What is the Basketball Academy?
A 12-module pathway covering court geometry, boundary zones, backstops, flooring, padding, scoring, lighting, spectators, outdoor courts, 3x3 separation and complete indoor halls.
SPORT + ACADEMY
Basketball Academy
Plan 5-on-5 basketball from the field of play outward.
A 12-module pathway covering court geometry, boundary zones, backstops, flooring, padding, scoring, lighting, spectators, outdoor courts, 3x3 separation and complete indoor halls.
SELF-GUIDED12 MODULES
WHO IT IS FORSchools · Clubs · Universities · Councils · Arenas · International projects
FORMATRead · Check · Apply
OUTCOMEA clearer project brief
Planning resource · Reviewed September 2026 · Final technical design and local compliance remain project-specific
How to use the Academy
Work through the decisions in order, then go deeper where the project needs it.
Each module gives you a planning outcome and a short set of questions to resolve. The linked guide provides the deeper technical context. You can follow the complete sequence or jump directly to the decision you are working on.
SPORT + ACADEMY is a practical education and planning resource. It is not a formal qualification, accreditation or professional-design substitute.
Direct answers
Understand the pathway before you start.
These short answers define the scope of the Academy and make the planning intent clear before you move into the modules.
Who is this Academy for?
This self-guided planning pathway is intended for Schools · Clubs · Universities · Councils · Arenas · International projects. It is designed to support early project understanding before detailed product specification or local professional design.
What does the Academy cover?
The pathway contains 12 modules covering define the basketball operating model, protect the 28 × 15 m court and boundary, choose the backstop pathway, select the playing floor, plan padding and player safety, plan scoring and timing and the final project brief.
Is SPORT + ACADEMY a formal qualification or accreditation?
No. SPORT + ACADEMY is a practical education and planning resource. It does not provide formal accreditation and does not replace project-specific professional, engineering, safety or statutory advice.
PLANNING BOARD 01
Complete facility planning map
Playing area, circulation, containment, lighting, spectators, storage, services and future expansion should be coordinated before the product package is frozen.Conceptual planning diagram · not a construction drawingReal-world reference
Pair the planning logic with the actual system.
These current project and manufacturer references show the types of systems discussed in the Academy. Final layouts, dimensions, engineering and supplied configurations remain project-specific.
01Shared halls need the backstops to work with the building.
Structure, storage, padding and equipment movement should be resolved before a backstop system is selected.
02The field of play is larger than 28 × 15 m.
FIBA's minimum 2 m unobstructed boundary expands the full floor envelope to at least 32 × 19 m before benches, media and spectators.
03Weather changes the court system.
Drainage, UV, corrosion, backstop foundations and public-use maintenance become part of the specification.
Learning pathway
12 decisions that shape the facility.
Resolve the early project questions before detailed product specification. That reduces rework and makes later supplier, consultant and project-team conversations more useful.
01
MODULE 01
Define the basketball operating model
What you need to decideStart with school, club, competition, outdoor public or arena use before choosing floor, backstops and scoring.
Information to collect
Who uses the court?
Indoor or outdoor?
Training, league or formal competition?
Saved decisions feed into Your Facility Plan, My Apollo Project and the Sports Project Brief.
Module 1 of 12Next
02
MODULE 02
Protect the 28 × 15 m court and boundary
What you need to decideUse the FIBA court as the baseline and keep the required unobstructed boundary clear of equipment and circulation.
Information to collect
Is full FIBA geometry required?
Is the 2 m boundary available?
What sits outside the court?
Saved decisions feed into Your Facility Plan, My Apollo Project and the Sports Project Brief.
03
MODULE 03
Choose the backstop pathway
What you need to decideMatch mobile, floor-fixed, wall or ceiling systems to competition level, structure, storage and changeover.
Information to collect
Elite or community level?
How does the support anchor?
Where does mobile equipment store?
Saved decisions feed into Your Facility Plan, My Apollo Project and the Sports Project Brief.
04
MODULE 04
Select the playing floor
What you need to decideChoose wood, synthetic, acrylic or modular pathways around indoor/outdoor use, performance and shared sports.
Information to collect
Permanent indoor or outdoor?
Which secondary sports share the floor?
Is FIBA approval required?
Saved decisions feed into Your Facility Plan, My Apollo Project and the Sports Project Brief.
05
MODULE 05
Plan padding and player safety
What you need to decideCoordinate backstop padding, wall interfaces and clear player run-off before spectator or storage zones are placed.
Information to collect
Where are walls and columns?
Do supports sit beyond endlines?
Is padding replaceable?
Saved decisions feed into Your Facility Plan, My Apollo Project and the Sports Project Brief.
06
MODULE 06
Plan scoring and timing
What you need to decideAdd shot clocks, scoreboard, game clock, scorer table, power and data around the intended match level.
Information to collect
Are shot clocks required?
Where is the scorer table?
How is data routed?
Saved decisions feed into Your Facility Plan, My Apollo Project and the Sports Project Brief.
07
MODULE 07
Coordinate lighting
What you need to decidePlan glare, uniformity, fixture protection and media requirements around court and backboard sightlines.
Information to collect
Training only or events?
Are cameras planned?
What mounting height is available?
Saved decisions feed into Your Facility Plan, My Apollo Project and the Sports Project Brief.
08
MODULE 08
Plan team and spectator zones
What you need to decideKeep benches, spectators and officials outside the protected field-of-play envelope while preserving sightlines and access.
Information to collect
What spectator capacity?
Retractable or fixed seating?
How do teams enter?
Saved decisions feed into Your Facility Plan, My Apollo Project and the Sports Project Brief.
09
MODULE 09
Plan outdoor courts differently
What you need to decideAddress weather-rated backstops, drainage, UV, surface temperature, fencing and lighting for exposed sites.
Information to collect
What drainage exists?
What wind/corrosion exposure applies?
Is public access uncontrolled?
Saved decisions feed into Your Facility Plan, My Apollo Project and the Sports Project Brief.
10
MODULE 10
Keep 3x3 separate
What you need to decideChoose KNOTTR 3x3 when the project needs a half-court, event or dedicated 3x3 system rather than forcing it into the 5-on-5 brief.
Information to collect
Is this actually 5-on-5?
Would a 3x3 court use the site better?
Is event portability important?
Saved decisions feed into Your Facility Plan, My Apollo Project and the Sports Project Brief.
11
MODULE 11
Plan the complete hall
What you need to decideCoordinate backstops, floor loading, dividers, structure, lighting, scoring, seating and storage before building interfaces are fixed.
Information to collect
Existing or new hall?
Where do backstops store?
Which other sports share the building?
Saved decisions feed into Your Facility Plan, My Apollo Project and the Sports Project Brief.
12
MODULE 12
Build the Basketball project brief
What you need to decideBring competition level, geometry, equipment, floor, lighting, seating, scoring and local responsibilities into one project package.
Information to collect
Are court and boundary dimensions confirmed?
Is equipment approval required?
What remains local?
Saved decisions feed into Your Facility Plan, My Apollo Project and the Sports Project Brief.
SPORT + TOOLS
Apply what you have learned.
Use the planning tools when you are ready to translate the Academy modules into dimensions, comparisons and a structured project brief.
01
Basketball Systems
Move into Apollo's school, club, competition, outdoor full-court and complete-hall 5-on-5 pathways.
Open tool 02Basketball Planning Guide
Work through court, boundary, backstop, floor, scoring, lighting and spectator decisions.
Open tool 03KNOTTR 3x3
Use the separate 3x3 pathway for dedicated half-court, event and 3x3 competition systems.
Open tool 04Sports Project Brief Builder
Turn the facility decisions into one Apollo review package.
Open toolSPORT + KNOWLEDGE
Continue learning
Does the project need a compact basketball pathway?
KNOTTR 3x3 is the separate Apollo route for dedicated 3x3 courts, social venues and event systems.
Explore KNOTTR 3x3