Christophe, the former brain behind BallinEurope now devoted to European Prospects, yesterday reported that France would be the first to adopt the “Homegrown Player” status for its national league.
The LNB steering committee reportedly unanimously adopted the amendment to current player statuses in a Monday meeting and the changes will go into effect for the 2010-11 season. The “homegrown” or “locally trained” player is defined as “he/she who has held a French basketball license for four years between the ages of 12 and 21. The LNB also instituted a grandfather clause for those first licensed in 2009-10.
For 2010-11, between five and seven homegrown players will be allowed to be listed on Pro A rosters, depending on roster size; in Pro B clubs, seven to nine homegrown players will be allowed.
Naturally, the minds behind the LNB were quick to proclaim the virtues of the new system after some two years of negotiation and debate on the issue from FIBA on down, with league president René Le Goff declaring acceptance of the homegrown status as “a milestone in the history of the National Basketball League.”
Indeed, for well-organized basketball-training programs like that of France, this new rule does seem like a nice compromise for a federation wishing to attract the highest possible level of professional player from abroad (thus fans, thus ticket sales, thus money) while still developing the oodles of burgeoning talent La Republique apparently boasts.
In writing about the proposed homegrown rule almost exactly one year ago here at BallinEurope, Christophe was also generally optimistic, but still managed to find some chinks in the armor. Since yours truly cannot really embellish upon what Christophe has written, BiE encourages you to read up on the issue in “Will the HGP change basketball?” from 2009 and this week’s piece entitled “Installation of homegrown player status in France.”
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