|
Corinne Bénintendi looks at women playing basketball and compared to the past
Bénintendi played basketball at the highest level during the 1980’s and 1990’s won many honours. She gives us a little inside in the way women’s basketball since it has become more professional and discusses some of the challenges of playing basketball today in France today compared to when she was a player. The audio interview has been included which can be heard by clicking on the audio player below. She said that has she experience basketball at the top level as a player and today women’s basketball is nothing like men's basketball. It has its own style and is much more physical then when she was a player. The players are now bigger, stronger and train much more than in her days, however for her the big difference lies outside the basketball court. The players are more interested in the conditions of their contract then the club. A reason for this change is the use of statistics which have always existed but are more detailed today. Players are able to negotiate contracts based on their statistics. This fundamental change has help certain players promote themselves.
When she played basketball, players wanted to be identified with playing for club and making friends at the club. She finds it a little sad that with the professional nature of the sport the priority for women's basketball is the contract. Only after the contract is signed that players start justify the reason for playing at the club. Whereas in the past players joined clubs to meet objectives set by the club, make friends and become part of the club, this has all disappeared. She concluded with a brief comparison of the youth basketball players today compared to her time When she was young playing the game basketball was everything whereas today the young players (Cadettes - U18) also have other interest besides playing basketball. Return to women playing basketball in France interviews Return to playing basketball blog Return to women playing basketball in France home page
Picture credit: Daniel LEMOINE
Date created: 24 November 2009 |
