The Women’s League is taking shape and its start date is approaching. From the Board of Directors of the Association of Clubs (AdC), it was confirmed that the next edition of the tournament will start on February 19, with the presence of 10 teams. 2022 will mark the fifth season of the contest, preparing for the 8th tournament in history.
The participating clubs will be: Deportivo Berazategui, Catamarca Basket, Corrientes Básquet, Ferro Carril Oeste, Los Indios de Moreno, Obras Basket, Quimsa de Santiago del Estero, Tomás de Rocamora, Unión Florida and the newcomer Riachuelo de La Rioja. This is, without a doubt, welcome news for La Liga Femenina, which will not only keep the nine teams from the past tournament, but will also broaden its scope and expand, becoming a more federal competition that will continue to involve everyone.
Regarding the competition system, one round will be played, all against all, until each team completes 9 games. Once this regular phase ends, the 8 best placed will play the playoffs to the best of two (2) games, while the 9th and 10th positions will end their participation in this edition. The quarterfinal matches will be: 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6 and 4 vs. 5.
The same format as in the last editions will be repeated, with most of the matches being played in stadiums in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA), but also taking the competition to other parts of the country when, due to geographical proximity and of logistics, the teams from northern Argentina had to face. The matches will take place mostly during the weekends, with the possibility of also facing some matches during the week. A double weekend date will begin to be played on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20, with the calendar extending until the end of April and where the tournament champion will be known.
Modifications in the rules through FIBA
It is worth highlighting the notorious fact that FIBA has selected the Women’s League to implement changes in some rules. They will be substantial modifications, which will have a significant impact and whose main objective is to implement improvements in the game, seeking greater dynamics in the matches.
Through Andreas Zagklis, Secretary General of FIBA, the world’s highest basketball body expressed its gratitude to the CAB, in character of expressing FIBA’s proposals for our competition: “We would like to express to the Argentine Basketball Confederation (CAB) the FIBA’s gratitude and appreciation for the commitment to test the proposed new game rules that can enhance the attractiveness of women’s basketball around the world.”
“This is the first time that FIBA can test the new rules for a whole season in a top league. This will be of great help to the FIBA Technical Commission, to analyze all the aspects and results of the proposed rules, and to make a report. detailed and quality of the recommendations to improve the rules of the game. FIBA is grateful to have this support in our effort to empower women in basketball, one of the main pillars of FIBA’s strategy for the 2019-2023 cycle.” .
Important: it must be specified that for each item of the new regulations proposed by FIBA, a series of training sessions will be carried out for players, coaches and referees, understanding the modifications that this implies and through the Arbitration Technical Commission.
What is the new regulation proposed by FIBA about?
* There are two fundamental aspects that will change: the playing time and the number of fouls, both personal and collective. The duration of each quarter will be shortened, as well as the number of infractions that can be committed within the match. This is detailed in the first item of the new regulation:
∙ The match will consist of 4 quarters of 8 minutes each
∙ Break is 10 minutes
∙ The player who commits 4 fouls will not be able to continue playing.
∙ Team fouls per quarter: 3
* A second item points to the throw-in or throw-in, to the replacement of the ball. The regulations indicate that the player can execute the throw-in immediately from her field without the referee passing the ball to her and authorizing her to do so. The player will be in charge of not moving more than 1 meter from the place of the ball exit.
* There is another important change as a third item, and it has to do with the free throws that are executed and their different situations.