The NBL1 is considering reducing the number of home and away matches for the 2021 NBL1 South season.

League delegates voted in favour of shortening the season at a meeting held on September 1.

Under the preferred option, clubs would play 17 regular season matches commencing in May instead of the usual 22-game format.

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A shortened season would help to prevent crossover with the NBL season, which usually begins around October.

Basketball Ballarat chief executive Peter Eddy said a reduced format would help NBL-level players play in the competition.

"Some clubs will be hoping to have NBL-level players so they would want to prevent crossover," he said.

"We are working on a basis that it's going to be one of those years where you've got to be prepared to do what you can."

Eddy said Basketball Ballarat would prefer to play 22 games as much of its income is generated from home game revenue. He said the league committee would take on the feedback and make decisions over the coming weeks.

"I think the longer Melbourne remains in lockdown, the less likely it will be we'll have a 22-week season," Eddy said.

Imports were also discussed.

Eddy said the consensus was that clubs should continue to be allowed two imports, however bringing them into the country might prove complicated.

With international flights currently at a premium owing to COVID-19, Eddy said importing players could prove costly.

"If all of a sudden clubs had to pay twice as much to bring imports over, you spend a lot more of your budget at a time you've got less money," he said

"I think across the board there will be a high degree of caution of people going out and spending money they can't guarantee they'll have"

Eddy said he thinks ultimately, whether or not to recruit imports would be a choice for each individual club.