date_range Published 30 Jun 2016
BBNZ have tweaked the National Talent Programme (NTP) in light of NZ’s imminent move into Asia. Recent developments in the space include a requirement by Fiba that NZ continue to qualify through Oceania, into Asia and then into the World Championships. This introduces a three year cycle for each of the age group teams and a four year cycle for the senior teams. This statement and attachment are primarily about the age group pathway.
It can get a little confusing as the two age groups (under 17 and under 19) alternate each year – and also in New Zealand and Australia we define the ages differently from Fiba. Please note we have stuck to using the NZ based age definition for simplicity (so our pathway information sees our teams reaching Fiba under 18 and under 20 World Championships when in Fiba language they are the Fiba under 17 and under 19 World Championships).
Important points;
Every year from 2017 we will need to have three age groups competing (three of each gender) assuming NZ make the World Championships (which is what they aspire to achieve and is why the move to Asia is such a break through opportunity for NZ).
BBNZ are discontinuing with the Koru tours to the Australian Country Cup.
They are continuing with the under 15 and under 17 National Talent Camps – dates to be confirmed (after the Nationals) but they will be later than in the past couple of years as they are not under the same time constraints (likely September).
BBNZ are initiating a 4-7 day camp for under 14’s – to be held January every year. Details to be advised but players will come through a system similar to the under 15 and under 17 camps except they intend to select teams from each of the regional under 13 Championships – adding more status to these events.
Very exciting times as NZ enter a new qualification process with huge possibilities.
Adapted from an email from BBNZ CEO Ian Potter
