ACC partners with Basketball NZ to prevent injuries
Basketball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country and ACC is ensuring the next generation of players are supported to stay in the game longer.
We’ve announced we will invest $340,000 into Basketball New Zealand over the next 18 months to reduce injuries and protect players, modelled on the highly-regarded ACC SportSmart neuromuscular programme.
ACC’s SportSmart programme is an evidence-based, proven intervention already being delivered successfully in netball, rugby, touch, rugby league and football to prevent knee and ankle injuries.
Every year, ACC accepts over 20,000 new claims for basketball-related injuries. These injuries come at a cost of over $20 million to help people recover, and the numbers are increasing.
This makes basketball the fourth-largest contributor of sports injuries (both in costs and volume) behind rugby, football and netball. Knee and ankle injuries contribute to nearly 40 per cent of total basketball claims accepted by ACC.
On track to be number one
Basketball New Zealand CEO Dillon Boucher says resourcing for basketball nationally has been a challenge over the years with the skyrocketing growth of its participation base. He sees this partnership as being transformational for the sport.
“This is an absolute game-changer for us,” he says.
“We’re quickly becoming the number one sport of choice for New Zealanders and this partnership will support our sport to be a safe and enjoyable space for everyone who plays it.”
The former Tall Black says Basketball NZ have struggled to keep up with the demand in recent years.
“With more and more people playing, it’s been difficult at times to provide the level of player wellbeing and welfare support that our participants need,” he says.
“That’s now changing and we’re incredibly grateful for the level of confidence ACC have demonstrated in us through this partnership.
“Injuries, particularly serious ones, can change people’s lives and take people out of the game they love. Thanks to ACC, we’re going to be able to work towards significantly reducing the number of people affected by them in our sport.”
Partnering with sport to foster wellbeing
Our partnership with Basketball NZ will enable the integration of SportSmart into the basketball community, complementing the player wellbeing initiatives already in development within the sport.
ACC Injury Prevention Leader James Whitaker says it’s great to welcome basketball to the stable of national sports organisations we partner with to keep people active and enjoying their sport.
“We know basketball is one of the fastest-growing sports in Aotearoa,” he says.
“They have over 100,000 registered players and have experienced significant growth in the past 10 years. It’s great to align with them and develop a programme that’s going to help us reduce the incidence and severity of injuries in the game.”
SportSmart provides the foundation
The SportSmart neuromuscular programme will be the foundation of this work, aiming to support player wellbeing and keep players in the game longer.
Modelled off the 11+ football warm-up, it covers the three key elements of effective injury prevention for sport: core strength, muscular control and balance, and plyometrics and agility.
A study published by the British Medical Journal in 2008 found teams performing this programme at least twice a week had 37 per cent fewer training injuries and 29 per cent fewer game injuries. Severe injuries reduced by almost 50 per cent.
