From the CEO

Off the Boards The Official Newsletter of Basketball Queensland From the CEO As August drew to a close I eagerly awaited this year’s QBL finals in the Men’s QBL Finals Cairns Marlins defeated the Rockhampton Rockets (113-81). In the Women’s QBL Final the Gladstone Power collected an Over Time victory over the South West Metro Pirates team (102-98). This has, in my view, been one of the best years I have seen in the standard of the QBL. I would also to congratulate Gladstone on making the QBL finals for the first time and to all teams that competed in the finals series. I know that some people have made comment about the fact that due to the pool system some teams that finished higher up the ladder did not make the finals. Whilst this is undoubtedly true, that is the system that we have as it is the most cost effective way to deliver the competition and ensures that the interest in each area is maintained to the very end of the competition. The struc- ture of the competition is under review with a panel of people elected from the QBL Clubs to review the competition and suggest improvement. This will be presented to the QBL Clubs when they meet after nominations for the 2010 season later this year. BQ will ensure that everyone has had an opportunity to have input into any changes that may be made. We want to have the competition that best that it can be within the constraints that we have. We have also made some changes to the State Classics following input received from all Associa- tions who are involved. Next year both the Under 12 and Under 14 State Classics will be 4 day events. The Under 14 State Classics was reduced from 5 days because the majority of Associations indicated that this was their preference. In doing this it will reduce the accommodation costs for travelling teams by 20% thereby saving costs for travelling teams. The same option was put forward for the Under 16 State Classics; however, the majority of Associa- tions indicated that they would prefer to leave this event at 5 days to ensure that the longer games (4 x 10 minute quarters as opposed to 4 x 8 minute quarters) would be maintained. The Under 18 Classic is a different situation. Last year Basketball Australia moved the Under National Championship from June/July to April. This meant that there would be a clash with the Under 18 State Classic if we continued to hold the event in April (as had been the case for many years) as it would mean that our best 20 boys and girls would not be available for the tournament. It was felt that if we continued to hold the event in April it would rob them of the opportunity of competing in this tournament which we know they all love. Off the Boards From the CEO cont... A number of alternative times were put to Associations which included September, December, January and June. Following a lengthy debate, it was decided to hold the event in June. This has proved to unpopular and resulted in a significant reduction in the number of teams competing in the event (23% less than last year). As a consequence, we put the options out to all Associations once again to obtain feedback; however, we could not get consensus and there was no clear majority for any of the options which were: 1. September – too early and prior to the commencement of the representative season; 2. December – clashes with the National Champion School Tournament and it is a time when parents are looking for a break with many people on holiday reducing both competitors and volunteers available to assist the host Association; 3. January – Many people on holiday reducing both competitors and volunteers available to assist the host Association, most courts are closed as this is the only time available for maintenance, difficulty with the weather in North Queensland and it is too hot to conduct a tournament at most venues; 4. June – from experience it drags the season out too long making it difficult to retain players, there are clashes with school and it clashes with Development League and QBL; and 5. Not to hold the Under 18 Classics at all which was suggested by a couple of Associations. We also need to consider that we struggle to secure the best officials for this event as most of the referees cannot take a week off work to attend. As you can see, determining when to conduct the Under 18 Classic is not easy. The May Day long weekend was suggested by a couple of Associations as a viable alternative. We looked at other sports and saw that this time is also used by them. I also attended the National Junior Classics in Melbourne which is recognised as the pinnacle for Junior Basketball Tournaments in Australia. This is conducted over the Queen’s Birthday weekend (I.e. 3 days), they play 4 X 8 minute quarters with up to 3 games in a day. This tournament attracts the best teams in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and teams from Queensland also compete on a regular basis. Taking all of this into consideration, BQ determined that we would conduct the Under 18 Classics over the May Day long weekend because it: a) Reduces the time after the end of BQJBC b) Is a suitable time in the school calendar c) Is a time when most people are not away on holiday d) It is cost effective for travelling teams e) Will enable us to secure the best possible referees. Off the Boards From the CEO cont... In our communication to Associations we have suggested that in order to fit this event within the time constraints of the long weekend, we would need to play games with 4 x 8 minute quarters and up to three games in a day (similar to the National Junior Classic); however, this would largely depend on the number of teams who nominate. We have selected Logan Basketball as the host as this would potentially allow us to use 7 courts for the event. We will also look to start the games on the Friday night (at least with local teams) so that we can expand the time. If possible, we will endeavour to conduct games that are 4 X 10 minute quarters, but this is only if it is possible and realistic to do so. During this weekend we will not schedule any QBL Development League games and we will look to reduce the number of QBL games as much as possible so that the focus is on the Under 18 Classics during this time. I hope this sheds some light on the reasons for the decision being made to hold the Under 18 Classic over the May Day long weekend and that you have some appreciation of the difficulties that Basketball Queensland faces in setting the calendar. Lastly, I wanted to congradulate the 2009 Basketball Queensland Award Winners that were an- nounced at the recent Basketball Queensland Annual Awards Dinner. This was held on Saturday 22 August at the Shangri La Gardens, Wynnum West. It was a fantastic night which included a three course meal, all drinks and entertainment. The special guests were The Honourable Phil Reeves, Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Sport and Larry Sengstock NBL Hall of Famer and the current CEO of Basketball Australia. Graham Burns Chief Executive Officer Basketball Queensland Off the Boards U18 State Classics Congratulations to all teams who participated in the 2009 U18 State Classics. Whilst Toowoomba delivered us the coldest day of the tournament on finals day, temperatures rose inside the stadi- ums with all of the gold/silver and bronze medal matches going the distance with the lead chang- ing throughout and the winners being determined in the last few minutes of play. The game of the day was undoubtedly the U18 Boys Division 1 Grand Final between Brisbane Capitals and Gold Coast Waves which provided excitement plus with alley oops, slam dunks and a 13 point turn around in the last minute and a half of the game which gave Brisbane the win and the honour of being crowned State Champions. Congratulations to Brisbane on this great win and congratulations also to the U18 Girls State Champions, Gold Coast Waves who defeated Southern Districts Spartans in another closely fought out game. A mention must also go to all of our medallists as shown below. Age / Division Gold Silver Bronze U18 Girls Division 1 Gold Coast Waves Sthn Dist Spartans Brisbane Capitals U18 Boys Division 1 Brisbane Capitals Gold Coast Waves Logan Thunder U18 Girls Division 2 SW Metro Pirates Ipswich Force Northside Wizards U18 Boys Division 2 Sthn Dist Titans Noosa Cyclones Logan Storm Basketball Queensland would like to thank the staff and volunteers at Toowoomba Basketball As- sociation who were instrumental in making the Classics the success that they were. Lastly for the full U18 Classics Wrap including final standings, highest point scorers and top foul- ers be sure to check out the State Classics – Classics Wraps page of the website located under the Junior Competitions tab. www.basketballqld.net.au Off the Boards Vince Hickey Award With the U18 Classics wrapping up the State Championships for 2009, Basketball Queensland would like to congratulate Brisbane Basketball Incorporated on winning the Vince Hickey Award for overall points in the 2009 State Classics. Brisbane came from 6th place in 2008 to take the title from Townsville who were the Champion Association for two consecutive years in 2007 and 2008.

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