MIES (Switzerland) – FIBA is leading the charge on standards for an innovative and evolving area of the sport, which is poised to transform the way basketball performance is analyzed, understood, and improved.
To drive innovation and ensure safety and consistency right across the game of basketball, the FIBA Equipment & Venue Centre has launched an Approval Program for Tracking Solutions.
As part of the launch, FIBA held its first-ever Tracking Solutions Test Event in Leiria, Portugal, at the Pavilhao do Lis last month. The test was conducted with experts from Victoria University using a motion capture system.
During the test event, a range of tracking solutions were evaluated, including inertial measurement units (IMUs), local positioning systems (LPS), and optical tracking technologies.
Testing protocols replicated basketball-specific movements and game actions, assessing a range of key performance metrics including positional accuracy, speed, acceleration and deceleration patterns, jump height, and load index.
The FIBA Equipment & Venue Centre has been working closely with key stakeholders in the industry to develop clear standards for performance and quality. Through this process, it has begun evaluating, standardizing and promoting trusted technologies that will positively shape the future of Tracking Solutions within basketball environments.
By collecting data around things such as jump height, acceleration and positioning, tracking technologies can enhance coaching strategies, support player development and help to manage player workload.
Player Tracking also provides significant scope for fan engagement and a more immersive experience for viewers. Advanced analytics and the integration of tracking data into live broadcasts are proving significant opportunities to transform the content provided to basketball consumers.
Following this test event, Sports Labs will carry out a lab-based safety assessment of wearable devices, focusing on their size, shape, weight, and how they perform under impact.
The FIBA Equipment & Venue Centre continues to define global standards for basketball technologies. The Player Tracking Solutions Approval Program represents a major step forward in ensuring performance, consistency and innovation in this rapidly growing field.
FIBA