Zitina Aokuso, Inspiring the Young
Congratulations to the 8 QLD referees who were selected to attend the Participation Division at the Australian Schools Championship (also known as the Zebra Tour) in Melbourne this week! The Tour goes from Monday 4th December – Friday 8th December. We asked our referees a few questions:
How do you feel about being selected for your first interstate basketball competition?
Benjamin Harvey: I am excited about the opportunity to attend the Zebra Tour and meeting other basketball officials from around Australia. I enjoy refereeing and look forward to gaining more experience at this higher level.
Kyle Zulian: This isn’t actually my first interstate tournament but like the first time I went I’m thrilled and honoured to have been invited and selected to represent Queensland at this tournament. I look forward to gaining heaps of experience and learning more about refereeing.
What are you most excited for about the Zebra Tour?
Sepi Mahjoub: I want to use the Zebra tour as a learning opportunity to enhance my refereeing skills and provide the best chance for the players to showcase their abilities.
Liam Begley: I am excited to learn new things about refereeing and what I need to improve upon in order to get better. This tournament will be a great learning experience for me.
What are your future referee goals?
Lauren Drabwell: I’d like to continue refereeing for as long as I can and see where it takes me. I’d love to go to a club national championships within the next few years.
Jordan Harton: By attending the Zebra Tournament I will have the exposure to new educators, which will help develop my refereeing significantly. In turn will assist my future goals of attending an Australian Nationals Championship within the next two years. Whilst striving to be an NBL referee in the coming 10 years, and be on the pathway to achieving a FIBA badge.
What life skills have you learnt through refereeing?
Isabel Mehaffey: Throughout the time I have been reffing I have learnt that communication is the key to everything, whether it be on a basketball court or out on the streets. And always to have fun with what you do.
Victoria Fowler: Throughout my 7 years of refereeing I have met many wonderful people, made great friends and acquired life skills that have not only shaped who I am as a referee, but who I am as a person. Such life skills include organisation, communication, confidence, self-esteem and resilience, team work, leadership, decision making and dealing with conflict.
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