Unifying Canada s Basketball Community

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1 Unifying Canada s Basketball Community FIBA A common set of playing rules in Canada Our mission is to Be One leading a unified basketball community to engage all in quality experiences and drive international success. Canada Basketball has made the commitment to transform from an organization whose main focus in the past was fielding national teams, to an organization that is looking out for the betterment of the game in Canada, at every level, for all participants (players, coaches, officials and administrators). In 2004 Canada Basketball introduced its strategic plan: Vision 2020 The playbook for becoming A World Leader in Basketball. The plan was put together by leaders from all across the Canadian basketball community with input from many of the key stakeholders in Canadian basketball. Three main priorities were identified in the plan, with the first and most urgent being Unifying Canada s Basketball Community. One of the main objectives within this unification process is to have everyone playing basketball in Canada under the same set of playing rules. With an overall agreement from the basketball community on the need to bring Canada together under one set of rules, Canada Basketball undertook a thorough analysis of the different rule options and has made the decision to move to FIBA rules by September 1, FIBA rules are currently the only set of basketball playing rules that deal with age appropriate development at all stages, connecting each of those stages together to emphasize long term athlete development. This development focused set of playing rules match the educational values that Canadians treasure and that we need to grow our game. In order to improve the game of basketball in Canada we have to get everyone playing one set of rules. This is going to go a long way towards not only developing Canadian players, but also to developing coaches and officials. Everyone involved in Canadian basketball has a responsibility to do everything in their power to develop the best possible players and through moving to FIBA rules we are going to make development a priority in Canada. Leo Rautins - Canadian Men s National Team Head Coach.

2 The Need for Unification When examining playing rules in Canada during the strategic planning process, the easiest area to gain agreement was the need for one basic set of playing rules for everyone. The multiplicity of rules within Canada has created a situation where it is very difficult for our players, coaches, officials and administrators to play, coach, officiate and administrate the game instinctively. When teams travel outside their local region or when players move to the next stage of development, the first question is often, What rules are we playing? In isolated situations an independent rule set works for that situation. The problem is that many players, coaches, officials and administrators do not stay in that isolated situation. They move on to another stage of development, or travel to another area to play games where a different set of playing rules is in place. There is movement from high school to college and university, from clubs, and schools to provincial / national teams. This is not a problem if the rule differences do not change the uniformity of the game, but when the differences in the rules influence the way the game is taught at the fundamental and technical levels, it creates major problems for the overall development of players, coaches, officials and administrators. Officials must often referee two different sets of rules in the same day. How can we properly develop instinctive officials when this is occurring? Through something as simple as unifying the playing rules, the opportunities for development for players, coaches, officials and administrators will increase dramatically. No longer will the focus rest on learning the ins-and-outs of different sets of rules; the focus will move to how can we develop the best possible players, coaches, officials and administrators within our rules. It is this focus that will move to making Canada a World Leader in Basketball. It would be great to see everyone playing the same rules across the country - with some obvious modifications at the younger levels. I feel that if we all went to the same rules it would help to unify our game across the country. Allison McNeill Canadian Women s National Team Head Coach.

3 The FIBA Game An Overview The international game under FIBA rules is a fast paced, player-centered game that focuses on developing multi skilled players who can make decisions and reads during play. The book Basketball for Young Players (available online at which is written by FIBA experts in youth basketball, emphasizes this approach. When FIBA experts are sent out to train coaches in other countries this is the approach they follow. In developmental stages, the teaching of the game is based on a hierarchal teaching structure that takes the budding player from basic fundamentals and technical skills through to the more complex strategies and tactics. The emphasis is on developing all skills in all players, not on winning at the younger ages. Tactic Strategy Technical skills Fundamental skills Fundamental Skills Technical Skills Strategy Tactics These are the foundation skills or principles on which the game is based. They involve basic movement principles such as running, jumping, balance agility etc, and learning the how and why of basic basketball skills; i.e. the player learns how to dribble and why to dribble. These are more specific in nature and involve decision-making. The player learns when to perform a skill. The player knows when to dribble based on a read, rather than being told when to dribble. This is the long-term plan. This is what the team will be doing in all phases of the game. They are the overall offensive and defensive schemes. These are short-term adjustments to the plan based a specific competition. For example, since a player likes to go right to score, we will now force the player left.

4 With the emphasis in the FIBA game on overall skill development, the international game has taken off in popularity and recognition over the past 5-10 years with the Olympic success of Argentina in 2004, the World Championship success of Yugoslavia in 2002 and the rapid increase in NBA/WNBA players who have come through the international game 82 currently in the NBA and 30 currently in the WNBA. The FIBA game is played in four, ten-minute quarters with a 24 second shot clock and an eight second backcourt count. The game has a three-point line at 20 6 (between the NCAA & NBA three point lines) and a wider free throw lane. Timeouts are called through the scorer s table and issued only on stoppages of play and after being scored upon in the last two minutes of a game. Players are allowed to play the ball while it rests on the rim, on both defense and offense. See appendix 1 for a rules comparison. In FIBA rules the 24-second shot clock and the eight-second backcourt rule encourage a different form of teaching and coaching when developing players. With the control resting with the players, and the shot clock providing less time per possession, players are taught to score, pass, handle the ball and execute all offensive skills, regardless of position. Having spent 19 years coaching at the University level under NCAA rules I thought I would not like the FIBA rules - but it has been just the opposite I love them! The thing I like best about the FIBA rules is the flow to the game - there is not a timeout every two minutes, which at times happens with NCAA rules. FIBA rules gives the game back to the players! When I first started coaching I told myself that the game was for the players and I swore to remember that fact for as long as I coached. I also wanted to remember what it was like to be a player and coach my players accordingly. The players love FIBA rules they love the freedom to play without a coach stopping the play every two minutes to control the game! I believe the rules reward skilled players and well-prepared teams. I love the wide lane - it really cleans up the shoving and pushing in the lane and rewards skilled post players, no matter what their size or strength. The deeper three-point line is awesome; it helps with court spacing as it really opens things up for cutting and movement. I have not found much difference with the eight-second rule and the 24-second shot clock. Again, I feel that these two rules reward a well-prepared and well-coached team. If kids have skills then these two rules are a non-factor. If they don't have skills, two more seconds to get the ball across half court or six more seconds to shoot are not going to help! Allison McNeill Canadian Women s National Team Head Coach.

5 The FIBA Game The benefits to Canadian Basketball In choosing a common set of playing rules, many rule options and rule factors were examined. In coming to a decision Canada Basketball has identified five key factors in why the FIBA playing rules will most benefit the growth and development of basketball in Canada, at every level, for all participants (players, coaches, officials, administrators). Long Term Athlete Development Canada Basketball, as the national governing body for the sport of basketball is mandated by the Federal Government to provide the standards by which the game is governed. There is an increasing concern within the game of basketball that we do not have consistent standards in place to protect all participants and to guarantee that the programming being delivered is appropriate for the recipient. The move to a new competency based education-training program in our coaching education system, and the emphasis on long term athlete development across all of sport in Canada are two prime examples. The Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) through the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) is the driving force in changing our coaching delivery system. The sport of basketball has not made changes to its coach education system since The game and the landscape have drastically changed since that time. Sport Canada has also initiated a long term athlete development resource paper entitled Canadian Sport for Life. It outlines the stages of development that a child should progress through during their lifetime. Each stage is committed to age appropriate development and athlete centered teaching at all stages of a player s development years. As we have already seen, the FIBA playing rules recognize that children mature at different rates and that the rules must adapt to these differences. However, the essential fundamentals and philosophies do not change. There are many sets of playing rules that are designed for young children, but most are not designed to ensure a connection to the next stage of development. They are philosophically different from the next set of rules the children will play. FIBA has three distinctive sets of rules: Mini which are rules are designed for children up to age 12 Passerelle which are rules are designed for children 13 and 14 years old FIBA rules which are designed for ages 15 and above ** It should be remembered that age is not always the best way to divide children when they move through puberty.

6 As a country we will have to look at our uniqueness and see where these rules sets best fit our children. The major differences in the rules are: the size of the ball, height of the basket, size of the court and the time restrictions. A major component is the playing time rules. Mini and Passerelle have rules insuring that each player receives meaning full playing time. Two of the main ways to measure the success of a youth basketball program are: Do the kids return to the game the following year? How many of the kids are acquiring the skills to be able to play at the next stage of development? The coach should not be the reason a player does not return the next season, nor should the coach limit the player s skill development by pigeonholing that player into a strategy or position that does not allow the player to develop his/her complete skill package. Through FIBA rules and youth adaptations at Mini and Passerelle, coaches will be encouraged to develop multi-skilled players who enjoy the game and are developing a complete skill package needed for success. For many years we have had great coaches who have produced the multi-skilled global player who can be successful at each stage of development. The problem is that there are more and more children playing the game being exposed to more and more coaches. A vast majority of these coaches have chosen to take the coach centered model. In the short term that child may be successful in his/her coach s system, but in the long term the child is usually placed in a restricted role that hinders his/her long term development. Athlete Centered Model Making the Player the Focus FIBA rules put an emphasis on the player and put their needs ahead of the coach. Many sets of playing rules in basketball are coach centered, with coaches having a large degree of control over the players. This causes the coaches to focus on strategies and tactics rather than fundamentals and technical skills. While this can lead to short term successes for players while in their coach s system, this will not prepare the player to develop their own game and progress to higher levels. Players feel real ownership of the game. In a 24 second shot clock there are so many moments on the court where players learn to make quick, instinctive decisions. Careful, thoughtful practice plans equip the players for the games and come game time it s the players chance to perform. The players LOVE the flow of the game. The rhythm of the game (the relationship between timing and spacing of player movement) with a wide key and 24-second shot clock makes for a fun, exciting style of play. There is no time to waste and every player must be involved in meaningful, intelligent movement. Christine Stapleton Canadian Women s National Development Coach.

7 Canada needs a game, especially for our younger players, where the players are making the majority of the decisions on the floor. Players need skill development, not to be used as robots or chess pieces in a game of coaching strategy and tactics. In a system that has millions of players, the coach centered model can have success because by sheer numbers, enough good players will still be exposed to good coaches who will develop the players in such a way that he/she can be successful at the next level. In a country such as Canada we do not have this luxury. Instead we need to empower the players to be the best they can be so that as they move to the next stage of their development, they are able to experience success. A time-out being called during play is the most obvious example of coach control. In sets of playing rules where coaches can call time outs during live play; it allows the coach to control the play. The game becomes very strategic and tactical. From a coaching standpoint this is good, but from a player development focus, it limits the player in being able to learn from his/her mistakes without undo attention. It also means that the fundamental and technical decision making skills can take a back seat to the strategy and tactics. The old NHL was a classic example with the development of the defensive trap. It allowed coaches to slow down the speed of the game. It was great for the coaches, but was it good for the game? I, as most coaches across this great country, was a little apprehensive about the total FIBA package as were the girls (but they only reacted as the coach did). This past summer was a great learning experience for me and the players. As we got used to the few rule changes, in particular the 8/24 clock, we began to enjoy the game. It is a much faster game and therefore more enjoyable to watch, coach and be involved in as all my players will attest to. I had to change my way of thinking but thanks to Mario and the CP program, I adjusted fairly easily. When I watch the old game it is slower and the coaches control it too much. Once the players were instructed how to read the defense, react to the clock and the pace of the game, it is by far a more livelier game. I hope that the rest of the basketball world in Canada supports this move as it will definitely bring us closer to the rest of the world. Reg Springer 2005 Under 15 Girls New Brunswick Head Coach. In the hands of excellent coaches who understand player development, players can still learn the same fundamental and technical skills. The difference is that a coach does not have to teach this way. The coach has a choice to be more strategic and tactical. Currently it seems that more and more coaches are choosing the strategic/tactical approach and often not helping players learn the fundamentals and technical skills required to be successful at the next level. Rules regarding the timing of the FIBA game also give the players more of a role in the game. With FIBA rules, coaches will need to develop multi-skill players who can pass, shoot and dribble the ball. With a shot clock all players must be able to initiate an inspirational play (only the player with the ball can decide to pass, shoot or dribble) under the pressure of a diminishing clock. In the current rules of play used in the Ontario high school system this only occurs four times a game; at the end of each quarter allowing coaches to control these situations as they occur so rarely.

8 With a 30 second shot clock currently used in many North American sets of rules there are a minimum of 80 of these inspirational plays in a 40 minute game. FIBA takes this even further with a 24 second shot clock making these inspirational plays occur a minimum of 100 times in a 40 minute game. Coaches learn very quickly that they must spend time in practice teaching players these very important skills. In NL we have been using FIBA rules for a long time - they are GREAT! Players and coaches in our province like the FIBA rules! The introduction of the rules on a national level - I have been a teacher, coach, parent, youth volunteer for over 20+ years...one underlying truth about young people...they adapt very quickly to new things. I thought the players at the nationals were very comfortable with the new rules...it seems coaches are the ones who have the problems adjusting to change. (This is not surprising!) After saying this it appeared that the coaches at the nationals had adjusted very well!!!! Dave Constantine 2005 Under 15 Boys Newfoundland and Labrador Head Coach. Developing Players to Play at Higher Levels For young Canadian players the highest level of play that they can aspire to is the Olympics and the NBA/WNBA. The other high level goal is for Canadian s to play professionally in other areas of the world. Through Be One, Canada Basketball will be working to create a Canadian professional option in the future for our Canadian players. However, we must also recognize that the vast majority of players in this country will never reach these lofty heights. Our goal is to make sure that each player has the potential to reach his/her highest possible level of achievement. For some players this might be at a high school level, for others it could be CCAA or CIS. Currently many of our top Canadian players fail to achieve their full potential and goals because they have not received the proper fundamental and technical skill development throughout the different stages of their playing career. Many of our Canadian players become very skilled at executing their coach s strategic and tactical systems, but as they advance to higher levels of play and the game becomes player centered, they are no longer prepared to be successful. Also, players trained in one coach s system may not be able to adapt to another coach s system as he /she moves into their new stage of development.

9 With the FIBA set of playing rules promoting age appropriate development of fundamental and technical skills, players will become better prepared to move on to higher levels of play. With Canadian coaches at all levels taking on more of an player centered focus in their teaching methodology, our players will be prepared to better compete within Canada and with the top players from around the world. Standardizing our rules to FIBA is important because it takes into consideration not just the technical rules of officiating the game, but age appropriate rules and game conduct. The long (longer than 24 seconds) or no shot clock has made our young players play a style of play that does not stress attacking. It is often too late to teach Canadian national athletes to play an up tempo 24 second shot style of play after they have spent their development years playing the game at a slow deliberate pace. Greg Francis Canadian Men s National Development Coach. Having a Seat at the Table With FIBA rules, we as Canadian s have direct input to the adoption and modification of the rules as the game develops. We currently have a member on the committee that researches and develops the rules and rule modifications. Also, as a member of the Central Board of FIBA we have the ability to vote on the final adoption of new rules. With the alternative sets of rules we currently use in Canada which are designed and modified by other bodies, our coaches and administrators have no say or input into their development, leaving us to simply follow along without a voice. We have no participation into the fundamental concepts on which those sets of rules are developed. We must be proactive in working towards the creation of the best possible set of playing rules for basketball in Canada and around the world. We must be leaders in ensuring that our rules connect all the stages of development.

10 The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) reviews the FIBA Rule Book and its impact on the game on a regular basis. The FIBA Technical Commission, a nine-member body appointed by FIBA for a 4-year term, is charged with this responsibility. This group meets once each year, normally in January, to assess the effectiveness of the existing rules and weigh proposals for changes. In the interim, a continual correspondence takes place via , telephone, etc. as possible concerns or problems may arise. Major changes, such as the extensive revisions that took place following the 2004 Olympic Games, usually take place in four-year cycles. The intent is to avoid encumbering stakeholders with the need to adjust to frequent modifications that may have only minimal effect on the game. However, changes that can be quite dramatic and yet remain within the philosophical framework of a playercentered game can take place at any time, with the approval of FIBA s Central Board. Such changes were evidenced in May of 2003 (modifications to the shot clock, alternating possession) and again in 2005 (substitutions during free throws, modifications to final two minutes of play, etc.). Concerns about the existing FIBA rules and/or proposals for changes may be directed to the FIBA Technical Commission at any time through the various National Federations (i.e. Canada Basketball) for consideration by the commission. Fred Horgan FIBA Technical Commission Current Member from Canada. Resources Canada Basketball did not want to create a completely independent set of rules for Canada. This would isolate Canada from the rest of the world and from the USA. There are 213 countries in the world competing towards Olympic sports and only three of these countries are not using FIBA rules; Canada, USA and Mongolia (who does not play basketball). By using FIBA rules we can now connect to the global stage and market. Our coaches, players, officials and administrators will receive benefits from the materials produced by other countries, other FIBA zones and FIBA themselves. This means that we can receive and distribute player, coach, official and administrator s development material from over 200 countries. This will not prevent us from continuing to use the valuable resources from the USA, coaches will still be able to filter the information that is applicable to their stage of development. Canada Basketball is also currently working to create our own educational materials based on our experiences with FIBA rules. This material will add to the growth of the Canadian game helping us become a world leader in the game that was developed by a Canadian. There is more to a set of playing rules then what occurs on the floor. Too often when groups choose a rule set they do not understand all of the administrative rules that go with it. Many sets of playing rules do not have a formal procedure for breaking ties, for example. Also, there is no formal casebook developed for the officials as to how the game will be officiated. Within FIBA rules all aspects of the game are covered, making us prepared in all areas of the game.

11 Conclusion Improving Basketball in Canada Through Unification Now is the time for fundamental changes in basketball in Canada and now is the time to bring everyone in the Canadian basketball community together. Through the move to FIBA rules our Canadian basketball community will have taken a first major step to getting on the same page to provide the best possible game and development system for players, coaches, officials and administrators in Canada. It is this unification that will move us towards our goal of making Canada A World Leader in Basketball by 2020.