The moment of truth has arrived; the countdown is on. Everything is ready, and next Monday evening we will have the first tip-off of the Winter Season 2025-2026! In light of this, it would be a good idea to remember a few “musts” that all teams and all players should keep in mind so that everything runs smoothly.
Nobody Plays Without a Health Certificate
We’ve said it countless times, and we won’t tire of repeating it: nobody plays without a Health Certificate! Even now, just one week before tip-off, if you haven’t issued a Certificate, do it now. You might miss your team’s 1st or even 2nd game, but you’ll definitely be on time for all the others. After all, we’ll be playing until Spring 2026! And if you don’t want to do it for basketball, do it for the most valuable asset: your health.
Important note for Team Managers: Collect all the Health Certificates for your team’s players and keep them gathered yourselves or designate another team member to do so. If you wait for each player to bring their own Certificate to the game, rest assured that at least one person will forget it!
The Game Schedule Does NOT Change
It is an unbreakable rule of the Winter Season that the game schedule is like the Gospel: we don’t touch it! This is exactly why all teams are informed very early of the exact days, times, and venues they will play, so they can plan ahead. And this is also why teams are allowed to register up to 20 players on their roster, so they cannot cite absences as an excuse.
For a game to be cancelled, there must be a genuinely serious reason that falls under the category of “force majeure” or is a matter of life and death. Excuses like “three of our key players are abroad,” or “Panathinaikos is playing at the same time,” or “it’s the feast of Apostolos Andreas and five of our players are celebrating” certainly do NOT fall into this category.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct is Punished
As in any game, it’s normal to sometimes lose our composure and misbehave when emotions run high. Intensity and passion are part of the game and are completely understandable. What is not understandable, however, is insulting members of the opposing team, referees, judges, fans, etc., let alone resorting to physical altercations, whether due to a bad call or a careless push.
Fortunately, in the first 4 seasons of the Winter Season, such cases were few and far between, and we are sure they will remain that way. What everyone needs to know, though, is that improper conduct does not go unnoticed; it is punished, and severely so. Penalties imposed by the Rules Committee may not have been publicly announced in the past for personal data protection reasons, but those who were punished know it.
Just Enjoy the Game
At the end of the day, whether we win or lose a game, it is still just a game. The end of the world won’t come, nor will we become the Jordans of Cyprus. Basketball is by far the best sport, and that’s why so many people are involved with it, from young children to the elderly. The joy of the game is (or should be) the driving force for all of us.
So, get your wristbands, knee pads, shoes, socks, uniforms, balls, proteins, coffees, photos, teasing, prayers, etc., ready. Remember your youth when you could dunk with ease in school, forget about the joints that are mildly complaining, step onto the court, grab the ball, and start doing what you’ve always loved: enjoy the game. Happy season to all of us!
