An issue came up this past weekend at the provincial under-13 club championship in St. John’s. One of the three teams competing — St. Anthony Basketball Club from the capital city — used an ineligible player and as such, forfeited its games and was unable to compete in playoffs.
That all came about as a result of a coach’s mistake — an honest one acknowledged by both St. Anthony and the NLBA — which resulted in a player unknowingly left off the official tournament roster.
The coach nonetheless used the player, and the game was later forfeited. Further, St. Anthony was unable to participate in playoffs.
“He is not a new addition to the team, so there has clearly been no attempt to add a player who was not eligible,” said a parent who contacted The Telegram.
The parent did wished to be named out of concern for identifying his/her child.
“This has obviously created outrage amongst the parents. The sentence does not match the crime,” the parent said.
“This decision is not in the best interests of the children, not in the best interests for the sport and not in the best interests of the remaining two teams that will now play each other in the provincial championship.”
Murphy says all players who participate in NLBA championships must be registered with the provincial association, one of the chief reasons being for insurance purposes. As a result, all teams which compete must submit player rosters.
“You can’t just go out and use anyone you want,” he said.
The association has upwards of 400 teams playing in various provincial championships through a calendar year, and he said teams have until 14 days prior to their tournament to submit rosters.
Further, he said, the association permits teams up to 24 before their tipoff to make roster changes.
“We give as much leeway as we can,” he said. “We want kids playing basketball. Do you think our aim is prevent someone from playing basketball? We’re not out to get anybody here.”
A rule that stated teams would forfeit a game if an ineligible player was used has been in place within the NLBA for years. But it’s only the past five or six years the rule was extended to include teams would also not be permitted to participate in playoffs if ineligible players were used.
That’s because some coaches were circumventing the rule which created problems. What happened in one circumstance was a coach hand-picked which games he used the ineligible player, and which games that player sat on the sidelines. That particular team reached the playoffs, and went on to win the championship.
“So the teams who played by the rules,” Murphy said, “in the end lost out.”
Hence the rule was brought in that not only would a team forfeit a game because an ineligible player was used, but the team would also not be permitted to compete in the playoffs.
Murphy understands there was no devious intentions in this particular case, but he also pointed out coaches have an ample amount of time to review and submit rosters. And in most cases, you’re only talking a dozen or 15 players.
St. Anthony Basketball appealed to the NLBA, but it was denied.
Dave d’Entremont of St. Anthony Basketball said the player in question was registered with the NLBA at the beginning of the season, and $14 player insurance fee was submitted to the NLBA.
He said the player was on the list of players playing in the U13 group, along with others at that time who had signed up for club ball. A scoresheet from a Dec. 9 game when the team played was also submitted, with the player shown as being part of the team.
“I guess,” d’Entremont said, “we were hoping the NLBA could analyze all the information and make a decision based on the fact the player was always with St. Anthony Basketball, and his insurance was paid so liability was not an issue in this matter.
“We do feel that the team should be allowed to play as the logic here, as to why not, does not apply.”
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Provincial basketball association says rules are rules
The Newfoundland and Labrador Basketball Association is not in the business of denying kids a game of basketball, but association executive director Bill Murphy said rules in place must be followed.
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