JABA clinic takes aim at widening referee talent pool
Published:Thursday | October 31, 2024 | 12:11 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT OF the Jamaica Basketball Association, Paulton Gordon, explained that the recently concluded referees coaching clinic held at the National Stadium was conducted in a bid to bring local referees up to speed with changes at the FIBA level.
“We wanted to use it as an opportunity to engage our referees who are participating in our domestic competitions like the National Basketball League. It was a refresher, so that they are cognisant of any changes in the rules,” he stated.
Gordon added that one of the main initiatives of the organisation is to widen the pool of referees that can be chosen to officiate at the various levels of basketball in Jamaica.
“We can use them at the development competitions like the ISSA competitions and the local youth-level competitions. Therefore, part of the plan is to broaden the pool of referees in basketball,” Gordon explained.
Nicholas Hayles, a FIBA referee who was part of the coaching clinic, said the classes were “well received”, and the 18-participants, which included experienced and amateur referees, was a positive sign for basketball officiating in the country.
“I think it was well received, the referees participated fully in all the information that was shared, and that tells me that there’s interest. Senior and new referees turned out, which was a great look for the basketball,” he stated.
While the practical part of the clinic was rained out, Hayles said referees showed their skills during the theory exam, all of them excelling.
“My task was to inform them of the new rules and new methods of officiating as it relates to FIBA. We should have had a practical but weren’t able due to the rain, because it had to be done on the court. Nevertheless, a theory exam was given and all the referees did well,” he added.