Youth old age margin
There is such a silly thing in Russia – the player old age threshold/margin of interest. The interest is lost before the player is scouted or even seen or introduced, only because of his age. If he or she is 18 years old or 20, he is no longer seen as a player that may have a chance and a player who can be considered as a prospect for further basketball levels. That is what you are bound to hear form any Russian coach, this is exactly the way players vanish in Russia. It is a standard and a template and the law of the Russian basketball.
I came around to a street ball tour to see companions and to support my friends. My friends as for the basketball measures are already pensioners, but the coming up youth is so hopeless that my contemporaries can fight and count on the highest places in all the street tournaments. Their hair will turn gray, and then, maybe will drop out, but there is no weapon against their coordination, shooting percentage, team understanding, shot selection, well timed assists and witty decisions without any power or stupid rustle under the basket. Nowadays people play another way- they call it modern basketball style. We were happy not to know about gadgets and we did not worship Iverson and Kobe. We trained fundamentals with the coaches and worked a lot individually. We had the same life problems and activities to execute - like studies, household chores and others.
In the local metal basketball shelter there are 6-7 baskets and more or less smooth asphalt surface without earth holes under a ring and on the arch. And the free throw line is still seen painted. Here as always find familiar faces and less frequent stray tramps. Everybody plays with lots of enthusiasm, but only a few people with skills.
I saw her accidentally at the moment of timeout of the game I watched. Then it would appear that her name is Ekaterina Kovalchuk that she is from Dzerzhinsk town and trains with guys 4 times a week. What is worse – is that she is 1994 and you know why. They played scrimmage with her girlfriends against guys. To tell you shortly, guys had no chances and were casted out. She ran around them between their legs and jumped over their heads, - this phrase I would include in the scout report. She looked about 165 cm high, her technique forced me " press a pause" and stare, standing away. The Game came so easy to her and therefore I saw no need to watch anything else. She was a step ahead in any basketball situation. My head was over flooded with thoughts and questions. Then I approached to get acquainted …
- What is your name? Where are you from? What are you doing here? Which team are you playing for?
- Katya, from Dzerzhinsk. We have no women's teams in my town; I train with guys 4 times a week …
4 years ago Katya had casting in UMMC, where she didn’t return in the time appointed, two years later she was accepted to play in Penza for the University, but her mother didn't let her go. They are two in the family living with each other. Her mother had decided that Katya could only go somewhere to play the ball after school. But in Russia nobody needs you when you are unknown after school, even if you can play ball well. Even if you are up to the level. There was a typical Russian basketball case in front of me, almost hopeless. I could not imagine the same thing over the ocean.
I searched a little bit throughout the internet: not much - only the fact of Katya’s recognition of the best Nizhny Novgorod Region player within school League of "KES-BASKET". Her career high official result was 27 points. She won a couple of games by her last second three throws. She got the invitation from one Nizhny Novgorod University coach. If she accepts it there is a cloudy future for her as a player as Students’ league (ASB) and other university competitions are actually not what is necessary for a good player in Russia.
I left my business card, realizing my possible helplessness in case she calls.
I will hardly do anything against this system unless she is an exception. There is an age threshold of interest. Boys and girls who are more senior aren't quoted or qualified. As there are lots of them chosen long before. But the most remain unrecognized. Players like Katya should be offered scholarships and then pro contracts, people should fight for them.
Today I can think only about 1996, 1997, 1998 birth years. In 2014 the 1996 players will drop out of my sight. That is the whole layer of unknown talents.
Play, Katya, train and play! Even if you are too old for them, you are still only 18! Life just begins at that age.
