Stepping up off-court support to elite and professional players
Most youngsters who have held a basketball in their hands have at least dared imagine what it would be like to become a star, they may picture themselves making that buzzer beater or getting the crowd off their seats with a spectacular dunk. But those sportsmen and women who do actually make it big quickly realize that what happens off the court is a very important part of managing their professional careers.

FIBA's efforts to increase player awareness of some of the key off-court issues have resulted in the development of the Athletes Guide to Off-Court Development. This document aims to provide professional athletes with a reliable and trustworthy source of basic advice specifically tailored to the needs of sports professionals.

This guide takes four fundamental on-court parameters - team, skills, rules and game plan and applies them to off-court situations, for an easy to understand entry level guide to managing a career in basketball.

One of the main ideas behind the this comparative approach is to illustrate that many of the keys to success on the court can be easily applied off the court, contributing towards a management of the athletes career that is just as important, but that can have a tendency to be neglected.

Team
Every player is aware of the importance of working together with teammates, his coaches and medical staff. If no player can make it alone on the court, the same applies off the court.
Teamwork includes working with FIBA, agents, media and sponsors, which is essential if a player is to maximize his professional and financial opportunities. Working alongside other stakeholders can also help demonstrate the values of the sport in a positive way, which is not only a moral responsibility, but also an beneficial career move for the athlete.

Skills
Players spend large amounts of time working on improving their fundamentals, their technique and their skills.
In the same way, improving and developing communication skills, presentation skills and general professionalism is essential if a player is to make a positive impression on those who can impact their careers in the short and long-term.

Rules
For professional basketball players, knowing how to play by the rules off-the-court is just as important as knowing those that govern the game from jump-ball to buzzer.
Living with and adjusting to new cultures is more important than ever today, when careers often involve moving from one country to another and travelling from continent to continent.
Managing conflict off-the-court and avoiding unnecessary obstacles that distract players from performing on-the-court are also part of the daily lives of players.

Game plan
To succeed as a team and an individual, having a pre-defined plan in place before taking to the court is an essential dimension to basketball as with all sports. Similarly, having the right plan in place for managing each step of their career, including life after retirement, deserves a little thought and consideration. Players should set long-term career goals and decide the necessary steps to achieve them (e.g. education, training, etc.).

To set up the right game plan requires a large number of parameters to be taken into account. An important of these include financial considerations, which can be hard to understand and yet have very important consequences.

Download: FIBA Athletes' Handbook

Athletes' Financial Handbook

The Athletes' financial handbook was created in order to provide players who will be making the transition to professional basketball with financial information and tools to start their careers on the right track. A report issued by Sports Illustrated in its edition of March 23rd, 2009 shows that athletes are under financial stress within two years after retirement and that an estimated 60 percent of players are bankrupt within five years of retiring.

We strongly encourage our athletes to go through this online Athletes financial handbook. A free printable version as well as the worksheets that are presented in the document are downloadable in this section.

We hope this will increase your awareness, and help you to move forward with financial stability and success. Pass the message on to your teammates!

Downloads: FIBA Athletes' Financial Handbook and Worksheets