NBL: Facilities Standards

Playing Court

The playing court shall be marked with 50 mm lines, as per the Official Basketball Rules. Lines should be of a contrasting colour to the floor colour.

The height of the ceiling or the lowest obstruction above the playing floor shall be a minimum of 7 metres.

Lighting should be uniform across the playing area and a minimum of 500 lux. The temperature of the playing area should be between 16°C -19°C.

The official size court for Senior Division 1 Men and Women and Division 2 Men is 28m x 15m. Venues with the older court size court size of 26m x 14m are only permitted in Division Three, Division Two Women, and Junior NBL.

The minimum required safety run to any obstruction including table equipment and team benches is 2m for senior competitions and 1m for junior competitions.

Fig.1 Basketball Court Dimensions and Set Up

Line Marking Requirements

• All lines should be 5cm wide
• Lines should be in contrating colour to the playing surface and visible to all

Advertising Boards

Advertising boards can be located around the court and must be a minimum of 2 metres from the end line and sidelines. Boards should not exceed a height of 1 metre.

Seating

The minimum seating requirements are:

 All Clubs must have adequate provision for disability/wheelchair users, this should be of six or one to every 100 of seated capacity.

Changing Facilities

The home club shall ensure that two separate changing rooms can accommodate a minimum of 17 people per team are available and include access to shower and toilet facilities. These changing facilities should not be shared with the general public.

A further two separate changing rooms which can accommodate three people (both male and female officials) with access to a seating area, showers and toilet facilities are also required for use by match officials. Ideally there should have access to store the officials’ belongings and clothing.

Equipment

Ring and Backboards

The home club shall ensure that in respect of each match played at its home venue, pressure-release rings meeting European Standard EN 1270 are used with 70 kilogram flex break. The rings should be the same at both ends.

The ring should be fixed to the framework in such a manner so that no force, transmitted by the ring is directly applied to the backboard.

The height of the ring will be 3,050mm from the top edge down to the playing surface. Nets shall be white in colour and suspended from the ring no less than 400mm and 450mm in length.

Fig. 2 Drop-down goal support structure example

Backboards shall measure 1,800 mm horizontally and 1,050 mm vertically. Backboards can be made of timber or transparent material with a minimum thickness of 19mm.

All lines on the backboards shall be:

• In white, if the backboards are transparent.
• In black, if the white painted backboards are non-transparent.
• 50mm in width.

Fig. 3 Backboard markings

Suitable padding is fixed to the backboard edges in all Senior, Under 18 and Under 16 matches.

Venues with older backboards measuring 1,800 mm by 1,200 mm must ensure that fixed padding is provided for all levels of competition.

Floor Type

The playing surface should meet the requirements of BS EN 14904:2005. Ball bounce must also achieve a minimum of 90% rebound and friction is to be between 80-110 when measured with a pendulum slip test device. The preferred floor type is an A4 timber floor with FIBA approval. Carpet, solid granwood or macadam floor surfaces are not suitable.

Scoring

The Home Club shall ensure that its home venue provides an electronic scoreboard and game clock which can be read by the Players, Match Officials and spectators throughout the course of the Match. The clock must at least show the passing of time in minutes and running score. In the event of a game clock being of such position that it is not possible for both Teams to have an equally good view of it; the Home Team must notify the Crew Chief at the pre-Match meeting.

Fig. 5 Basic Scoreboard Example

For Division 1 and 2 Men and Division 1 Women electronic scoreboard with digital countdown to show score, time, team fouls and time-outs are mandatory.

For all Matches in the Senior National Basketball League and Under 18 and 16 Premier Leagues a suitable Shot Clock device is required and must reset to 24 and 14 seconds. Shot clocks should be visible to all players and officials. Preferred location directly above the backboard.

Fig. 6 Basic Shot Clock Example

Table Equipment

The five player foul markers provided for the timer shall be of white colour numbered from 1 to 5 (1 to 4 in black and the number 5 in red).  A Game Disqualification marker provided for the timer shall be of red colour and labelled with GD in white.

The two team foul markers provided for the timer shall be of red colour and clearly visible to everyone involved in the game, including the spectators, when positioned on either side of the scorer’s table.

The alternating possession arrow must be positioned in the centre of the scorer’s table and shall be clearly visible to everyone involved in the game, including the spectators.

Electrical or electronic devices may be used but they shall meet the above specifications.