Basketball New Zealand guidelines: safe return to training for players in preparation for a condensed National Basketball League season following Covid-19 restrictions

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has resulted in youth, academic and professional sport in New Zealand, and around the world, suspending play and competitive seasons, as well as structured in-season and off-season training for all sports. This has led to an uncertain future, with National Basketball League across the globe, including New Zealand and Australia, facing unprecedented times which require diligent analysis, evaluation, and preparation to cope with the altered schedule, and the potential deconditioning of players. In planning for a resumption, the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZ NBL) released plans for a condensed seven team competition comprising of 56-games to be played across a 6-week period. The guidelines outlined in the Basketball New Zealand Policy Statement provide a safe return to training for players in preparation for competition. At the forefront of these guidelines is player health and wellbeing. This deals with both the physical and psychological preparation of players to compete in a condensed National League, and prevention of viral spread through common COVID-19 hygiene measures.