Junior, social basketball closer to resuming but courts an issue
Basketball Victoria is preparing for junior play to resume but questions remain about how many stadiums will be available to re-open.
Junior training and competitions can resume from June 22 while over-18s can resume non-contact training.
BV has encouraged associations to make sure all COVID-19 plans are in place before resuming junior competition and with school holidays fast approaching, games may not return until school starts in term three.
There is a forecast date for senior domestic basketball, one BV hopes will soon be locked in by the Victorian government, to allow adults to resume contact training on July 13 and play games from July 20.
Individual stadiums could potentially re-open for casual shooting from June 22 but it may not be viable or practical to do so.
The major issue for many associations will be whether their courts are available.
Basketball associations have stadium issues to solve before restarting junior competitions.Credit:The Age
Many of the associations who operate their own stadium will be able to resume but a large number of stadiums are owned or operated by schools or private operators like the YMCA.
Associations who run their stadium also hire school/private courts for overflow junior games or training.
BV chief executive Nick Honey doesn't want anyone to rush back to games until all COVID-19 plans are in place.
"You can't just flick the switch and start games up again as you need to form teams, re-appoint coaches, develop fixtures and restart training," Honey said on Wednesday.
"Getting access back into stadiums remains an issue. They have a variety of different management models and the putting in the overlay of the COVID-19 protocols and restrictions means there is still a lot of work to do.
"I can empathise with schools who are trying to manage their school days as it's an added challenge to have a whole new cohort of people come onto their property after hours," Honey said.
"But these are also community assets. Both BV and our associations will work this through in each circumstance with the landlords and try to formulate plans that are satisfactory for everyone."
Associations are hurting after several months without revenue from social basketball and those who can't get back to their usual stadiums will be further hit if they can't restart on time.
"June 22 is the green-light date but we will be inviting many associations to do this in their own time, we don't want them to rush in and not be prepared," Honey said.
"The big associations who run their own facilities will be able to set their own course, others who are heavily reliant on school or council venues will have their challenges.
"Hopefully not too many people jump over to neighbouring associations to get a game a few weeks earlier.
"Everyone is keen to start again, that's great, we do have to make sure we restart in a well-organised way so we can all get back to enjoying basketball."
BV still aims to restart its Victorian Junior Basketball League from the start of third term but stadium availability issues are among the issues still to be resolved.
BV has also sent a questionnaire to clubs to check interest in some form of Big V senior elite competition later this year.