John Amaechi Proposes Solutions After Lamenting State of Game
British basketball legend John Amaechi has posted a tweetstorm providing his solutions to overhaul the sport moving forward, after lamenting the state of basketball across the UK.
Amaechi, who is holding a charity camp at The Regal this week with Greenhouse Sports, took to twitter to air his views early Monday morning, following the release of Hoopsfix’s ‘What Happened to the Olympic Basketball Legacy‘ video over the weekend.
Listing off the six main reasons British basketball is struggling, he included, “insurgent, fractured, publicly-funded, power-grabbing cottage industries posing as ‘pathways'”, a weak professional league, public funding models, leadership of the sport, poor coaching and a talented but misguided participant base.
The England Commonwealth Games bronze medalist and 8 year pro followed with a number of ways he would begin to rebuild basketball, beginning with preparing for “radical change”. Amaechi has been a vocal critic of British basketball in the past, with many fans criticising him for using his large platform to be negative about the sport.
However, Amaechi regularly reminds his followers he has no vested interest in the game other than to want to see it succeed, concluding his tirade with “when comparing my comments to rebuttals; please compare who has best interest of young people in mind & who has business interests in mind.”
Now a performance psychologist and consultant, Amaechi would like to see similar business principles applied to basketball, calling for mandatory continuous professional development, transparency within National Governing Body (NGB) affiliated entities, accountability, a new truly independent political lobby, a DCMS-reporting commissioner, and more central control.
British Basketball responded to Amaechi’s comments (which are viewable in full below) with the following statement:
“The incoming British Basketball Federation has taken the time to seek John’s views along with a range of other voices within the game, as it prepares to become the lead governing body for basketball from October. Chairman Nick Humby met with John earlier this year.
“From the outset, we have been open with all concerned as we try to build a stronger game in this country. Given John’s obvious expertise, we will not – and would not – dismiss anything he has to say.
“There has been some progress, but not enough in the last four years and we are determined to do whatever it takes to provide basketball the status it deserves in this country. This can only be achieved, if the game comes together and unites in that common purpose.”
Read the full tweetstorm below:
I am not making up the terrible status quo of basketball; from @Hoopsfix to @fiba & experts across Europe, the dire state of play is known.
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
British basketball: try to resist the temptation to dismiss me as 'negative' over next hour & see as I do: window for recovery near closed.
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
10 Euro countries ranked over GB bball: 1 post-coup; 5 in recession; 5 w/ popns less London; 0 w/ more raw talent. https://t.co/NJUpYKCGNb
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
I won't be able to answer tweets for the most part, as I'm running a charity basketball camp at @BlackPrinceHub for 2nd week. #£wheremouthis
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
Problems of basketball in UK a function of: 1.insurgent, fractured, publicly-funded, power-grabbing cottage industries posing as 'pathways'
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
2.A basketball fan base sycophantically addicted & vehemently protective of a toxic style & standard of amateur streetball dressed as 'pro'
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
3.Government funding models not fit for emerging team sports (baring in mind it's basketball's fault it's still 'emerging' after 3 decades)
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
4.A leadership continually inured to crappy status quo & erroneously dedicated to idea of a coalition of under-skilled, tenured failures
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
5.exceptionally poor standards of coaching married with coach self-perception of savant skills; no CPD; qualifications not fit for purpose
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
6.Participants with more talent than anywhere in Europe, but mired in bad infrastructure/coaching & unaware or unwilling to pay the F.E.E..
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
This is what I mean by "Paying the F.E.E."
Focus.
Effort.
Execution.https://t.co/sKeyGS7Vhw— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
So what can be done?
A1. Be mentally prepared for radical change, not rehashing of previous plans. No more Malin/Game On/etc.— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
When comparing others comments to mine; also compare who has best interest of young people in mind & who has business interests in mind.
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
A2.contraction is necessary stage of any radical recovery: mandatory CPD (as much for duty of care as sporting excellence) will reduce pool
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
A3.Complete re-imagining of coach qualification; assignment of regional & senior coaching positions; common national coaching curriculum
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
A4. New 'academy' standards & review of current 'academies' & AASE programmes; creation of collaborating regional centres
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
A5.mandatory open accounts for all NGB affiliated entities; all sources of funding, salaries & fiscal partners disclosed
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
A6.accountability for all those involved in the game over the last 25 years who have participated in stagnancy & profited while game fails
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
A7. new independent political lobby for basketball – unaffiliated with any teams or clubs; to that end, disband & then reform APPG
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
A8.a commissioner for the sport as a legal position reporting to DCMS with six year initial term (David Stern recommended this course)
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
A9.NGB ratification/funding contingent on basic fiscal propriety- transparency & governance standards; CRM partnership w/ accountants
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
A10.infrastructure investment (new courts) has to be a later, but essential element; sports hall refurbishment to begin improving access
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
A11.prep our 2028 Olympic teams from scratch; total domestic collaboration mandated; augment with UK talent overseas IF they fit mindset
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
A12.ignore the screaming of special interests who profit while the game dies.
These. People. Are. The. Enemy.— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
Again
Resist temptation to dismiss me for being 'negative'.
By all means challenge my assertions, but don't bring opinions to a fact fight.— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
When comparing my comments to rebuttals; please compare who has best interest of young people in mind & who has business interests in mind.
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) August 8, 2016
Thoughts?
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