The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) released Tuesday recommendations for restarting basketball leagues across the globe.
FIBA's document, entitled "Return to Basketball - Restart Guidelines for National Federations," comes with a Risk Assessment Tool specific for basketball, which was created in coordination with the World Health Organization.
These guidelines were developed by Dr. Peter Harcourt, FIBA's Medical Commission chair, with output from the FIBA COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group (MAG), and both the organization's Medical and Players Commissions.
"In these challenging times, on behalf of FIBA's Medical Commission, I would like to share our heartfelt support and solidarity with the basketball community across the world. I have witnessed that FIBA has been working tirelessly to ensure the health and safety of national federations, players, officials and other partners," said Dr. Harcourt.
"Rest assured that our Medical Commission will keep working and collaborating closely with WHO and will endeavor to assist FIBA to safeguard the basketball community from the current pandemic crisis based on the scientific knowledge."
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, meanwhile, is thankful that they have now been able to draft their own rules for a possible return.
"I wish to sincerely thank the FIBA COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group, FIBA's Commissions involved and the World Health Organisation (WHO) for their invaluable work, expertise and continued contribution towards protecting our national federations, players, officials and basketball event organizers," mentioned Zagklis.
"This set of guidelines will be very beneficial for the basketball community in their return to our game. We all miss our sport being played and as the situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, FIBA remains committed to providing guidance for a safe environment for the 'Return to Basketball'," continued the Greek sports executive.
FIBA suspended all of its international competitions last March and has released a new timetable since.
Despite the guidelines, FIBA requires national federations to adhere to government guidelines first before undertaking any attempt to restart their domestic leagues.
Before anything else, FIBA urged all national federations to form an oversight committee, undertake a full risk and mitigation assessment, develop a restart plan, coordination with government, and formulate a possible exit plan for a potential re-suspension.
FIBA also recommends that venues have adequate ventilation and implement safety precautions like temperature check and hand sanitizer stations. Social distancing among the crowd should also be implemented.
Furthermore, there should only be limited access to the clinic room, where the medical practitioners are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPEs), and immediate access to them when the need arises.
All professional leagues, including the PBA, must regularly monitor its players for symptoms and temperature. Moreover, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests will be required for all people who intend to participate.
Leagues shall be required to provide 3-6 weeks of training before restarting, easing gradually from an individual to a group standpoint. Practice facilities must also be compliant with safety standards, with players required to take a shower before and after activity.
Once a game ends, players will also be asked to immediately vacate the court.
Spectators will also be monitored. At this point, venues shall not be filled to the rafters. At-risk individuals, including people 65 years old and above, and people with other co-morbidities shall be given a warning at entry point.
In the Philippines, the aforementioned may be denied entry due to the prior rules set up by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
Team buses and fan interaction are also temporarily prohibited, along with unnecessary physical contact with the opposition, referees, or table officials.
Full protocol can be found at this link.
In the Philippines, any kind of team basketball is still strictly prohibited by the Philippine government, until they have determined that the country will now be under a "new normal," so it may take some time before basketball could return.
The Philippine Sports Institute Medical Scientific and Athletic Services of the Philippine Sports Commission also previously released guidelines regarding sports in different levels of quarantine. The local PBA has already said it will take its cue from the government's guidelines in deciding whether to continue or terminate the 2020 season.
Leagues abroad have taken different approaches. The NBA is still working out details to restart the 2019-2020 season in a single venue, while EuroLeague Basketball announced Monday the termination of the EuroLeague and EuroCup seasons.