SENIOR PLAYERS ATTITUDE HAS HARMED BASKETBALL!

The attitude of basketball players has also discouraged popularity of the game. I have seen senior basketball players `manipulating' rules just to win the practice games. This leaves the junior players very confused and they do the same mis-interpretation when they become seniors. To know the latest rules and interpret them correctly - is a very important issue. I have seen officials discussing these among themselves - but there is no way the players will immediately come to know of them. These documents are selectively given and no public domain publication is available.

We all look at SHORT TERM GAINS - there is no long term policy of training basketball players from a young age. AND WE WANT THESE GAINS for ourselves or our relatives and friends. Parents want their children to be in the school team - coaches want their favourites to be in the club team - officials want their club players to be in the state team and the list goes on and on. Merit is last on the list. The really deserving are left out and the game suffers. Such people tell their stories again and again to others and a `dismal' outlook for the aspiring players isn't very motivating.

PLAYERS CONSTANTLY KEEP ASKING - what am I getting? Love for the game isn't enough, especially if you are not getting selected because of `corrupt selections'. Life-long friendships turn into enmities - by a game that was supposed to foster friendship. We, in SUMPOORNA, are now counselling young players on the attitudes that they are supposed to develop as they learn skill development. A correct attitude would help make every basketball player an AMBASSADOR OF THE GAME - and attract millions of youngsters to play it.