FIBA Study Centre

Фото: FIBA Study Centre

The FIBA Study Centre (www.fiba.com/study_center) was founded with the aim of helping to equip and increase the number of sports facilities throughout the world, to encourage the construction of basic facilities and the refurbishment of older ones, to co-ordinate research initiatives and to offer consulting services for materials, equipment design and construction.

When building or re-building an arena, nothing should be neglected. Effectiveness, professionalism, safety, security are only a few aspects among many others that need to be analysed regularly in order to optimise the Study Centre’s objectives.

Yet, the Study Centre’s ongoing tasks could only be achieved with the help of our partners and the contribution of all national federations who wish to have the most adapted sports halls for their teams, their visitors and most of all, the general public.

At the time the FIBA Study Centre was initially created in 1994 in Munich, three companies involved in the manufacturing of backstop units became partners of the FIBA Research and Study Centre. Sixteen years later, the FIBA Study Centre increased its number of partners and associates to nearly 70, not taking into account that a number of these partners are involved in several categories.

The partners of the Study Centre, whose products are approved by FIBA, provide sports equipment in categories such as backboard support units, wooden floorings, synthetic floorings, electronic scoreboards, electronic systems, seating systems, basketballs, etc.

Partners’ Guide for National Federations

The Partners’ Guide for National Federations has always been a precious tool in providing assistance and support to National Federations, clubs, municipalities and governments that are involved in construction of, or refurbishment projects for, their sports facilities. The biennial Guide, first issued in 2003, is now on its 4th edition and we keep our National Federations, Central Board Members, World Congress Members, Ministries of Sports, architects and all other interested parties informed about FIBA’s Partners, whose approved products aim to standardize the quality of basketball facilities.

FIBA Guide to Basketball Facilities

More then ten years after the first edition of the Guide to Basketball Facilities for High Level Competitions, FIBA has published a new edition of the guide.

Packed with practical advice and information, it targets all types of facilities and all types of basketball, taking the latest updated rules and regulations into account.

Playing rules change. Athletes, coaches and spectators change; their needs and expectations change. Recent experience has shown a need for facilities to become more versatile, and more accommodating to users, spectators, and investors.

Written to meet FIBA’s need to continually inform and educate organisers of basketball events worldwide, this new guide, extending to outdoor competitions has been updated to reflect the latest international regulations and organisational requirements that have come about over recent years in relation to sports facilities.

The purpose of the guide is to continue to provide a concise yet complete reference aid with updated information on all the aspects which organisers, both public and private, must address when hosting or scheduling an international basketball event in a sports arena. The contents of the guide range from sportstechnical matters to managerial related topics, touching on security issues and concluding with the proposal of a model-facility.

In up-dating this new guide, the editorial staff also draws on the experience and competence of FIBA partners, using from their knowledge and familiarity with the various materials, equipment and systems in use; and from innovations and experiments with new components and installations.

Updated Contents

Starting with an analysis of the FIBA regulations governing sports facilities and equipment, the guide goes on to introduce the general aspects involved in the planning of basketball facilities according to the size and type of event being staged.

This new edition probes aspects such as flooring and acoustic systems, as well as the requirements of the technical area surrounding the court such as television recording equipment, a press area, photographer stands and VIP areas. It also covers more obvious elements concerning game equipment. From baskets to balls, from luminous information boards to clocks, from whistles to basket supports.

The book explores issues regarding the use and maintenance of sports facilities ensuring long term safety and reliability of the buildings themselves, but also the utilities within, the fixtures, fittings and the equipment, relying on the standard required maintenance, both planned and supplementary.

Space is also given to management planning development based on the management programme followed by one particular basketball facility which does not limit itself to basketball but also hosts numerous other sporting activities, shows and events.

The book also considers the guidelines and procedures regarding homologation of equipment for existing venues and those yet to be built, as well as the procedures affecting installations and equipment for outdoor basketball.

New to the guide
This revised edition also investigates several areas that were not viewed in the former guide.

Technological facilities and services:
this chapter assesses broadly technological facilities and services related to basketball, such as air-conditioning, electrical systems, artificial and emergency lighting. Public, staff, athletes and officials spaces, as well as doping control areas and offices, etc.

Security:
the safety aspects are examined as well as the responsibilities of event organisers.

Reduction of architectural barriers:
this chapter looks into making facilities more versatile in order to accommodate a wide spectrum of activities while minimising cost.

Event organisation:
Aspects and requirements, requested and necessary for a venue to be able to host an event from small-scale local events to top-class international basketball.

Correlations between FIBA and the NBA:
A look at the differences between NBA and FIBA technical requirements.

Designing a model venue:
This chapter offers an array of alternative ways to play basketball, and puts forward an example of sports facility planning where the playing area is intended to host not only basketball events but also various other sporting activities, shows and performances.

Official Basketball Rules 2008 – Basketball Equipment

Though not officially produced by the Study Centre, the Official Basketball Rules 2008 – Basketball Equipment book is a fundamental tool for the approval of equipment with regards to the categories linked to flooring, electronic scoreboards, lighting, backstop units, etc. The FIBA Study Centre partners are also involved in the production of this book.

FSB Cologne – Germany. Edition 2007 and 2009

One of the most important events for the FIBA Study Centre is FSB Koln. Every two years, the city of Cologne in Germany organizes the International Trade Fair for Amenity Areas, Sports and Pool Facilities (FSB).

For the 2007 and 2009 editions, the International Basketball Federation featured a village of about 1000 square meters with a large FIBA stand, a showroom of all FIBA Approved Basketballs, a court with daily basketball activities, and about 18 stands representing our partners involved in numerous sport-related businesses.

In 2009 the FIBA Study Centre partners were among the 573 exhibitors (506 in 2007) converging on 63,000 square meters (53,000 in 2007). Present were Baden, Bodet S.A., Dalian Qiansen Wooden Co., Fox 40, Gared Sports, Haro Sports, Molten (FIBA sponsor and partner), Mondo (FIBA sponsor and partner), New Deal Srl, Prestige Enterprise International Inc., Schelde Sports, Seicom, Sports System, Stramatel, Sport Grpa (Sure Shot), Swiss Timing and Zhangjiagang Jinling Sports Equipment Co. Also present was DBB, the German Basketball Federation, in charge of the daily basketball activities on the court, while another booth was dedicated to the FIBA – IAKS Architecture Competition that took place in 2009.

Some of FIBA’s Sponsors were also present, such as Champion and Sinalco. Their attendance was essentially marked by giveaways to the public. T-shirts and drinks were made available to all FIBA visitors during all three days of the fair.

Most of these companies represent the FIBA Study Centre’s major product categories; backstop units, wooden floorings, synthetic floorings, electronic scoreboards, electric and electronic systems, miscellaneous products and basketballs. With their input as FIBA Study Centre partners, they help FIBA exhibit innovative products and secure products for the world of basketball.

Following FIBA’s participation as a main exhibitor, Aldo Vitale, Director of FIBA Study Centre expressed his full satisfaction: “Not only did we have a strong participation of our Study Centre partners in the village, but we’ve never before experienced such a large number of visitors interested in our daily work. Our court activities also attracted a considerable number of people wanting to test their shooting skills, but most of all wanting to discover the basketball equipment set up by our partners on and outside the court. Many novelties were exhibited and I can only encourage this to continue in order to increase the standards of basketball equipment and sports halls”.

Apart from our strong presence at FSB 2007 and 2009, FIBA in cooperation with IAKS, the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities, organised an Architectural Students Competition for the second time (the first occasion being in 2001). 30 to 35 students from the Dresden Technical University and Kassel University prepared several designs centred on the concept of “Basketball Arena in the year 2020”. IAKS and FIBA, with the sponsorship of Molten, Champion, Mondo and Senoh, announced the winners of the joint Architectural Students Competition at the beginning of the IAKS congress on October 28th 2009, while a smaller award ceremony took place on the basketball court of the FIBA Village in the afternoon of that same day. Several prizes were given out.

The aim of the competition was to “generate visions for an 8,000 to 10,000-seat multifunctional basketball arena of the future on a site in Copenhagen’s port district. The points assessed were the idea, the originality, the multifunctional approach, the sustainability of the usage strategy and the presentation itself.”

In September 2009, an international jury gathered at Dresden’s Technical University to select the winners. These included its chairman Prof. Ulrich Findeisen (Cologne University), Aldo Vitale (FIBA), Johannes Buhlbecker (IAKS) and Prof. Karsten Lorenzen (Technical University of Dresden). The prizes, presented by the honorary Secretary General of FIBA, Borislav Stankovic, and by Aldo Vitale, Head of the FIBA Study Centre, together with the sponsors, Mr. Takeshi Fuki (Molten), Mr. Ulf Metschies (Champion), Mrs. Stefania Stroppiana (Mondo) and Mr. Hiro Hirabayashi (Senoh) were awarded as follows:

1st Prize: SPORTSPARK NORDHAVNEN
by Kai Niepel and Lieven Schulz, University of Dresden

2nd Prize: VIEWPOINT VENUE
by Samuel Schone, University of Dresden

3rd Prize: TOUCH
by Daniel Burgos, University of Dresden

Moreover three additional consolidation prizes were also given out to four other students from University of Dresden and Kassel University.

Finally during our three days at the fair, the German Basketball Federation(DBB) assisted us, like at every edition, in organising several activities on our slightly scaled down basketball court placed in the middle of the FIBA Village. Our partner Seicom in 2007 and our partners Armstrong DLW and Dalian Qiansen Wooden Co. in 2009 set up the court to the delight of all FSB visitors and FIBA friends. One portion of the court was dedicated to linoleum and the other part to solid wood.

Professional and amateur basketball teams came to demonstrate their talents and entertain the FSB public.

DJK Sudwest Koln 1920 (women and men team), RBC Koln 99ers (wheelchair basketball team) and SG Koln 99ers (U12 Minis) all came to play under the supervision of their coaches and the FIBA instructor Maurizio Mondoni.

This entertaining atmosphere was also created thanks to a DJ and a moderator who had been present since FIBA’s first participation. With their music and animated shooting competitions, they attracted a large audience ready to win different prizes.

Lastly, the FIBA Study Centre held its traditional gala dinner with all the sponsors, partners and friends of the FIBA Study Centre attending. Keynote speeches were given and the emphasis was put on the importance of the FIBA Study Centre since its inception in 1994, while without our partners’ professionalism, the sport of basketball would not be at its peak as is the case today.

Partners and Decisional Board Meeting of the FIBA Research and Study Centre

Every two years, the FIBA Study Centre organises a Partners and Decisional Board Meeting. The meeting takes place in different locations around the world. An additional meeting of the decisional board only is held on an annual basis.

The last meeting took place in Geneva, Switzerland, in March 2008. Several topics were discussed including the presentations of different FIBA Departments. Mr. Paul Stimpson presented the FIBA TV Department and the exposure of equipment in general. Mr. Nicolas Chapart gave an overview of the fiba.com website. Mr. Predrag Bogosavljev explained the functioning of the FIBA Events Department and finally Mr. Zoran Radovic gave an overview of Global Basketball, the expansion of basketball and sports facilities in different parts of the world.

Finally, an award ceremony took place for partners who have been involved in the Study Centre since 1994 in the presence of our Secretary General, Mr. Patrick Baumann. The companies Schelde Sports, Senoh, Hamberger, and GES received awards.

In general, the Partners’ and Decisional Board meeting allows the Study Centre to expose its ideas, give suggestions for the future, present the new Partners to the rest of the “family” and also gives the opportunity to Partners to express themselves on the topics they wish to focus on. The Partners’ meeting also allows Partners from the same category to meet and see what the requirements specific to their equipment are; they can also use the occasion to share their experiences and their know-how of a fast moving world.

Every Partner applies for a 4 year cycle agreement. All involved in the manufacturing of sports equipment, they enrol in the FIBA Study Centre Approval Programme which will give them the opportunity to get involved in tenders organised by local organizing committees (LOC) or different contractors and propose their equipment to the suppliers across the world. The FIBA Approval Programme is a long process of homologation, yet a guarantee for quality and safe equipment. Once the manufacturer becomes a Partner, the FIBA Study Centre does its best to promote its equipment on every sport scene.

The FIBA Research and Study Centre has been growing fast. More and more companies are involved in the manufacturing of sports equipment and as the game of basketball develops, the companies are also moving faster and faster to make the world of basketball a better and safer world!