1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,107 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZB. 3 00:00:12,827 --> 00:00:17,587 Speaker 2: School basketball numbers are through the roof right across the country. 4 00:00:17,627 --> 00:00:23,227 Speaker 2: On current numbers and on the current trajectory, basketball will 5 00:00:23,227 --> 00:00:26,187 Speaker 2: be the number one sport in our high schools within 6 00:00:26,227 --> 00:00:31,427 Speaker 2: the next year. Participation has jumped an incredible sixty one 7 00:00:31,747 --> 00:00:37,267 Speaker 2: percent since two thousand, sixty one percent. Basketball New Zealand 8 00:00:37,347 --> 00:00:40,747 Speaker 2: CEO is former Toall Black's legend Dylan Boucher. He joins 9 00:00:40,827 --> 00:00:43,267 Speaker 2: US now, Dylan, I'm sure these numbers won't be a 10 00:00:43,307 --> 00:00:45,587 Speaker 2: surprise to you because you track these sorts of things. 11 00:00:45,907 --> 00:00:50,307 Speaker 2: But why do you think basketball is so attractive to 12 00:00:50,347 --> 00:00:51,067 Speaker 2: our teenagers? 13 00:00:51,907 --> 00:00:53,987 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it's I think it's more than just 14 00:00:54,027 --> 00:00:56,067 Speaker 3: a sport for our teenagers. I think that's a real, 15 00:00:56,467 --> 00:01:01,107 Speaker 3: real cultural elements of basketball. When I say cultural, everything 16 00:01:01,267 --> 00:01:06,507 Speaker 3: from you know, it's street, it's fashion, it's music, it's 17 00:01:06,707 --> 00:01:10,587 Speaker 3: it's fashion, it's style, it's you know, the NBA is 18 00:01:10,627 --> 00:01:14,387 Speaker 3: a real big influence globally on this game, and kids 19 00:01:14,427 --> 00:01:17,587 Speaker 3: fall in love with it and it's easy content to consume. So, 20 00:01:18,267 --> 00:01:20,627 Speaker 3: you know, watching a highlight of a basketball game or 21 00:01:20,707 --> 00:01:23,667 Speaker 3: highlights from a basketball game are really easy to consume 22 00:01:23,747 --> 00:01:27,027 Speaker 3: and really intriguing for people because guys are doing things 23 00:01:27,067 --> 00:01:29,547 Speaker 3: that your average person can't do. And I think that's 24 00:01:29,547 --> 00:01:30,227 Speaker 3: really appealing to. 25 00:01:30,627 --> 00:01:33,187 Speaker 2: Teenagers, absolutely, And you're talking about a lot of stuff 26 00:01:33,187 --> 00:01:35,547 Speaker 2: that people can watch and wear and that sort of thing. 27 00:01:35,587 --> 00:01:38,507 Speaker 2: But how has that translated across to people wanting to 28 00:01:38,507 --> 00:01:40,667 Speaker 2: pick up a ball themselves and give it. 29 00:01:40,667 --> 00:01:44,347 Speaker 3: A crack you think? I mean, I only can think 30 00:01:44,387 --> 00:01:46,427 Speaker 3: about when I was that age and you know, falling 31 00:01:46,507 --> 00:01:48,787 Speaker 3: in love with Michael Jordan and what he was able 32 00:01:48,787 --> 00:01:50,787 Speaker 3: to do and wanting to go out in the backyard 33 00:01:50,827 --> 00:01:52,827 Speaker 3: and practice it and try and do what he was doing. 34 00:01:52,867 --> 00:01:55,547 Speaker 3: And I think it's exactly the same with their young 35 00:01:55,587 --> 00:01:57,827 Speaker 3: people here. They are wanting to go out and try 36 00:01:57,867 --> 00:01:59,667 Speaker 3: to get good at basketball because I think it's seen 37 00:01:59,747 --> 00:02:02,267 Speaker 3: as a really cool sport as well. So it's a 38 00:02:02,307 --> 00:02:04,587 Speaker 3: sport that day going and I really think it's a 39 00:02:04,587 --> 00:02:06,587 Speaker 3: cool sport and I want to be a part of that. So, 40 00:02:07,147 --> 00:02:11,067 Speaker 3: you know, again, the amount of work that young people 41 00:02:11,067 --> 00:02:13,387 Speaker 3: are putting into their game is phenomenal. The skill level 42 00:02:13,507 --> 00:02:15,467 Speaker 3: is higher than we've ever seen it. And you know, 43 00:02:15,627 --> 00:02:17,987 Speaker 3: from a very young age now, you've. 44 00:02:17,867 --> 00:02:20,307 Speaker 2: Been pretty proactive to a basketball news yell and hopes 45 00:02:20,347 --> 00:02:23,667 Speaker 2: and schools, hoopes and parks now hoops and Maria, you 46 00:02:23,747 --> 00:02:26,347 Speaker 2: must be seeing a flow on effect, are you from 47 00:02:26,387 --> 00:02:27,187 Speaker 2: those initiatives? 48 00:02:27,907 --> 00:02:31,067 Speaker 3: Yeah? Absolutely, I mean we are. Every time we drive 49 00:02:31,187 --> 00:02:33,707 Speaker 3: past a hoop or something that's been installed in a 50 00:02:33,747 --> 00:02:36,547 Speaker 3: school or a park, it's always been used and you know, 51 00:02:36,707 --> 00:02:38,787 Speaker 3: it doesn't matter what our other day, there's always someone 52 00:02:38,787 --> 00:02:41,387 Speaker 3: on it. So we're really seeing those hoops that we're 53 00:02:41,387 --> 00:02:43,947 Speaker 3: putting in schools and in parks and in what I 54 00:02:44,147 --> 00:02:47,307 Speaker 3: now being able to be used, to be available to 55 00:02:47,347 --> 00:02:49,227 Speaker 3: people to use. And the goal is to be able 56 00:02:49,267 --> 00:02:52,187 Speaker 3: to make sure there's a hope accessible, you know, within 57 00:02:52,307 --> 00:02:55,107 Speaker 3: kind of like a two kilometer radius of anyone at 58 00:02:55,147 --> 00:02:57,667 Speaker 3: any time. So that would that's the goal moving forward. 59 00:02:57,707 --> 00:03:00,787 Speaker 3: And we're really seeing more and more people that are, 60 00:03:00,947 --> 00:03:03,387 Speaker 3: you know, engaging with their kids, taking their kids down 61 00:03:03,427 --> 00:03:05,107 Speaker 3: to the park and shootings and hoops with their kids. 62 00:03:05,107 --> 00:03:08,427 Speaker 3: And it's a really easy sport. Get instant gratification by 63 00:03:08,427 --> 00:03:09,987 Speaker 3: shudent and see and it go through the hoop. 64 00:03:10,267 --> 00:03:13,107 Speaker 2: Yeah, fantastic giving those available. I guess in the organized 65 00:03:13,427 --> 00:03:16,307 Speaker 2: side of things, whether it's your traditional game or three 66 00:03:16,467 --> 00:03:20,227 Speaker 2: x three, how much pressure are the growing player numbers 67 00:03:20,267 --> 00:03:22,347 Speaker 2: putting on the sport for court space. 68 00:03:23,427 --> 00:03:26,347 Speaker 3: Again, I used I've made the joke that we used 69 00:03:26,347 --> 00:03:28,427 Speaker 3: to say it's a good problem when you're busting at 70 00:03:28,427 --> 00:03:30,787 Speaker 3: the scenes, but now it's just a problem. We're seeing 71 00:03:30,867 --> 00:03:34,347 Speaker 3: every region has got either kids from a young age 72 00:03:34,387 --> 00:03:37,107 Speaker 3: playing late at night, you know, playing games as late 73 00:03:37,147 --> 00:03:39,627 Speaker 3: as nine to nine thirty at night, just to be 74 00:03:39,627 --> 00:03:41,827 Speaker 3: able to get as many teams as they have wanting 75 00:03:41,867 --> 00:03:46,347 Speaker 3: to play basketball in because because of court shortages, we're 76 00:03:46,387 --> 00:03:50,667 Speaker 3: seeing teams having schools having weightless of kids who want 77 00:03:50,707 --> 00:03:53,067 Speaker 3: to play that can't play because there's nowhere for them 78 00:03:53,107 --> 00:03:56,587 Speaker 3: to play. So it is becoming a real problem, and 79 00:03:56,627 --> 00:03:58,827 Speaker 3: you know, we're doing everything we can to try to 80 00:03:59,067 --> 00:04:01,667 Speaker 3: come up with creative ways to ensure that if you 81 00:04:01,707 --> 00:04:03,547 Speaker 3: want to play basketball, you should be able to and 82 00:04:03,587 --> 00:04:04,987 Speaker 3: there should be some way where you can go and 83 00:04:05,027 --> 00:04:07,427 Speaker 3: bounce the ball and have a go, whether it be 84 00:04:07,467 --> 00:04:10,067 Speaker 3: in a team setting or in an informal environment. 85 00:04:10,627 --> 00:04:13,107 Speaker 2: What are some of those solutions, Dylan, that you're trying 86 00:04:13,147 --> 00:04:15,707 Speaker 2: to come up with, both creative and more traditional. 87 00:04:16,547 --> 00:04:19,347 Speaker 3: Yeah, even things like bringing some of the younger leagues 88 00:04:19,347 --> 00:04:21,667 Speaker 3: and playing them outside, playing them on outdoor courts. We're 89 00:04:21,667 --> 00:04:25,667 Speaker 3: seeing more and more schools get those covered in courts 90 00:04:25,667 --> 00:04:27,987 Speaker 3: if you like, And so how can we use those 91 00:04:28,027 --> 00:04:30,587 Speaker 3: coven in courts, you know during those winter months where 92 00:04:31,307 --> 00:04:33,227 Speaker 3: you're still going to be dry underneath it, but it 93 00:04:33,307 --> 00:04:35,027 Speaker 3: might be raining around you, but you can still be 94 00:04:35,067 --> 00:04:38,907 Speaker 3: able to run leagues. Again, changing the formats, being innovative, 95 00:04:38,987 --> 00:04:42,107 Speaker 3: so using the three to three solutions, so being able 96 00:04:42,147 --> 00:04:43,987 Speaker 3: to run a couple of games at the same time 97 00:04:44,587 --> 00:04:47,707 Speaker 3: on one court, and those sorts of things. So and 98 00:04:48,027 --> 00:04:50,027 Speaker 3: again trying to put as many hoops as we can 99 00:04:50,107 --> 00:04:54,227 Speaker 3: around so you can adapt the game and have a 100 00:04:54,227 --> 00:04:57,347 Speaker 3: lot of skill format things rather than just necessarily games. 101 00:04:58,027 --> 00:05:01,147 Speaker 2: So numbers at secondary school, as I say, going gangbusters. 102 00:05:01,507 --> 00:05:03,667 Speaker 2: When a teenager leaves school and they want to play 103 00:05:03,787 --> 00:05:06,827 Speaker 2: I don't know, cricket, football, rugby and nepall join a 104 00:05:06,867 --> 00:05:09,907 Speaker 2: club and play in a league. What is the pathway 105 00:05:09,947 --> 00:05:12,827 Speaker 2: for basketball players when they leave school and want to 106 00:05:12,827 --> 00:05:14,267 Speaker 2: stay involved in the sport. 107 00:05:14,787 --> 00:05:16,627 Speaker 3: Yeah, for us, that's what we're finding. There's a bit 108 00:05:16,627 --> 00:05:18,787 Speaker 3: of a gap in the market and we're really trying 109 00:05:18,827 --> 00:05:20,987 Speaker 3: to come up with how do we keep people involved 110 00:05:20,987 --> 00:05:22,387 Speaker 3: in the game. And a lot of times it may 111 00:05:22,427 --> 00:05:24,587 Speaker 3: not even necessarily be staying playing in the game. They 112 00:05:24,587 --> 00:05:27,187 Speaker 3: want to stay involved in coaching. So we have our 113 00:05:27,227 --> 00:05:30,587 Speaker 3: traditional pathways through REP programs and things like that through 114 00:05:30,627 --> 00:05:34,987 Speaker 3: our associations, and we introduced this year the Tupou League. 115 00:05:35,067 --> 00:05:37,307 Speaker 3: So the Tupoo League was based on like a second 116 00:05:37,307 --> 00:05:40,547 Speaker 3: division type concept where it was aimed at those that 117 00:05:40,667 --> 00:05:44,987 Speaker 3: possibly want to continue playing competitive basketball. They can play 118 00:05:44,987 --> 00:05:47,547 Speaker 3: in their a local six week competition and then the 119 00:05:48,307 --> 00:05:52,427 Speaker 3: winning teams from those competitions, depending on which region you're in, 120 00:05:52,587 --> 00:05:55,107 Speaker 3: how many qualify from each region, but come into a 121 00:05:55,187 --> 00:05:57,507 Speaker 3: national tournament and that was played in Dunedin this year 122 00:05:57,587 --> 00:06:01,547 Speaker 3: and actually won by Otago. So and it has minutes 123 00:06:01,627 --> 00:06:04,467 Speaker 3: restrictions on it of if you play in the Sales NBA, 124 00:06:04,547 --> 00:06:06,627 Speaker 3: it has minutes restrictions on how many minutes so you 125 00:06:06,667 --> 00:06:09,667 Speaker 3: can You're only allowed fifteen minutes of court time to 126 00:06:09,707 --> 00:06:11,427 Speaker 3: play in the Tupu League. So it was aimed at 127 00:06:11,427 --> 00:06:14,467 Speaker 3: the guys who are possibly not getting as much court 128 00:06:14,467 --> 00:06:16,867 Speaker 3: time in the NBL, and then those that are wanting 129 00:06:16,867 --> 00:06:18,507 Speaker 3: to inspire to be in the NBL, but those that 130 00:06:18,587 --> 00:06:20,267 Speaker 3: actually just want to play at a higher level, So 131 00:06:20,627 --> 00:06:23,627 Speaker 3: trying to create opportunities for those players to continue, But 132 00:06:24,147 --> 00:06:27,027 Speaker 3: a lot of our associations will have their own leagues 133 00:06:27,107 --> 00:06:30,107 Speaker 3: running that are aimed Taggert at those kind of athletes 134 00:06:30,147 --> 00:06:32,787 Speaker 3: that want to continue playing. Some may be just social, 135 00:06:32,827 --> 00:06:34,427 Speaker 3: but also some competitive as well. 136 00:06:34,667 --> 00:06:36,587 Speaker 2: Do you think what you said before about about what 137 00:06:36,987 --> 00:06:38,987 Speaker 2: the real attraction of the sport is to young people? 138 00:06:39,387 --> 00:06:43,667 Speaker 2: You know, it's not as as strictly organized as perhaps 139 00:06:43,667 --> 00:06:45,107 Speaker 2: you know, if you're playing one of the other sports, 140 00:06:45,147 --> 00:06:47,467 Speaker 2: do you think that's one of the attractions, you know, 141 00:06:47,547 --> 00:06:50,147 Speaker 2: so you don't actually want a traditional club set up 142 00:06:50,147 --> 00:06:52,347 Speaker 2: where people go to the club rooms after the game. 143 00:06:52,427 --> 00:06:54,307 Speaker 2: That players just want to go the court play their 144 00:06:54,307 --> 00:06:54,627 Speaker 2: game and. 145 00:06:54,547 --> 00:06:57,547 Speaker 3: That's it, I think, to be honest, I think in 146 00:06:57,587 --> 00:07:00,227 Speaker 3: today's day and age, everyone's so busy, so you know, 147 00:07:00,427 --> 00:07:03,987 Speaker 3: like I think, I mean, I really loved the concept 148 00:07:03,987 --> 00:07:05,987 Speaker 3: of a rugby club, and you know, I played a 149 00:07:05,987 --> 00:07:07,987 Speaker 3: bit of growing up, and we'd often played at the 150 00:07:08,027 --> 00:07:10,067 Speaker 3: rugby club and going and have a beer after the 151 00:07:10,107 --> 00:07:12,347 Speaker 3: game or something like that. It was quite a social environment. 152 00:07:12,627 --> 00:07:15,187 Speaker 3: I feel like people are busier now than when I 153 00:07:15,227 --> 00:07:18,827 Speaker 3: was growing up, So I think, you know, the club 154 00:07:18,907 --> 00:07:21,267 Speaker 3: structure is great, and then it would be awesome. You know, 155 00:07:21,307 --> 00:07:23,707 Speaker 3: there's some great club structures in the South Island in 156 00:07:23,747 --> 00:07:26,707 Speaker 3: particular and basketball. But I think people are so busy 157 00:07:26,747 --> 00:07:28,387 Speaker 3: now and they really just want to give up their 158 00:07:28,387 --> 00:07:30,427 Speaker 3: time play a game and get back in their car 159 00:07:30,427 --> 00:07:33,147 Speaker 3: and get home and do whatever they've got to do. 160 00:07:33,187 --> 00:07:36,467 Speaker 3: So I think that informal style is playing into it. 161 00:07:36,467 --> 00:07:39,027 Speaker 3: And there's all different levels and it's all playing into 162 00:07:39,107 --> 00:07:40,107 Speaker 3: our favor right now. 163 00:07:40,587 --> 00:07:43,787 Speaker 2: And just back to the standard of our top secondary 164 00:07:43,787 --> 00:07:47,827 Speaker 2: schools teams. You alluded to it before. I watched a 165 00:07:47,867 --> 00:07:49,987 Speaker 2: regional tournament in Palmerston North this year and that was 166 00:07:50,027 --> 00:07:52,147 Speaker 2: just the regionals, the one below the nationals and the 167 00:07:52,187 --> 00:07:56,387 Speaker 2: standard You're right, Dylan is superb. How do you assess 168 00:07:56,627 --> 00:07:58,587 Speaker 2: where it is and how much more it might grow? 169 00:07:59,747 --> 00:08:02,107 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think again. I think because of the Internet, 170 00:08:02,267 --> 00:08:04,667 Speaker 3: I think kids are able to get hold get hold 171 00:08:04,747 --> 00:08:07,827 Speaker 3: of international players from you know, it could be twelve 172 00:08:07,867 --> 00:08:09,787 Speaker 3: year old kid and you're watching on YouTube at the 173 00:08:09,827 --> 00:08:12,187 Speaker 3: skill worked out that doing and then they going, oh, 174 00:08:12,227 --> 00:08:13,787 Speaker 3: and that twelve years old and they go, oh, I 175 00:08:13,827 --> 00:08:15,387 Speaker 3: need to go practice that. So they go on their 176 00:08:15,387 --> 00:08:17,027 Speaker 3: back out and they work on their ball handling or 177 00:08:17,067 --> 00:08:19,507 Speaker 3: work on their shooting, and you know, we're seeing some 178 00:08:19,547 --> 00:08:22,267 Speaker 3: products of kids coming through now that have really picked 179 00:08:22,307 --> 00:08:24,187 Speaker 3: up the ball at a young age, fallen in love 180 00:08:24,227 --> 00:08:26,547 Speaker 3: with it and then just wanted to hone their skills 181 00:08:26,587 --> 00:08:28,427 Speaker 3: and at a really high level. I mean, I'm the 182 00:08:28,507 --> 00:08:30,227 Speaker 3: same as you. I walk into a gym now and 183 00:08:30,427 --> 00:08:32,027 Speaker 3: used to walk into high school games and one or 184 00:08:32,067 --> 00:08:33,587 Speaker 3: two kids used to be able to dunk it. Now 185 00:08:33,627 --> 00:08:36,067 Speaker 3: you got, you know, nine of the twelve guys doing 186 00:08:36,147 --> 00:08:38,027 Speaker 3: dunks and in the warm up side in your game. 187 00:08:38,107 --> 00:08:41,187 Speaker 3: This is just crazy. And our kids getting bigger. Yes, 188 00:08:41,307 --> 00:08:43,107 Speaker 3: I walk in, I mean I'm six foot five, you know, 189 00:08:43,267 --> 00:08:45,667 Speaker 3: just under two meters and I walk into basketball stadiums 190 00:08:45,667 --> 00:08:47,947 Speaker 3: at like an under fifteen tournament and these kids walking 191 00:08:47,987 --> 00:08:50,427 Speaker 3: past bigger than me, you know, at an under fifteen tournament. 192 00:08:50,627 --> 00:08:53,347 Speaker 3: And I'm just going these kids didn't exist when we 193 00:08:53,347 --> 00:08:56,147 Speaker 3: when I was coming through, so there's real opportunities, or 194 00:08:56,227 --> 00:08:58,547 Speaker 3: they existed. They were like one roally one stood out 195 00:08:58,547 --> 00:09:00,827 Speaker 3: because it was really tall. But now there's every team 196 00:09:00,907 --> 00:09:03,627 Speaker 3: just about has a big kid. So we're seeing more 197 00:09:03,627 --> 00:09:06,587 Speaker 3: and more size across the board. And the skill boy, 198 00:09:06,627 --> 00:09:08,107 Speaker 3: as I say, has really improved. 199 00:09:08,587 --> 00:09:10,587 Speaker 2: Exciting times for the sports. You've mentioned the tall blacks 200 00:09:10,627 --> 00:09:14,067 Speaker 2: as well. They're in action on Monday night in christ Church, 201 00:09:14,147 --> 00:09:17,107 Speaker 2: So a chance, I guess for people in that particular 202 00:09:17,147 --> 00:09:19,587 Speaker 2: part of the country to see the very very top 203 00:09:19,587 --> 00:09:21,547 Speaker 2: New Zealand players in action this coming Monday night. 204 00:09:22,267 --> 00:09:24,747 Speaker 3: Yeah absolutely. I mean I think if you've never been 205 00:09:24,787 --> 00:09:27,627 Speaker 3: to a game and you're wondering what the hype's about, 206 00:09:27,667 --> 00:09:29,587 Speaker 3: go along to that Toll Blecks game in christ Church 207 00:09:29,627 --> 00:09:31,947 Speaker 3: and watch them take on Chinese Taipei and the Sea 208 00:09:31,987 --> 00:09:36,227 Speaker 3: Basia Cup qualifiers and you'll understand why it's so much fun. 209 00:09:36,307 --> 00:09:39,427 Speaker 3: I mean, one basketball. The other thing about basketball, the 210 00:09:39,427 --> 00:09:41,387 Speaker 3: one thing it is is it's one of the few 211 00:09:41,427 --> 00:09:44,147 Speaker 3: sports that's actually better live. So a lot of sports 212 00:09:44,187 --> 00:09:45,987 Speaker 3: when you watch it on TV, you see better camera 213 00:09:46,027 --> 00:09:48,467 Speaker 3: angles and stuff like that. Basketball is one of the 214 00:09:48,467 --> 00:09:51,187 Speaker 3: few sports when you go you can there's not a 215 00:09:51,187 --> 00:09:53,387 Speaker 3: bad seat in the building and you get your value 216 00:09:53,387 --> 00:09:55,307 Speaker 3: for money you get there and it's actually better than 217 00:09:55,347 --> 00:09:57,467 Speaker 3: watching it live because of the atmosphere in the stadium. 218 00:09:57,547 --> 00:09:59,307 Speaker 3: So it's going to be a good crowd on Monday 219 00:09:59,387 --> 00:10:02,147 Speaker 3: night looking forward to being down there and watching the 220 00:10:02,147 --> 00:10:04,867 Speaker 3: Toll Blocks bounce back after a narrow loss against the 221 00:10:04,867 --> 00:10:07,907 Speaker 3: Philippines a couple day days ago. So should be a 222 00:10:07,947 --> 00:10:09,507 Speaker 3: good game and really looking forward to it. 223 00:10:09,547 --> 00:10:12,707 Speaker 2: Good man, Dylan. Exciting time for the sport at all levels. 224 00:10:12,747 --> 00:10:15,387 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us, mate, Always a pleaser, Pony, Thank you, Dylan. 225 00:10:15,467 --> 00:10:20,507 Speaker 2: Dylan Boutcher, CEO of Basketball New Zealand, former Turbacks legend himself, 226 00:10:20,547 --> 00:10:20,947 Speaker 2: of course. 227 00:10:21,547 --> 00:10:24,747 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 228 00:10:24,827 --> 00:10:28,147 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow 229 00:10:28,187 --> 00:10:29,787 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio