The program was divided into two half-day sessions, which began on Monday with the coaches and the Euroleague Basketball refereeing department discussing issues pertaining to rules, interpretations and points of emphasis in advance of the new season. The coaches saw a video analysis of officiating issues during the just-completed season and a review of the points of emphasis made before it started. They also heard and discussed both rule changes and officiating points of emphasis planned for the new 2013-14 season.

"It is a very positive idea," Real Madrid head coach Pablo Laso said. "I think it is a good initiative at the right time, when all domestic competitions are finished. It is the right time to talk, discuss and share opinions, evaluate what was good and bad this season and how the competition can improve. It is good to do it now, with a lot of time ahead of us, rather than days before the competition begins. We all have fresh memories of how the Euroleague season went. We have to think of how to improve it."

The first day concluded with a group dinner, allowing the coaches the opportunity to socialize as well.

"Having been here for many years, I find that from year to year, the meetings get better, because you begin to meet new coaches and hear good ideas, " Maccabi Electra head coach David Blatt said. "Of course, many of the coaches that are experienced always have a very, very good approach towards cooperation, collaboration and understanding the importance of this. It is good on two levels — an outstanding way to help improve the game through sharing ideas, but also for coaches it is a great chance to talk to one another. For me, this is a great part of basketball."

The input of the head coaches into refereeing criteria and points interpretations will be shared with the Euroleague Basketball referees in their annual pre-season clinic in September.

Tuesday's agenda concerned off-court institutional issues and began with a Euroleague Basketball President and CEO Jordi Bertomeu addressing the coaches. The morning session continued with discussions of marketing and communications, television, Euroleague by-laws, financial fair play, licensing rules, scouting and an evaluation of the competition system.

"I think it is absolutely necessary to talk about the Euroleague product in order to improve it," Chris Fleming, head coach of Brose Baskets Bamberg, said. "One thing I really value from the Euroleague is that they bring the coaches together every year and value what we say, listen to us to try to make the game better. It is a really important meeting and all coaches see it as something that we want to be a part of."

The coaches also gave high marks to the many innovations that were introduced for the 2012-13 season, most notably the addition of eight games to the schedule in the Top 16 phase, making it the longest season in European elite club competition history.

"The more games you play, the more accurate the final standings are," said Unicaja Malaga head coach Joan Plaza, who was the boss at Zalgiris Kaunas last season. "It happens in group stages but also in playoffs — the longer the series, the more fair the result is. In that sense, the extended Top 16 is good for the competition. I would say that, in the long run, the Euroleague will have even more games. People are demanding more games at the highest European level. A six-game Top 16 meant that having two bad days could be the end of your Euroleague season. Now, on the other hand, a 14-game Top 16 makes the competition more real and accurate, no matter if you qualify or not."