RAMALLAH (Palestine) - Though the COVID-19 pandemic situation is still currently ongoing around the world, basketball finds its way to stay active. As has been seen in the resumption and completion of several leagues such as the NBA and CBA among others, the sport of basketball can find a way to return to action by abiding proper precautions of safety.

Everyone assured that it was indeed a great achievement to run and complete the league under the pandemic situation, while ensuring the safety of players, coaches and staff - PBF President Ibrahim Habash

Another success story can be found in the Jawwal Basketball League, the domestic league in Palestine. The league recently crowned its champion on October 9 after running the league through this COVID-19 situation.

There were some obstacles from start to finish, but the determination and cooperation from everyone involved made it possible for the league to be completed as a success.

“At early stages, while we were planning to run the league, we received some negative feedback due to lack of clarity then of the comprehensive protocol as well as due to apprehension of the pandemic,” explained Ibrahim Habash, president of the Palestine Basketball Federation (PBF).

“However, when everything was clear and the league was running, excellent feedback was received from all related entities promoting our decision to run the league and the way everything is being handled. The confidence we gained from proper management, privileged us with high commitment and cooperation from the players, coaches and staff.”

Orthodox Beit Sahour were victors of the league this season after an exciting 76-74 win over Ibda’a Al-Dhesheh in the last game of the Finals. PBF and the league had come a long way from the starting point, where they all needed to be fully prepared to ensure the safety of all participants. The strict protocols included:

• Conducting tests for COVID-19 for all participants including players, coaches, as well as the technical and administrative staff, 48 hours prior each game. If any participant was infected the game would be rescheduled.
• No audience allowed in attendance.
• Courts were fully sanitized before and after the game.
• A doctor was present at each game to medically check the players.

“Before starting to do anything, our main concern was that the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Palestine was vague and unclear and that there was a continuous increase at that period in the number of infected people. Moreover, in general, we lacked proper awareness about the virus and the proper methods of its prevention as well as its actual effect on infected people,” Habash said.

“Before the commencement of the league, we sought all needed information from FIBA concerning the health protocols. We discussed the protocols with the health department in the Palestinian Olympic Committee. In compliance with both entities, we prepared a health protocol that complies with the Palestinian culture and pandemic situation.”

“To comprehend our efforts, we disseminated the protocol to all teams playing in the league and discussed it with them through comprehensive meetings to ensure their full understanding and commitment to the adopted protocol as well as to take their needs into consideration and raise their sense of ownership to ensure smooth implementation of the plans set forth. We also provided them with the needed duration to prepare their players to get back on to the court.”

Even as the league had already begun to play, there were still some tough issues that the league had to face in their attempt to control the situation with everyone’s health as their top priority.

“As we ran the league, it was very difficult to control, monitor, or detect the socialization activities of the players, coaches, and staff. Lots of effort was needed to follow up with them and urge them to minimize their socialization activities to the extent possible.”

“Another tough issues we faced was the objection received from one of the teams for running the league due to their fear of the pandemic situation. Unfortunately, despite the clear and comprehensive protocol adopted and trials to reassure them, they decided to withdraw. The decision was taken based on recommendations from the federation’s law department.”

Nonetheless, these were issues that they were able to overcome and see through to reach the finish line with everyone’s health intact.

“Everyone assured that it was indeed a great achievement to run and complete the league under the pandemic situation, while ensuring the safety of players, coaches and staff,” Habash concluded. “All of them were extremely thankful and proud of this achievement, and for being able to get back on courts in this extremely difficult situation. Most importantly, we couldn’t have succeeded without their full commitment and cooperation.”

FIBA