Basketball Victoria - By-laws (Participants’ Protection)

 

3. Climate Policy

 

3.1 All persons involved in the organisation of games must be aware of the effect that extremes of weather can have on person playing or attending basketball and put in place adequate contingencies for the minimising of risk to persons, particularly when high temperatures are expected. Where high temperatures are expected organisers of games must know the extremes or temperature which can occur in the particular venue.

 

3.2 Where high temperatures are expected game organisers must make reasonable attempts to ensure:

 

• Full knowledge of availability of first aid equipment and first aid and medical personnel is accessible by all persons attending;

 

• Referees and other officials are aware of the symptoms of heat stress and are instructed to be on the alert to notice any such symptoms;

 

• Referees are instructed to initiate regular extra time-outs during the game and to shorten the game if necessary;

 

• Players are made aware of the need to hydrate regularly before and after the game and that facilities are available for them to do so;

 

• Facilities are available for players and other persons to externally cool themselves with water, fans or other facilities;

 

• Adequate supplies of ice and ice packs are available for use where appropriate; and

 

• Proper advice is available to coaches and players on the effects of heat, symptoms of heat stress, the need for proper hydration and the facilities that are available to prevent or treat heat stress.

 

3.3 All stadiums must be fitted with a thermometer. On hot days, court temperature must be taken hourly whilst the stadium is in use and must be recorded in a permanent record kept at the stadium. If the stadium is in sections, the temperature must be taken in each section.

 

3.4 (please note the following has been adjusted to suit the timing rules at our Association)

(a) When the court temperature reaches 30oC competition organisers must consider implementing and where the court temperature reaches 35oC, must implement the following timing rules:

 

If a game is played in halves, the game time must be reduced to 18 minutes per half with each team having two timeouts per half. The clock DOES NOT stop for team timeouts.

The referee must call an additional compulsory timeout close to the half way mark in each half. The clock DOES stop for the referee's timeout.

In the event the coaches do not call a timeout as required, the referees will intervene and call a timeout and attribute them to the respective teams.

 

If a game is played in quarters, each period will be reduced to nine minutes.

The referee must call an additional compulsory timeout in each quarter if no timeout has been called by either team by half way through the quarter.

 

 (b) When the court temperature reaches 40C games must be abandoned.

 

Subject to any rule or ruling by a competition organiser,

 (i) if a game is abandoned before it commences or before or at half time it is counted as a draw;

 (ii) if a game is abandoned after half time, the game score stands as a final result.

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL HOT WEATHER GUIDELINES FROM BASKETBALL VICTORIA

 

If the outside temperature is cooler than the inside court temperature, particularly if there is a cool breeze outside, if it is at all possible, stadium doors should be opened to allow the breeze through.

 

Additionally, association are encouraged to follow the advice below:

• Be sure to encourage on-court participants - players and referees - as well as those on the side lines – scoretable officials etc - to remain hydrated as much as possible to avoid heat related illnesses which, if left untreated, can be quite harmful to an individual’s health. This may mean shortening the length of each game, providing teams with extra time-outs, opening entry/exit doors to increase air-flow or increasing the breaks in-between halves. While not all these strategies will be possible at some venues, we strongly encourage you to implement what you can, to make our sport as enjoyable as possible for participants and spectators during such conditions.
• It is also important to remember that some referees officiate multiple matches each night – and normally do so in dress pants and sleeved polo tops. To assist them, it may be good to spread out their games (when and where possible) or allow them to wear shorts when officiating.
• The same principals apply during a training session. Players will require longer or more frequent breaks for drinks to remain adequately hydrated. It may also be a good idea to ensure the level of intensity is a little lower during periods of high heat. This will assist the prevention of dehydration and also more serious problems such as heat stress and heat stroke.
• It is imperative that we keep in mind the health and safety of those taking part in our sport – both on and off the court, and it is with this in mind that we are alerting you to this information.
• As a general guide, players and referees are advised to drink about 500ml (2 cups) of water in the 2 hours before exercising. During exercise lasting 60 minutes or longer, 500-750ml (2-3 cups) of fluids per hour should be sufficient to prevent dehydration. Constant sipping is also advised.

 

DOWNLOADS: The following resources will be of benefit to Associations and Individuals alike, and we encourage you to take the time to view them.

 

Sports Medicine Australia’s Hot Weather Guidelines (a guide to heat illnesses and simple steps you can take to minimise the risk of their occurrence)

 

Sports Medicine Australia - Beat the Heat (a basic guide to sport in hot weather)

 

Smartplay – Drink Up (a basic guide to player hydration)