The long-term and steady trend of increased secondary school basketball participation continues. Basketball New Zealand’s 2018 registration figures for their secondary school tournaments have shown another surge in numbers with 10% growth since last year and a record 385 school teams.
Since 2011, secondary school team entries have increased 105%, with an average annual increase of 11%.
Basketball New Zealand’s Chief Executive, Iain Potter, says this growth is not new to Basketball New Zealand and the challenges to cater for demand is only getting tougher.
“This highlights that it’s long-term and steady growth. There’s no particular spike or fad happening here, it’s simply that more kids are enjoying the game and keen to take up any opportunity provided to them to step on court.
“Of course that puts pressure on. We need more facilities, more hours spent administering tournaments and teams, more referees, volunteers and people to help run these tournaments, but it’s a great problem to have.
“We have to give direct credit to the schools, they are the ones really stepping up to the challenge. The parents, teachers and coaches volunteer a lot so these players can get to these events,” says Potter.
Earlier this year the New Zealand Secondary Schools Sports Council’s census showed a long-term trend that suggests basketball will become New Zealand’s number one secondary-school sport by 2020. The organisation’s Executive Director, Garry Carnachan, says this growth is unusual when compared to other sports.
“The growth of basketball in the secondary school sector continues to be quite astounding. With record numbers entering the NZSSSC Winter Tournament Week events this year, all of the traditional offerings at both Senior and Junior levels have been oversubscribed. It has been great to work with BBNZ in developing additional tournaments at a level that will also better meet the needs of more schools. This influx of participants at the grass roots level of basketball bodes well for a great future of the game in New Zealand,” Carnachan added.
To cater for this growth, Basketball New Zealand has introduced three non-qualifying tournaments since 2016 called the Schick Cups: Northern Cup, Central Cup and Southern Cup. .
The latest figures come from registrations for the secondary school tournaments that are set to start tipping off next week. The Schick Premierships are the qualifiers for the Schick National Championships that will be held in Palmerston North in October. The Premierships will take place in the first week of September. The ‘AA’ Premierships will be held in Auckland, Rotorua, Palmerston North, and Invercargill. The ‘A’ Premierships, for schools with smaller school rolls, will take place in New Plymouth, Blenheim and Westport.
Competition will be fierce amongst the record number of Premiership entries to fill the 24 boys and 24 girls places available at the pinnacle tournament, the Schick Championships, which has become a major national event with the Grand Finals seeing a packed house for the past few years. And now that the event is celebrating 50 years, it seems it’s not only here to stay, but grow in strength.
Registrations: Basketball New Zealand Secondary Schools Basketball Tournaments
Year Team entries % increase
2011 188
2012 210 12%
2013 248 18%
2014 261 5%
2015 299 15%
2016 314 5%
2017 351 12%
2018 385 10%
SCHICK PREMIERSHIPS:
‘A’ NORTH ISLAND PREMIERSHIPS
Tournament Dates: September 5-8, 2018
City: New Plymouth
Host: New Plymouth Basketball
Venue: TSB Stadium
‘A’ SOUTH ISLAND PREMIERSHIPS – BOYS
Tournament Dates: September 5-8, 2018
City: Blenheim
Host: Marlborough Basketball
Venue: Stadium 2000
‘A’ SOUTH ISLAND PREMIERSHIPS – GIRLS
Tournament Dates: September 6-8, 2018
City: Westport
Host: Buller Basketball
Venue: Pulse Energy Recreation Centre
SCHICK CUPS:
NORTHERN SECONDARY SCHOOLS CUP (NON-QUALIFIER)
Tournament Dates: September 5-7, 2018
City: Auckland (Papakura)
Host: Auckland Basketball Services
Venue: Pulman Arena
CENTRAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS CUP (NON-QUALIFIER)
Tournament Dates: September 5-7, 2018
City: Whanganui
Host: Basketball Whanganui
Venue: Springvale Stadium
SOUTHERN SECONDARY SCHOOLS CUP (NON-QUALIFIER)
Tournament Dates: September 6-8, 2018
City: Ashburton
Host: Basketball Mid Canterbury
Venue: EA Networks Centre
SCHICK CHAMPIONSHIPS:
‘A’ SCHICK CHAMPIONSHIPS
Tournament Dates: October 1-4, 2018
City: Palmerston North
Host: Basketball Manawatu
Venue: Central Energy Trusts Manawatu
‘AA’ SCHICK CHAMPIONSHIPS
Tournament Dates: October 1-6, 2018
City: Palmerston North
Host: Basketball Manawatu
Venue: Central Energy Trusts Manawatu
