is a proud moment for Canadian basketball. Triano came up through the Canadian system as both a player and a coach. He played and coached at Simon Fraser University and then went on to play for and then coach the Canadian national team.

It seems crazy that although he never came through any part of the USA basketball system he was named an assistant coach on the Raptors, then an assitant coach of USA basketball, and now the first Canadian NBA head coach.

I think I'm proudest about this because he achieved this dream coaching job while coming through the Canadian system that I am currently working my way through. It opens some young coaches to the dream that they might coach at his high level one day.

Congratulations Coach Triano!

Basketball in the great white north

2008-12-01T16:59:00.000-08:00

So here I am a basketball guy in Canada.
Our national basketball program is a complete joke up here now. After a respectable showing in the 2000 Olympics, which I think was the Steve Nash breakthrough, our teams have shown very poorly since.

What do I think needs to be done?

I think Basketball Canada should choose a new leader to get our program on the right track. Under the recent leadership we have gotten nowhere and I think regressed. Meanwhile USA Basketball brought in Jerry Colangelo and under his leadership have returned their program to best in the world with what looks like a bright future.

Is there someone available? I don't know who they can get, but we need someone with a plan and the means to make it happen.

Canuckhoops Basketball Begins!

2008-11-27T09:01:00.001-08:00

So what is this? Well Canuckhoops is my blog on Canadian basketball. I'm gonna lay out my opinion on basketball and see if anyone is interested in sharing theirs.

I have done this as a website before and may eventually move back to that, but this is the start.

Almost ready

2008-11-19T23:20:00.001-08:00

Hopefully have something ready for this blog soon.