Teams playing in the national league will be docked a point if they fail to honour any of their fixtures when the new season begins in just over a month.
This was one of the two major changes in the league and competitions rules that will be observed when the season throws off on April 17 at Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium.
The decission was reached at during the governing council meeting held at the Kenya National Sports Council (KNSC) boardroom and attended by Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF), branch officials and team managers.
In a cordial meeting chaired by KBF chairman Paul Otula the stakeholders concurred that the move will discourage teams from skipping their fixtures without notice and make the league even more exiting.
All the team managers in attendance were unanimous that this was the best direction to go and would discourage any team of failing to honour matches without valid reason.
"It will discourage some teams from deliberately failing to honour their fixtures thus making their opponents incur necessary expenses in preparations. Now you skip a game and have a point deducted from what you already have will make them think twice." observed Ronnie Owino, the veteran Posta coach.
Teams were also given 10 days in which they can request for a postponement of a game. KBF will either agree or reject considering the weight of the matter .
"Docking teams points for skipping a game is alright. It will encourage teams to make efforts to honour fixtures and this will be good for the game in the end. Whether or not the teams have qualified for the play offs all matches should be honoured, it is also good for our fans" noted KCB Lions team manager George Omondi "Nyundo".
And discipline will also be injected as it was decided hat any player or member of a team who assault a match official on the playing court will be liable for a fine of kshs 100,000 up from a paltry kshs 10,000. The teams will also be liable for a fine of kshs 50,000 up from kshs 5,000.
It was also decided that any Club, which fails to turn up for a League match, shall forfeit the match on a 20-0 basis, unless that Club gives in writing an explanation acceptable to the Committee within 24 hours from the date and time of the match. The Committee when arriving at a decision shall take into consideration any expenses incurred by the aggrieved Club.
A club shall be dismissed from the League if it forfeits two league matches that are scheduled at least 3 days apart or if it forfeits three league matches in the season.
Any Club that for any reason causes the abandonment of any match by walking off the field or refusing to continue play shall automatically lose the game and shall be liable to disciplinary sanctions, as the Committee shall determine.
Any team that forfeits a match in 1st leg of the league shall be allowed to play the 2nd leg match.
League and competitions committee: Henry Shihemi, Joseph Amoko, Anjela Luchivya, Dann O’Werre and Cynthia Mumbo
An appeals committee will be headed by veteran sports administrator Joseph Masyuko. His team include former national players Abraham "Abrash" Muthogo and Bertha Akuno.
It also emerged that Kenya will host the Zone Five Fiba Africa Under 18 championships for boys and girls in April Otula revealed while urging the basketball fraternity to come out and support this programme.
"We want to see a new basketball image in the country. Let all of us be good ambassadors. Let everyone see a totally new image for basketball in the country.," Otula told the meeting.
He said that young players will be identified during the on going school games and it will be done both at the District and Provincial level culminating with the nationals in Nairobi next month.
Otula, who is also the Maseno School principal and coach reiterated that only players under 18 be used in this tournament that will bring bring juniors from within the region.
"Age cheating is a vice that we must eliminate completely. No over aged player will be named in any of the two teams. I am appealing to coaches and team managers to help by having a data for all players they recruit in future. he noted.
He named veteran Posta tactician and Fiba Africa coaches instructor Ronnie Owino to spear head the basketball development in the country and to be in charge of the U 18 coaching staff to be named latter.
"We want to move forward Let us forget that past it is not necessary. Let us from now on build a great future for basketball. Let us n network and compare notes so as to bring back the crowd and woo the sponsors for this game." he said.
The tournament will be played at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium and according to Zone Five secretary Voitalis Gode some regional teams have confirmed participation.
He said that Rwanda (girls)and Somalia have already confirmed participation. Tanzania is very willing while Uganda and Burundi are also expected.
"Rwanda will bring only the girls side as Kigali will host the boys qualifiers in September." said Gode adding that the final tour of the girls will be in Cairo in August.
At the same time Otula has named two committees that will help in making the event a success, The members are-
Financial: Peter Orero, George Omondi "Nyundo", Sylvia Kamau and Sammy Wakaba.
Media and Marketing: Cynthia Mumbo, Peter Orero, Ronnie Owino and Dann O'Werr