5 Questions to ask a basketball club before signing
So, you found a few clubs interested in your skills through SportJobz! Great, but before you pick the fanciest location, or the highest paying club, you should really weigh your options. Taking into account your long-term development as an international pro athlete, you need to ensure that you pick the club that matches your needs the best (which in return means that you should know what your motivation for going abroad really is all about).
Yes, sure, they will be judging you and your fit into their club. But nothing speaks against you also evaluating them for a proper fit. Of course, you might not have hundreds of options, but it is worthwhile considering a club that offers less but you feel gives you a better possibility to grow. In order to do so, you will need to ask questions to the club manager, staff, coaches and players. If need be, don’t shy away from contacting former players of the club and ask why they left and how they evaluate the club. It will provide you with a 360 degrees view of the way the club treat their players and your chances to elevate your game. It’s definitely worth the extra work.
Here are some questions to have in the back of your head when speaking to a club, especially when you are not being represented by an agency.
- What is my salary? What are non-financial perks?
Try to get a few honest accounts (and I mean HONEST monthly salaries) of what players have previously gotten paid in that country or club. When negotiating salary or judging their offer, take into consideration the living expenses of a certain country. Weigh in non-financial perks like paid apartment, car, gear, outfits, language courses to estimate your monthly spending and saving power.
- Who are the coaches? Can I speak to them before signing?
Do the coaches have properly valid coaching certificates, are they actively developing themselves, or have they done the same thing for the past 30 years? Both can work but will provide you with different options. Try to speak to the coaching staff to hear how they envision your fit in the team, their expectations and coaching styles.
- What philosophies/vision do you have for this club/team?
If you are keen on moving up to a higher league in the coming years, it is advisable to be part of a team that has a vision to battle for the league title or championship. If the club has a healthy funding structure, they should also have a long term vision for the team in place (say three years down the road). It will also give you an idea of the transparency of the club management and how they communicate with players and coaches. Are they putting together a winning team, or are you just the quick fix coming in to save them from relegation?
- What training facilities will I have access to?
The quality of equipment and access to facilities can differ tremendously from country to country. It is definitely something you can get used to and improvise to a certain extent, but it is great to know upfront to set the right expectations. Can you count on a sauna, pool, and physiotherapist, or will you be practicing with cold hands in under-heated gyms?
- How does your club deal with injury prevention and rehabilitation?
Stories of players being sent home after a season-ending injury emerge from time to time. There are certainly clauses in your contract to prevent that, but overall, you want to have the feeling that the club is interested in your health and has set up systems to support those in need. Pose questions about what is done to prevent certain type of injuries, and how players are re-integrated after an injury.
Overall, if you are not being supported by an agent, make sure to read the fine print of your contract and consult a contract lawyer.Familiarize yourself with the Basketball Arbitral Tribunal in case you run into any issues with payment delays (which we surely do not hope for!).
To get more information like this, sign up to be be among the first ones to receive an Early Bird discount for the upcoming eBook “Play Abroad 101: the ultimate guide for athletes to success abroad”.
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Susan Salzbrenner
Latest posts by Susan Salzbrenner (see all)
- New team. Now packing. moving overseas - August 12, 2015
- 5 Questions to ask a basketball club before signing - April 24, 2015
