Hot Weather Policy

WILLUNGA & DISTRICTS BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

In general, Willunga Districts Basketball Association adopt SA Country Basketball and Basketball SA guidelines regarding the playing of basketball (games and/or training) in hot weather conditions, such as;

During hot weather conditions;

Stadium staff should:

• Take steps to maximise airflow and reduce heat build-up in stadiums

• Assess playing conditions and advise referees and coaches

• Immediately advise their manager/committee if they consider playing conditions to be unsafe

Team Managers, Coaches and Assistant Coaches should:

• Ensure that players take adequate fluid before, during and after the game/training

• Be alert and react to any signs of distress/potential distress in players

• Be considerate of players who may be more readily affected by heat

• Make substitutions as appropriate

• Utilise available time-outs or take extra breaks through training

Referees should:

• Call additional time-outs

• Extend the breaks between quarters

No-one should ever feel as though they must play/train if they believe it is unsafe or they are feeling distressed.

Willunga & Districts Basketball Association will make an assessment whether to declare Extreme Conditions (cancellation of activities) on days when predicted daytime temperature as published on the BoM website for the Noarlunga forecast is 37 degrees or higher.

Modified Play

Even though we are in an air-conditioned stadium, Modified Play may be enacted in certain hot weather conditions.

Hot weather conditions include the following situations:

• Where the forecast temperature on the BoM is above 33 and under 35 degrees and games commence before 6:00pm

• Where the forecast temperature on the BoM is above 35 and under 37 degrees and games commence after 6:50pm

Modified Play for game activity is:

• Referees to call a time-out halfway during each period if coaches have not called one

• The half time break to be extended by a minute

• Referees and coaches may request additional timeouts (at the discretion of the referee) for the safety of players and officials.

• Greater rotation within the referee roster to avoid back-to-back games for officials

• Encourage use of water for cooling purposes (eg. to wet face/hair)