2012 Mid Season Referee Seminar Report

Referee & Instructor Team Photo

basketballscotland Officials’ Commission hosted the 2012 Mid Season Seminar at the Loch Leven Campus in Kinross on Sunday 29th January 2012. Our guest speaker was Johnny Jacobs, the FIBA National Referee Instructor of Belgium, returning to Scotland for a second time to help support and train our referees.

basketballscotland would like to acknowledge the help of FIBA Europe Referee Department who assisted with the travel costs to allow Johnny Jacobs to deliver at our seminar.

In an effort to further improve relationships between referees and coaches, plus provide an educational aspect for coaches regarding the rules of basketball and refereeing, all registered National League coaches were invited to the Mid Season Seminar.

In total 48 people attended the seminar, (33 referees, 5 assessors and 10 coaches) which featured ”on floor” sessions (on 2PO mechanics, contact situations and criteria) and a DVD session with clips taken from Scottish National League games.

Illegal Post Play - two hands in the back is not allowed

There was also a discussion group on referee/coach releationships which provided some healthy debate and tips for both referees and coaches to improve their communication and dealings to work better with each other.

Attendees observe one of the "on the floor" sessions.

In the morning, prior to the on floor sessions, the majority of the active National League referees in attendance ran the 20 metre Bleep Test to assess their fitness. The Officials Commission are delighted that over 80% of the referees running the test managed to attain the recommended level for their age and grade.

 After lunch and the DVD session, the referees (and two coaches brave enough to stay!) took the official mid- season rules test. Again, the Officials Commission are satisfied that the majority of the referees achieved the pass mark of 80% or more. Even those who did not attain the pass mark  managed to get 65% or more, but referees rules knowledge can always be improved. The Officials’ Commission recommendation to all referees to continually maintain their rules knowledge by reading the FIBA rule book, 2 person mechanics book and official FIBA interpretations still stands.

Presentation To Johnny Jacobs (L) from Chris Dodds

 The day drew to a close with a presentation on the new 24 Second reset to 14 second (Front court) rule, which will be implemented in Scotland for the 2012 Play Offs and for the full season 2012-13.

Finally, there was a plenary session for referee question and answers, and presentations to Graham Shaw (congratulations on becoming Scotland’s 21st FIBA Referee) and Johnny Jacobs to show our gratitude for him coming to Scotland to present at our seminar again.

 The Officials Commission and basketballscotland would like to thank-:

Johnny Jacobs – for his basketball passion and for coming to Scotland again to help us.

FIBA Europe Referee Department – for assisting with Johnny Jacobs trip to Scotland, and for their continued support of Scottish Basketball Referees’ development.

Marian Miklosik – basketballscotland Officials Administrator for organising the day and producing the candidate resources and handouts

Eddie McKinley – for compiling the rules test and camera man on the fitness test

Tom Stobo – for compiling the training DVD 

John Nicol – for DVDing games and providing material to help make the training DVD

Robert Bald/Americo Rodrigues/Ian Watt/Ian Gleghorn – for invigilating the fitness test and assistance on the day

Ian Gleghorn / Tom Stobo – for marking the rules tests

Damian Sharp - for the presentation on the new 24 second rule.