Sixteenth edition,

And a perfect one it turned out to be, ALL but one conditions were met. The idea of playing a STREETBALL contest along the T71 lines appears to be losing its attraction for the basketball community and registration never really picked up. All teams used our T71 internet site and we soon realized that we would have to downscale yet again. By Friday we were set for a figure of 70 teams, and could programme accordingly. Those who had registered turned up and we only had three cancellations which were more than matched by on-the-day registrations.
We have not figured out why there were so few teams, since there were no known sporting events to interfere with our date (cf. previous years). We must therefore assume that the formula no longer draws the crowds.
Anyway, the tournament was played to the best of our organizing talents and completed within record time – no wonder with fewer heats to be played.
Conditions were ideal, some people did complain about the heat, some found the turnaround with so few teams very challenging, some thought the music was too loud, some will always find something to moan about. When the rain came it did not interfere with the event any more, it helped us cool down and made the cleaning up all the more rapid.
The T71 playing system worked to everybody’s satisfaction, no complaints, no result challenging and no foul play. We had a couple of reported injuries, but the CENTRE D’INTERVENTION DUDELANGE and the KAYL ambulance service (in concert with the PROTECTION CIVILE) handled these minor incidents with all the professional talent we have grown to appreciate in these services.
We have grown equally accustomed to the performance of our very own teams, our « roadies » had prepared the playing fields well before time and the catering turned like clockwork all day long, the last Mettwurscht left the barbecue in time for the cleanup to begin, the SUPPORTER CLUB had used all the dough for its waffles – by seven o’clock the schoolyard was left cleaner than at the start of the day, thanks above all to the help of the workers and technicians of THE ADMINISTRATION DE LA VILLE DE DUDELANGE, who gave us all the support before, during and after the event, and without whom all this would simply be impossible to realize.

Our thanks also go to our main sponsors SPUERKEES and VOX, their financial help obviously, but also the logistics which add to the attractiveness of the event. T71 is fortunate to have a number of faithful sponsors, who without wanting to gain prominence, feel our events worthy of their welcome support. Sound and information were provided by DNR, with Christophe Hochard working all day to find the right mix to please our public and one member of the catering staff in particular.

The T71 Streetball organizers wish to thank all those involved once again; we don’t necessarily believe in SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL, but these smaller tournaments have their own charm, which does not mean that we would be tempted to have a go at it again next year - but who knows ?

Fourteenth edition,

somewhere between that all important barrier of a dozen and the anniversary edition one wouldn’t want to miss. For some obscure reason the managers of the Streetball event have already instigated the preliminaries to the fifteenth edition. Will the idea never die away ? Apparently not, or so it would seem. Ok, so the club has a tradition to uphold, the « Original Luxembourg Streetball Contest » is a key event in the sporting calendar of the Luxembourg basketball community, BUT should we really insist after all these years.

 

 

The question is a valid one in the face of the problems you encounter with any of these open events. Friends in the club scene will know the phenomenon; when to set the date, which formula to adopt. The date was quickly found since we run the event at the end of our season, and have the internal competition of our second traditional event, the TAGEBLATT YOUTH TROPHY. No point in changing the formula since we allow players to register until the last moment.

 

 

No two Streetball events are the same, and we should know by now. This year the competition from outside events was stiff to say the least, and almost completely unpredictable. No blame shed because basketball must be played at all levels at all times, only it can upset your planning. When registrations started to pick we noticed that something was amiss, several of our key categories were absent. The very young seem to have lost interest in this type of open-air event, the top categories were scheduled to play elsewhere. As a result we could not meet he 100 mark we set ourselves these last editions. At 75 teams we had to downplay a little, with little change to our organization, though. Our internet registration works to our total satisfaction, no glitches this time, not a single problem and only two paper registrations, amazing to see how this technology has improved our organization. It allows an immediate feedback and teams may even cancel online, with the obvious benefit of allowing us to return the registration fee.

 

 

On the day, the « Original Luxembourg Streetball Contest » was true to its reputation, all categories could play, every team had the number of games we promised, and the pools and finals were played - a little more quickly than expected, unfortunately. For one, with a limited number of teams in some categories, pooling and finals can be run more quickly and two : THE Thunderstorm hit us two hours early. Our T71 met team had flown into the weather front and reported that the storms would only reach Dudelange at 18.00 hours, fat chance. The sluices broke at half three, the T71 organization was called into action. Our friends of the Protection Civile had warned us of the violence of the storm in the Sanem area and advised us to stop the event and to fold all tents. When the downpour came the schoolyard had been cleared and the wait could begin. All team captains still in the running were called to a meeting and a solution was quickly found, the finals would be played in the gym of the primary school : The solution would have done the Springfield Y.M.C.A. and Dr Naismith proud – the gym meets all 1892 standards. BUT all but two finals could be played indoors. The remaining two finals were played on the MONDO playing grounds outdoors, BECAUSE they had been cleaned and dried in record time by our untiring helpers – see pix.

 

 

HELPERS : essential to any organization, a boon to any club event when the team functions almost autonomously. Set the teams and get going: Organization, technical and sporting aspects, catering on the T71 and SUPPORTER CLUB sides, confidence in our catering partners.

Sponsoring is of the essence, we would like to thank those sponsors who make the event possible and worthwhile for the club finances.

The support of THE ADMINISTRATION DE LA VILLE DE DUDE LANGE and its SERVICE TECHNIQUE makes the event at all possible: all the supplies had been provided and the yard prepared for our event : panels and supports renewed and schoolyard vacuum-cleaned by 8 p.m.

The CENTRE D’INTERVENTION DUDELANGE and the PROTECTION CIVILE, provided us with the info and medical support – very comforting even with only one games-related incident.

The T71 Streetball organizers would like thank all participants of the fourteenth edition, registration for the 2007 edition will open some time in late April, NEXT YEAR.

Guy

earlier editions

 

In 2002 we achieved the feat of organizing the 10th edition, not at all bad for such an event. Of course, we can no longer match the initial figure of 800 participants, but the T71 has been trying, and will go on trying to bring in new elements to make the event as attractive as possible.

The contest is basically a national event, but we we do have entries from neighbouring countries, and the international flair will always be guaranteed by the many foreign residents who take part every year.

The most attractive categories are no doubt the 13 year upward ones, both male and female, and we pride ourselves on having the top players from the national league in Dudelange on that Sunday in June. We try to offer the same tournament atmosphere to all players, beginners are welcome since they are the potential players of tomorrow - the Original Luxembourg Streetball Contest is a showcase for baskeball in Dudelange and we would like it to be seen that way by all those taking part.

 

The T71 provides the catering on that day and we are also known for not turning people away, solutions can always be found, the flexibility is built into our playing system.

Our internet based registration system has worked to perfection (well almost) and we will improve it wherever we can.

Certainly not, especially after the success of last year’s edition. We like to look back , judge and improve our performance, but in 2005 this walk down memory lane is marred by the loss of a key figure in the history of our club. GUY STEINMETZ had initiated many a project in the past, most of his initiatives bore fruit, none were stillborn. What characterized them no doubt was their novelty ; GUY beat us to the mark on many occasions, and when he came up with the STREETBALL idea we could but applaud and execute. And execute we did, in his spirit. Thank you GUY for being with us so long, you taught us what it means to run a club successfully.

Registration via the internet is the answer to many of our concerns but there still remain a few problems, mainly with the return mail – we are working on it, though. We have almost achieved the paperless registration – e-STREETBALL - good on the environment as well. Our internet site runs to near perfection and there were no hiccups on the incoming side – the outgoing messages do not yet meet our « standards » (only me to blame, I suppose).

Our event relies heavily on mutual trust, registration is not really binding, but the people we deal know that it is also their event. Very few teams do not turn up, those who do have settled the registration fee, or do so on the spot. Our logistics team appears to be able to handle any surprise development (well, at least until now), and with the help of the sporting spirit of all participants the few hitches can be settled to everybody’s satisfaction.

Last year the quality of the participating team was high, this year it was …….., well just as high, what did you expect ? We can’t help the sporting calendar and we were fortunate to have the top NATIONALE ONE teams on the spot, good for us, good for everybody concerned – we’ll ask for a journée protégée next year.

Our thanks go to ALL participants : the organizing team, our technical and sports staff, the catering teams run by René Scholer, the year-long help of the SUPPORTER CLUB, our catering partners.

We mentioned the essential contribution of our sponsors. Let’s not forget the logistical support of THE ADMINISTRATION DE LA VILLE DE DUDELANGE, without the help of their SERVICE TECHNIQUE our event would not be possible : to think that they x-rayed all the supports, renewed all the panels and left the schoolyard spick-and-span after the event.

For our peace of mind it it essential to have a good insurance covering you, also to have the professionals on the spot, here our thanks go to the CENTRE D’INTERVENTION DUDELANGE and the PROTECTION CIVILE, with their first-aid unit and an ambulance on stand-by.

We didn’t really innovate this year, but wait for it, the T71 is good for surprises, WATCH THIS SPACE ( we have been told to keep the files open, apparently there’s going to be a 14th edition) Never despair, you may join us next year.

GUY