Basketball referees undergo training to improve skills, knowledge

A TOTAL of 10 referees underwent Basketball Technical Commission-sanctioned training to enhance their skills and knowledge of the sport in Lae, Morobe, last week.
The participants — five from Lae, three from Madang and two from Markham — will help raise the standard of the sport and increase the number of basketball officials in Mamose.
The training covered the sport’s rules and interpretations, and officiating mechanics.
It also provided an introduction to the Fiba referee curriculum.
Training facilitator Charles Morola said referees needed to be proactive and reactive, and meet the expectations of coaches and players.
He said players “are the game, and coaches and referees service the game”.
Morola encouraged participants to prepare for the next level of training, which would be accredited by Fiba Oceania.
He warned all basketball associations in the region to prioritise training for referees and technical officials.
“Our priority must be to nurture and look after referees and officials because they are essential,” he said.