Enthusiastic reception for basketball scheme

Press, 20 December 1985, Page 32

Enthusiastic reception for basketball scheme

PA Wellington The response to a live-in emerging players training scheme for junior women basketbailers, to be inaugurated early next year, has been encouraging, said the executive director of the New Zealand Basketball Federation, Joe McLeod, yesterday. The federation wrote to candidates for the scheme, to cater for about 15 potential national representatives over a two-year period, inquiring about interest and has yet to draw a negative response. “Everybody who has re-

plied has been highly enthusiastic and wants to be involved. There has not been one negative response,” said Mr McLeod. The scheme, with the national coach, James Logan, at the helm and the Hamilton Y.M.C.A. as the base, was given the goahead at the federation’s annual general meeting in September. All affiliated associations have been asked to submit candidates. “We intend to fully canvass the country to find out who should be in the scheme,” Mr McLeod said. “We will tell the 15 success-

ful candidates some time between Christmas and New Year.” The emerging players will live, eat and train twice daily together. They will play as a team in the national league, and be involved individually in the strong local competition. Several employers in the area have offered to help find work for the nonscholars, while the New Zealand Sports Foundation, on top of cash funding, has. promised to find a sponsor. The federation has earmarked 550,000 for the scheme and will subsidise the scholars in the group.