German BBL league officials this weekend took a step forward in developing more young talent as they agreed to increase the number of Germans on their 12-man roster from four in 2009-10 to five for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons and six for the 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 campaigns.
The BBL approved their plan over an opposing proposition by German national team coach Dirk Bauermann. Germany’s unexpected success at EuroBasket 2009 with a very young, talented team gave Bauermann extra support for his demand of having one German on the court at all times.
But the league decided against the Bauermann’s idea and came up with this idea – which is certainly better than the current status of four Germans on the 12-man roster. One good point is that the BBL has written in its commitment to this measure as it has mapped out the next five seasons.
The league is making big strides in Germany as the BBL In addition signed a six-year contract with Beko as the league’s main sponsor and a three-year television contract with mass-available DSF sports channel.
Here is Bauermann’s response to the agreement:
“It is a small step forward but also an unused chance … I would have wished for a more courageous decision. Only two steps in five years are fewer than we had hoped and what would have been important for the development of the sport.”
BBL President Dr. Thomas Braumann added: “The much discussed 4+1 model, where one German would have to be on the court at all times, could not convince the majority of the club representatives. Many saw that as an elementary encroachment into the game.”
And BBL CEO Jan Pommer said: “This rule practiced in Spain, Italy or France seemed like the most sensible in our opinion to on the one hand guarantee playing time for domestic players and increase it. On the other hand we didn’t want to limit coaches’ options and the game…. It’s also important for us that this kind of rule offers young German players a clear perspective of becoming a professional player.”
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