Head coaches discuss present, future at EBI Annual Workshops

A round-table discussion among Turkish Airlines Euroleague head coaches and their traditional exchange of ideas with Euroleague Basketball referees and executives marked the continuation of the Euroleague Basketball Institute Annual Workshops on Wednesday and Thursday in Barcelona.
The 25 head coaches, representing teams from 13 countries, were invited to give their opinions and input to Euroleague Basketball executives about everything from proposals for future competition structures and year-to-year game calendars to rules interpretations made by game officials on the floor.
"Since we started the league in 2000, we have had this open dialogue with you, our coaches, and we have to be proud." Jordi Bertomeu, the President and CEO of Euroleague Basketball, told the group. "From the beginning, we've been sensitive to the important role that coaches have in our game. And the reason to be proud is that the feedback we get from you has been amazing all along. Many of the things we have achieved would not have happened without your help."
To start their two-day session, the head coaches focused on institutional and communications issues during four hours of meetings at Euroleague Basketball headquarters in Barcelona. The major discussion on Wednesday revolved around the issues that affect the overall goal of growing the fan base of basketball in Europe.
The head coaches, some of whom also lead national teams, also expressed their concerns about an ever fuller competition calendar that allows little rest and recuperation time for their players. They stressed that plans announced by FIBA to hold national team competitions in winter starting in 2017 would make the calendar even more difficult than it is already.
"We all say that we need the best players on national teams," Vincent Collet of Strasbourg, the current European national champion with France, said. "So to put national team games in the middle of the club schedule is not logical."
The coaches were also presented with Euroleague Basketball's proposals on future competitions and licensing structures, as was done the previous week at the ECA Executive Board.
"It is time now to take new steps forward that ensure the continuity in our growth and that lead us to a comprehensive model of European clubs competitions, based on stability and fairness," Jordi Bertomeu, President and CEO of Euroleague Basketball, told the coaches. "This new model should further integrate the top professional clubs competitions, offering clubs a clear route for their development."
The coaches expressed their appreciation for being included early in the discussion of proposals about the future of the sport in Europe.
"I think it's very important that the coaches are involved in discussing the future of Euroleague Basketball," Luca Banchi, head coach of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, said. "I believe the position of Euroleague Basketball is correct. They have to push in that direction. I think in the end, after a few years, everybody will realize how good is this idea and how important it will be for us to have a better product for the fans."
For the third consecutive time in their yearly meetings, the coaches spent time with the Euroleague Basketball communications department to review strategies for connecting better with existing and potential fans through both traditional and social media.
"These are great ideas and examples of how coaches through communication with the media can give us a better product," said Jasmin Repesa, head coach of Cedevita Zagreb.
In their second session, on Thursday morning, the coaches met with the Euroleague Basketball Refereeing Commission to review video and discuss issues of officiating, rules interpretations and trends in the game from a court-level perspective.
"It's an open conversation, where each coach can talk about his experience during the season, his positive things, his negative things," said Guy Goodes, the new head coach of Euroleague champion Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv. "It's very important to make decisions between the coaches and the Euroleague about what's been done before and what should be done in the future."