The ’60th Spring National Men’s and Women’s Secondhand Basketball League Haenam Tournament’, which opened in Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do on the 14th, will end on the 22nd.
A total of 63 teams (8 women’s middle schools, 17 먹튀검증south middle schools, 10 women’s high schools, 28 south high schools) visited Haenam. In the field of amateur basketball, you can realize that the supply and demand of players is getting increasingly difficult. In the case of local teams, it is difficult to fill the 12-player entry, and there are many cases in which 5 players enter the competition. This is the moment to feel the reality of amateur basketball, which is the foundation of Korean basketball.
In a situation where the existence of the basketball team is being discussed right away, inquiries from coaches about player regulations to the Korea Middle and High School Basketball Federation have increased.
“Can foreign players (or compatriots) participate?”
The Secondhand Basketball Federation started discussing revision five years ago, with significance in the trend of the times and globalization. There are a few foreign players, but various authoritative interpretations were needed for non-Korean players to participate in the used basketball competition. Even if you competed in one competition, there were times when you couldn’t compete in the next one. In the past, in order to participate in secondary basketball tournaments, you had to attend school for three years at a domestic school approved by the Ministry of Education to be able to register as a player and participate in the game (Korea Basketball Association regulations).
However, three years is too long for a young player who likes basketball and has a will. Accordingly, the Secondhand Basketball Federation shortened the registration period from 3 years to 3 months, and finished discussing the ‘regulations like domestic players’ at the board of directors. The first example is Freddie (Konkuk University). Freddie played at Whimoon High School and then went on to Konkuk University.
The Korea Basketball Association also accepted this, and the entry barrier for foreign players to participate in the tournament was lowered. The Secondhand Basketball Federation explained, “This is the result of lowering the barrier to entry and giving opportunities to foreign players who have adapted to Korean culture in line with the changes and trends of the times and have not been able to participate in the tournament because they have not attended school for more than three years.”
Brothers Obele Jason and Obele John from Inheon High School competed in this Haenam competition and drew attention. Those of Nigerian origin do not fall under the above-mentioned rules. Brother Jason, who came to Korea when he was in elementary school, has adapted to Korean culture, language, and life. He likes basketball and is working hard to develop his dream of becoming a player. When he becomes an adult, he can naturally apply for general naturalization. They can compete in all competitions.
There were also concerns about the influx of foreign players into amateur basketball. It was easy to feel the disappearance of native big man resources in the amateur field. Here, amateur sports have a deep connection with college entrance exams. There is no parent who will see with both eyes open that their child cannot run because of a foreign player.
The Secondhand Basketball Federation said, “There is also a rule for one foreign player to play to protect domestic players. This point needs to be further supplemented in the future. However, foreign players are extremely rare. It’s homework,” he explained.
Now is the time to think about the amateur basketball stage without discrimination, protection of national players, and development of Korean basketball.