Basketball NZ Clarify the Eligibility Rules
Basketball New Zealand have clarified the representative player eligibility rule, BBNZ tournament age minimums,Association area and affiliation definitions
1. Player Eligibility
Player Eligibility Regulation
General principles of player eligibility
To be entitled to participate in BBNZ competitions, a player must be a member of BBNZ, by virtue of being a member of an affiliated Association, a...nd must observe the Constitution and Regulations of BBNZ.
A player can play basketball wherever they choose – in terms of club, league, social level basketball. However representative basketball is ‘representative’ and this regulation defines that eligibility.
Standard PLAYER Eligibility Rules
For all representative basketball, players may only represent the Association of his/her normal domicile. However if a player attends as a bona fide student a school situated outside of the player’s area of normal domicile, the player may choose to represent one of EITHER:
a) the Association in which the School is situated; or
b) the Association of his/her normal domicile.
Eligibility is determined according to the players normal domicile or school at 90 days before the commencement of the relevant competition.
For the sake of clarity it is acceptable for Associations within a zone to enter a cooperative arrangement whereby they agree to enter a combined team or teams. In those instances the players can be drawn from the combined Association ‘Areas’ but this does not change the Association the player is part of should the Associations choose, at a later date, to act alone.
Transition Clause
Any player who, at the time these regulations came into force (1 January 2015) is legitimately qualified to be eligible for an Association outside their ‘normal domicile’ or where their ‘school is situated’, may continue to play for that Association until such time that they complete a transfer to another.
Age Eligibility
BBNZ under 13 Regional Championships – players must be aged either 10, 11 or 12 years by 31 December of the year in which the competition is held.
BBNZ under 15 National Championships – players must be aged either 12, 13 or 14 years by 31 December of the year in which the competition is held.
BBNZ under 17 National Championships – players must be aged either 14, 15 or 16 years by 31 December of the year in which the competition is held.
Under 19 National Championships - players must be aged at least 15 years on the first day of the competition but must not turn more than 18 years by 31 December in the year the competition is held.
Under 23 National Championships - players must be aged at least 15 years on the first day of the competition but must not turn more than 22 years by 31 December in the year the competition is held.
National Basketball Championships, WBC and NBL. Players must be aged at least 15 years on the first day of the competition.
Variation to Eligibility for Certain Competitions
BBNZ may modify the eligibility and age criteria for competitions from time to time. However in the absence of any explicit variation these rules shall apply.
Limitation on Multiple Championship Participation
Players may play in only one of the following competitions in any one calendar year; the under 13’s or the under 15’s or the under 17’s or the under 19’s.
Loan Players
An Association may have up to a maximum of three loan players for the purposes of competing at National Championships, or the Regional under 13 Championships, provided that;
• The loan players are from Associations that are within the same Zone; and
• Any such player has actively sought to gain a place in their Association team but has failed to be selected or their home Association is not entering a team.
Any such loan must have the written approval of the Association to which they belong and the Association seeking to play them as a loan player. Confirmation of the agreement must be provided to BBNZ when team rosters are confirmed.
Loan Player Appeal
The Chief Executive of BBNZ may, on application, approve a loan where the home Association has denied a loan request but is not entering a team and there is, in the Chief Executive’s sole opinion, no reasonable reason to deny the player the opportunity.
Transfers
Where a player seeks to represent a new Association for which they are eligible the Association seeking to have them included in a representative team must complete a ‘Transfer Application’ form before the player will be considered eligible. This requires the previous Association to approve the transfer in writing.
Approval where debts exist, Association or BBNZ property has not been returned or judicial matters are unresolved may be denied.
Each participant Association is responsible for the eligibility of its players at all times and will bear the consequences of any infractions of the Regulations governing Eligibility and Age of Players.
Transfer Appeals
Where a transfer is not agreed between Associations an appeal may be made by the player to the Chief Executive of BBNZ who will, in his sole and absolute discretion, determine the outcome of the appeal.
2. Association Area
The Constitution states that - ‘Area’ means a geographical area of New Zealand as defined by the Board, over which an Affiliated Association has jurisdiction in accordance with its constitution and this Constitution.
The Constitution goes on to state that Associations have responsibilities generally but a number specifically relate to what they must provide within their ‘Area’. I have copied in the relevant section from the Constitution below;
8. Affiliated Associations
8.1 Affiliated Association: An Affiliated Association is a basketball organisation that is recognised by the Board as having administrative competence; financial stability; and its admission as an Affiliated Association will contribute to the achievement of the Objects.
8.2 No Other Affiliation: Affiliated Associations may not be affiliated to, or a member of, any basketball organisation that is not a Member of BBNZ, unless otherwise agreed with the Board of BBNZ.
8.3 No Playing with Non-Affiliated Associations: Each Affiliated Association must ensure that no Team or player under its control or jurisdiction, plays any other team under the control or jurisdiction of an entity which is not a BBNZ Member, including without limitation any team or player under the control or jurisdiction of an overseas entity, without the prior written consent of the Board. Each Affiliated Association shall include a rule identical to this rule in its constitution so that its members are bound by this rule.
8.4 Affiliated Association Obligations: To be a Member, and to remain as an Affiliated Association, an Affiliated Association must:
a. continue to meet the Board’s criteria for a new Affiliated Association under Rule 13.2a (Affiliated Association);
b. administer, promote and develop basketball throughout its Area in accordance with the Objects of BBNZ;
c. promote, develop and hold regular basketball opportunities, activities, competitions and programmes throughout its Area;
d. actively contribute to and promote BBNZ high performance pathways for all participants including players, coaches and officials;
e. actively support and promote the growth of the game of basketball throughout its Area;
f. work collaboratively with the other Affiliated Associations in its Zone to develop an annual basketball plan for the Zone in accordance with the Regulations;
g. have as its members, Clubs, Teams, Individual Members and any other members it considers appropriate;
h. appoint a Delegate(s) annually to represent it at General Meetings;
i. have complied with its obligations under Rule 8.6 (Affiliated Association Information);
j. have paid any membership fees in terms of Rule 16 (Membership Fees) by the due date(s);
k. adopt as its annual financial date a date between 30 August and 31 December in each year;
l. adopt a constitution which is consistent and in compliance with this Constitution and the Regulations;
m. act in good faith and with loyalty to BBNZ to ensure the maintenance and enhancement of BBNZ and basketball, and its reputation, and to do so for the collective and mutual benefit of the Members and basketball in New Zealand;
n. operate with, and promote mutual trust and confidence between BBNZ and the Members;
o. at all times act in the interests of the Members and basketball; and
p. do all that is reasonably necessary to enable the Objects of BBNZ and the objects of the Affiliated Association to be achieved.
a. continue to meet the Board’s criteria for a new Affiliated Association under Rule 13.2a (Affiliated Association);
b. administer, promote and develop basketball throughout its Area in accordance with the Objects of BBNZ;
c. promote, develop and hold regular basketball opportunities, activities, competitions and programmes throughout its Area;
d. actively contribute to and promote BBNZ high performance pathways for all participants including players, coaches and officials;
e. actively support and promote the growth of the game of basketball throughout its Area;
f. work collaboratively with the other Affiliated Associations in its Zone to develop an annual basketball plan for the Zone in accordance with the Regulations;
g. have as its members, Clubs, Teams, Individual Members and any other members it considers appropriate;
h. appoint a Delegate(s) annually to represent it at General Meetings;
i. have complied with its obligations under Rule 8.6 (Affiliated Association Information);
j. have paid any membership fees in terms of Rule 16 (Membership Fees) by the due date(s);
k. adopt as its annual financial date a date between 30 August and 31 December in each year;
l. adopt a constitution which is consistent and in compliance with this Constitution and the Regulations;
m. act in good faith and with loyalty to BBNZ to ensure the maintenance and enhancement of BBNZ and basketball, and its reputation, and to do so for the collective and mutual benefit of the Members and basketball in New Zealand;
n. operate with, and promote mutual trust and confidence between BBNZ and the Members;
o. at all times act in the interests of the Members and basketball; and
p. do all that is reasonably necessary to enable the Objects of BBNZ and the objects of the Affiliated Association to be achieved.
8.5 Certification: Each Affiliated Associations must certify, and provide sufficient evidence that it is complying with all of the obligations in Rule 8.4 on an annual basis in the manner described in Rule 8.6, or as requested by the Board.
8.6 Affiliated Association Information: In respect of each financial year each Affiliated Association must forward to BBNZ the following information by 31 March immediately following its balance date:
a. Annual Report: a copy of its annual report and statement of accounts, including balance sheet and income and expenditure account, relating to the preceding financial year;
b. Member Database: a list, in the format determined by BBNZ, containing the names, contact details, gender, date of birth and any other information reasonably requested by BBNZ of all its members, which will be entered into the Member Database;
c. Up to date contact details: up to date contact details, including, if available, an email address, for the Affiliated Association;
d. Certification: certification of its obligations as described in Rule 8.4, and in the form prescribed by BBNZ; and
e. Other Information: such other information on the Affiliated Association’s affairs as may from time to time be required by the Board.
Last Modified on 09/12/2014 07:48
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