Heat Policy
Wallan Basketball uses the Basketball VictoriaClimate Policy at all times. This can be read in full on their website. The key items for day to day running of the stadium are as follows. When the court temperature reaches 30C competition organisers must consider implementing and where the court temperature reaches 35C, must implement the following timing rules:
- If a game is played in halves, the game time must be reduced by 2 minutes per half with 2 team timeouts per half. The clock must stop for each timeout and the referee must call an additional compulsory timeout close to the half way mark in each half. Each team must call a timeout before the compulsory timeout and after the compulsory 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, the referee must call an additional compulsory timeout in each quarter if no timeout has been called by half way through the quarter.
- The clock must stop for every whistle in the last minute of the first half and the last 3 minutes of the second half (this may be modified for local conditions in domestic basketball).
- if a game is abandoned before it commences or before or at half time it is counted as a draw;
- if a game is abandoned after half time, the game score stands as a final result.
In addition 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.
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.
