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NBA Vs FIBA BAll

September 24, 2019 Dr. Mark Robinson Blog archive, No Ordinary Blog

This summers FIBA World Cup wasn’t a wake-up call for the USA, it was a Shock and Awe for the world. I have never heard the USA make excuses for losing, so this was shocking to me. The other “teams practice more; they have been playing together for years; FIBA basketball is different than the NBA.” None of these excuses was present over the years when the USA dominated the international competition.

The experience of a seventh-place finish behind countries such as Spain, France, Argentina, Australia (who beat the USA in a friendly) Serbia and the Czech Republic. Should illustrate to the basketball community that athletic ability will no longer win games at the highest level. Fundamental basketball skill, tactics and teamwork all overshadowed athletic ability.

USA basketball needs to make a few fundamental changes or at the very least should consider the following:

Consider hiring Top European coaches as assistants.

The USA coaches were all American NBA or college-level coaches. Much was said about the lack of international experience of the NBA players. I would say the same discussion could be made regarding the knowledge of the coaching staff. Adding European coaches that know the FIBA game would give USA Basketball a tactical advantage.

Consider adding American players who are currently playing in the top Euro-leagues.

Americans have been playing in FIBA competition for decades. Some of them are good enough to be in the NBA but for many reasons are playing abroad and playing well. NBA scouts know who the best American players are in Europe. Its a matter of inviting the right guys to camp to see what they can do. But more importantly, giving them an opportunity to make the team.

Mark Robinson

England Academy Football and the Pressure

October 19, 2015 PPD Mag Blog archive

In recent years youth football/soccer has grown tremendously in England. The game has always been popular but with the growth of sports channels and the internet the following of the Premiership League and the enthusiasm for the game has gone to another level.

Every local park has children as young as five dribbling through cones, a few years after these children are moving into playing in mini/local leagues. Football interest developed into neighborhood teams and now football academies have blossomed all over England.? These academies are looking for talented players to continue developing the game as well as making the academies attractive to the next generation of footballers.

All Professional clubs run youth academies and are also seeking the best of the best to groom for first team or the professional level. Due to the footballers salaries and fame attached to being a professional footballer, the competition is fierce. Professional club academies attract large numbers of young kids from various backgrounds with a variety of personal player developmental needs.

Through my years of coaching football and mentoring young athletes I?ve encountered? academy players missing a developmental component.? Most recently I?ve had an opportunity to get to know a young footballer who was willing to share his thoughts on what it?s like to play football at the academy level in the United Kingdom.? The name of the player has been withheld because we want to make sure he is not judged by his comments regarding the UK youth football academy sector and the area of Personal Player Development.? This young man is 13 years of age.

Mr. Gentle: When it comes to football what is your ultimate goal and what steps are you taking to reach it?

Academy?Footballer: My goal is to make it as a professional footballer, in order to reach this goal I will work hard, focus and try my best to play well.

Mr. Gentle: How do players join a football academy?

Academy Footballer: Most players get spotted by a scout when they are playing for a well known local team or in borough competitions. Many local coaches also work for or have contacts in academies. If you play for a team that?s unknown I?m not sure if there?s any way of being spotted.

Mr. Gentle: What have you realized since you have been in the academy?

Academy Footballer: You realize that you?re not playing for each other you?re playing for yourself, because when you get offered a contract it?s for you not for the other person… just my name.

Mr. Gentle: How tough is the competition between players?

Academy Footballer: It?s a very big thing, if you?re not doing well you?ll be let go and around my age it?s harder to get into an academy than it was a few years ago. Academy teams already feel like they?ve seen the best players. If you started playing for an academy at a young age (8 or 9 years of age) you will have developed a lot quicker than someone who is joining at a later age.

Mr. Gentle: What support do academy Footballers receive from the club or organization?

Academy Footballer: They pay for your expenses and if you?re having issues in school they?ll visit the school to speak with the Head Teacher.? You really don?t receive any support regarding social media use or relationship development.

Mr. Gentle: Do you think players need support in other areas off the pitch?

Academy Footballer: Yes, encouragement and motivation. Particularly in my age group because one or two will make it and the rest will probably be released. I feel a great deal of pressure to get it right every game so I can make my family proud. A lot of academy players focused on nothing but football without consideration of other possible career options.

Mr. Gentle: Do you have a backup plan and how important is having one?

Academy Footballer: Yes. I think all Footballers should have a backup plan because it?s very hard to make it as a Professional Footballer. I think 10% of elite academy players make it in the whole country, the rest get released, but that number could be lower. If they have a backup plan they can go with that? but if they?re fortunate enough a lower league team may want to sign them.

It seems from this interview England football needs to start looking at a different approach to educating young footballers.? Personal Player Development is clearly an area all sport sectors in the UK need to address from three perspectives.? Personal Player Development training for helping professionals working within sport, implementation of programs and an awareness campaign of the issues and challenges athletes experience.

Interview submitted?by Anthony Gentle

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Scam Alert: Warning ALL Basketball Players

September 23, 2015 PPD Mag Blog archive

[av_dropcap2]L[/av_dropcap2]ast year a professional basketball player was offered a contract to play for a team in the United Kingdom.? The player called me and asked if I would look over the contract to make sure he was signing a fair contract.? As I reviewed the contract I noticed one thing that stood out, the salary.? The salary was $70,000 and with bonuses, worth around $90,000, after tax.? Many teams on the international market pay this type of salary however in recent years I have not seen a contract from the UK totaling such an amount.

Although the contract had the team logo, Presidents name and address on it, (who I know very well) I was still unsure as to the validity of the contract, but I told the player ?the club could have?landed a big sponsor and might be able to?pay such an amount. ?Some might ask, why didn’t I call the President of the club?

As a PPD Specialist, my role is to provide personal development services for athletes, not act as an agent.

After signing the contract and sending it back to the club.?The player was then asked to send money through Western Union to pay for half of his flight to London. ?Huge red flag!

I?checked around and my international contacts informed me this is the scam, which has grown into big business. ?Unfortunately, a group of people (Nigerians) have blank basketball contracts and use them to trick players into thinking they have a job playing overseas. ?After the player signs the contract, the Nigerians quickly request money from the player, stating ?the money is for half of the amount of the flight and the player will be reimbursed once they land? soon after receiving the money these Nigerians end up disappearing.

Since the summer, I have spoke to ten players who have been asked to send money to a team for a flight and none of them were real playing jobs.? Just the Nigerians trying to trick them into sending?money.? These folks are based in London and will tell you they are officially a scout for the team.? In actuality, they have nothing to do with the team.

Every college basketball player passed over by the NBA, wants to have an opportunity to play overseas and these folks know that.? They will tell you everything you want to hear and provide a contract that looks real.? Don?t be fooled, check and recheck the people your doing business with.? Look on the internet and see if the team is looking for players and most importantly be realistic.? If you have any questions contact me?@drmarkppd or drmark@ppdmag.com. You can also join our Facebook group.

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