The State Basketball League has announced for the upcoming 2017 season, all games will be played under the 40 minute game format in-line with FIBA.

As of next season, games will consist of ten minute quarters as opposed to the twelve minute quarters under the previous 48 minute format.

The revised format will bring the SBL back in step with the rest of the world (outside the NBA), now aligning with all State Leagues across Australia as well as the NBL which moved to the 40 minute format in 2009 and international events such as World Cups and the Olympics.

SBL General Manager, Adam Bowler stated a key factor in the SBL Commission’s decision to reduce the game timings was to ensure games were finishing at an appropriate time on Friday and Saturday nights for families.

“We want to build the family atmosphere during game nights, It is about making a night out at the basketball an event the whole family will enjoy”.

Mr. Bowler identified there were a number of additional factors the SBL Commission weighed up before making the decision with reducing average winning margins across the league a key objective.

“We expect the shortened game times to provide an even more exciting spectacle for the fans with less opportunity for a blow-out to occur”.

Players will need to be more disciplined and rotations will be key for coaches as players will have one less foul to give per game under the revised game format with the foul limit now at five.

The SBL regular season spans across twenty weeks, so the fatigue factor is expected to be reduced, particularly during double header weekends.

With a key focus on increasing the quality of the Development League competition and the reduced foul count, players will still see plenty of opportunities to develop through the SBL program.

Over 4.48 players per game in 2016 did not receive any court time in the 48 minute format, so the SBL Commission sees an expanded and revitalised D-league as the key competition area to promote development.

“We are really excited about the new D-league format for 2017. South West and Goldfields have both committed to field teams into the competition next season and Geraldton looks to follow suit” said Bowler.

Round one of the 2017 SBL Season is set to commence on March 17.

Photo by Clare Chappell