SBL updates restricted player rules
The State Basketball League will be introducing a significant new rule in 2012 that will see the use of NBL players restricted, similar to other state leagues in Australia.
Current SBL By-Laws only allow two non-Australian citizens to be signed by any SBL Men’s or Women’s team, with clubs being able to sign any NBL or WNBL contracted player without restriction.
The new restricted player policy will see non-Australian citizens as well as any contracted NBL player that averages greater than 10 minutes of playing time in the NBL have a restricted status.
This significant change will be trialled in the Men’s competition only during the 2012 season with a full review to take place at seasons end.
“This policy is based on the Basketball Australia policy that is currently in place in other state leagues in Australia and has been discussed in WA for a number of years now” said Competitions Manager Christian Rice.
“We have been in discussions with the clubs during the off-season and the final decision has been made by the SBL Commission to adopt the policy on a trial basis for the 2012 Men’s competition only.”
Each Men’s team will now only be able to contract two restricted players such as imported US players or other non-Australian citizens and NBL players listed on the restricted list.
“The SBL helps develops players for the next level and the policy has been introduced to ensure that clubs are not relying on imports and NBL players to the detriment of their own development programs.”
“We want to see all of the fourteen SBL clubs on a level playing field and focusing on developing from within their club, while including NBL players or imports to help promote and develop their clubs and the SBL.”
This policy will not apply to the Women’s competition during 2012, each WSBL team will be able to sign any WNBL contracted players and the usual two non-Australian citizens.
Week one of the SBL season will commence on Friday 16 March, while the Pre-Season Blitz will be played from March 2-4 at the WA Basketball Centre.
Photo by Grant Lauterbach
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