There is an event going on today at Kampong Ubi Community Centre called the “2010 YOG, National Street Basketball Selection” organised by the Basketball Association of Singapore (BAS).
Youth players under the age of 16 have been told that the event will give them a chance to showcase their skills so that selectors can see if they are good enough to represent Singapore at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.
That’s all well and good except for the fact that the youth players are signing up as a team of 3 or 4, each of them paying $20 each, for a day of streetball 3-on-3 competition.
So is it a selection trial or a streetball event? On the surface, it seems like it’s both but the name of the event is misleading.
Why do players have to pay to attend selection trials? Is this the norm for all national sports associations for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games?
We’re waiting for a reply from BAS about this matter and when they do, we’ll update this post with their comment.
In the meantime, a reader commented in another post on Red Sports: “Why is there a signing up fee required for selection for the YOG team? This is obviously a rip-off by some organisation to get some revenue.”
Another reader went down to the event today and commented in the Red Sports chatbox: “I feel that today is (sic) a waste of time as I went down to see it but what i see (sic) is not like a selection or trials.”
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[…] year, the BAS held a 3-on-3 competition which was billed as the selections for the YOG squad. However, there was no official announcement […]
I asked BAS for a comment but haven’t heard from them.
There are no official press releases on the BAS website stating who won the YOG 3-3 selection trial.
I was told that the winning team beat a team that consisted of national youth players.
Whether that winning team will eventually represent Singapore in the YOG is unknown. But it stands to reason that if you win the selection trial, you get to represent Singapore, no?
In any case, all this is pure speculation.
If BAS does not make an official statement, there is no way to know.
I think there is a need for BAS to speak up, but first i would like to give my views on this issue.
Firstly, there is a need to understand that YOG-Basketball would be in a streetball manner, i.e 3 on 3. As we all know, most national team players are used to playing the original kind of basketball which is full court 5 on 5. Perhaps this “selection” was to see whether there are players out there who do not participate in interschool games yet have the potential to play streetball.
Secondly, we do not know how the organizers wanted to “select” players, walking around and talking can be one of their methods. Shouldnt we give them the benefit of doubt?
And lastly, i believe players who went for this event are passionate about basketball, so why complain abt the jerseys/dry fit tee? Isnt it but a shirt?
The selection was mix with under 18 people..many player are above 16..is not fair..on the form they put jersey and what do we get?A tee only…
on the registration form it put there that there will be jerseys, in the end, only one dri fit tee. i go make myself also can la..
it is a rip-off.daylight robbery.whatever u call it.if BAS rally wanna pick players to join the national team.why did i see a 1.95m russell low playing?isnt he already inside the team.i am pretty sure if BAS really want to select some players,the BAS wouldnt allow national team players to come and join.obviously if russell low play there he would kick every team out.his presence already make a player think twice before trying to drive in for the hoops.man this aint fair.if russell low is in my team i am sure i would also be able to do well.what do u expect when there is a 1.95 m guy who is experience enough to use his height to maximum potential.pass him the ball turn and jump shoot.taa-da!1 point.cmon this aint fair.man i wan a REFUND!
The main idea for this 3on3 is for those ppl to pay $20 to help or to support the national team as they are lacking $. They have no intention to chose or pick any players from this 3on3. Its just giving them $ to support them.
Seriously its such a disappointment. Everything is just like a normal 3on3. Nothing special. Not worth the money. The coaches never even look at some matches. They just basically walk around, chatting and looking around. Anyway, its not worth 20bucks per person at all. Its VERY EXPENSIVE. Everything was like zzzzz. DISAPPOINTED
3 on 3 basically means street basketball, and taking it to the street means u have to make use of the street skill known as and1, and from what i have read from the advertisment articles it says : “you might just be chosen to train with our National Youth Team for the 2010 YOG.” You might be, so i think the original selection would be from players going for u-16 nat trials this year. And this is only an street event to be exposed to more players for their talent being recognise, and they pay because it’s an street event and not sponsored. That’s what i think only.
How will the people or coaches inform who has been chosen?
i have been to this yog 3-3 today. but from what i see is that there is such a big dissapointment that coaches come to the court to talk around with and they did not do serious job in selecting trails. so this payement for yog is a waste of money and i feel that if this stays there are no ways to improve singapore basketball.