Issue 11: 10 March 2023

CONGRATULATIONS:
MELONY O’CONNOR MNZM

Congratulations to Melony O’Connor, who was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to basketball in the 2023 New Year Honours list.

The award recognises Melony’s contribution to the game over a 35-year period, which has seen her very active in her local community both as a referee and as a trainer and mentor for learner referees at local school and association games, and at all levels of the game, including her 20 years as a referee in the National Basketball League, refereeing nine finals and receiving the NBL Referee of the Year award in 2012, 2021 and 2022. And all this is in addition to her full-time job at BBNZ for the last 10 years.

It's fantastic to see Melony’s dedication and hard work officially recognised in this way.

NEW BBNZ PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT LEAD

Nick Hogan has joined BBNZ as the new People Development Lead in the BBNZ Community Team after nearly three years as General Manager of Basketball Hawkes Bay and, before that, seven years in the community team at Cricket Wellington.

Nick replaces Amy McClintock, who resigned due to a family re-location to Wanaka. Nick will be continuing the progress of the Strengthen and Adapt Plan implementation across the areas of officials, coaches, development staff and leaders.

Nick recently earned his master’s in sport management from Massey University, where he helped establish the Allies for Gender Equity in Aotearoa Sport organisation.

Based in Hawkes Bay, Nick and his wife recently added a little girl to the family. He is also a New Zealand rugby referee, refereeing on the World Rugby 7s Circuit and first class rugby in Aotearoa.

NEW NATIONAL LEAGUES REFEREE MANAGER

NATIONAL LEAGUES REFEREE PANEL ANNOUNCED

The names of the 27 referees who will officiate games in both national leagues in 2023 have been announced.

Of particular note are two new additions to this year’s panel – Mikayla Sharp and Brittney Young – plus the promotion of Sasha Nicholson and Harry Apes from level 4 to level 3, meaning they’re now eligible to referee Sal’s NBL games in addition to Tauihi.

The full story, including the names of the referees and their panel ranking, is available on the BBNZ website.

2023 REFEREE AND TRAINER REGISTRATIONS

We’re into a new year so it’s time to re-register in BBNZ’s database of referees and referee trainers. As well as providing us with your up-to-date contact details, allowing us to communicate to you with important information relating to refereeing (including this newsletter), we will be using this database to keep a record of where you are in the referee or trainer pathway. It also helps us get a picture of how many referees and trainers we have around the country.

Registration is a simple matter of following the link below and either checking your details or creating an account if you have not registered before.

To complete your registration for 2023, please click here.

You can check and update your details at any time later by going to members.nz.basketball and logging in with the same e-mail and password.

AON U19 NATIONALS

We are seeking expressions of interest for referees to attend the Aon U19 Nationals. This tournament is being played in North Canterbury on 2-5 June (travel expected a day each side). If you would like to be considered for this, please e-mail referees@nz.basketball.

REFEREE TECHNIQUE FOCUS:
Signalling fouls to the score table

Here are some key things to remember after you’ve called a foul and you need to signal to the score table:

• Move quickly to a spot clear of the players where the scorer can clearly see you. There is no need to go all the way to the centre of the court, just as long as you have a clear view of the score table. Minimise the distance you go and think about where you are going next after reporting the foul.
• Stop, with both feet side-by-side on the floor, facing the score table, and breathe. Don’t start signalling while you are still moving.
• Go through your signal sequence in the correct order: count or cancel the goal (if applicable), the player’s number, the type of foul, and the penalty.
• There is no need to point to team bench before signalling the player’s number (unless you a signalling a double foul).
• The signal you give for the type of foul should match what actually happened in the play.
• For a throw-in, you are pointing the direction that the team taking the throw-in is going, not pointing to the throw-in spot.
• Don’t be too quick with your signals; hold each signal for a one-two count.
• Support with your signals verbally (for example: “Blue 6, block, two shots”).
• Wait until you have finished the signalling sequence before starting to turn away to move to your next position.

RULES QUIZ

Test yourself with these questions on the rule changes that came into effect this year. Don’t forget that there is important information on the new rules on the BBNZ website.

1. At the end of the fourth quarter, B1 fouls A2 in the act of shooting just before the horn sounds for the end of the game. What should the game clock show while A2 is taking the free throws?
2. At the end of the game, A1 is going in for a lay-up. After the horn sounds for the end of the game, B2 shoves A1 in the back. Can the referee call an unsportsmanlike foul on B2?
3. During the jump-ball to start the game, A1 taps the ball and it goes directly out-of-bounds without touching anyone else on the court. Team B is awarded a throw-in, which is taken by B2, whose inbound throw is intercepted and caught by A3. Which team should the possession arrow be pointing for?
4. With 0:51 left in the fourth quarter, A1 has the ball for a throw-in from out-of-bounds when B2 is called for a foul for contact while trying to guard A3 in a normal basketball play. Should the referee call this an unsportsmanlike foul?
5. Is this undershirt legal?

Rules quiz answers

1. A minimum of 0.1 of a second. If the foul happened before the horn sounded, there must be time put back on the clock. The referees should consult each other and decide how much time was left when the foul occurred. – Art 8.8; Ints 8-2, 8-3
2. No. An unsportsmanlike foul can only be called after the horn has sounded if there is another quarter or overtime to follow. – Art 8.9; Ints 8-2, 8-3, 8-4
3. Team A. Team B was the first team to gain team control after the jump ball, when they have the ball at their disposal for the throw-in (A1’s tap at the jump ball does not start team control), therefore the arrow should first point for Team A. – Arts 14.1.1, 12.6.2; Ints 12-1, 12-6
4. No. This is an example of the new throw-in foul that replaces criterion 5 for an unsportsmanlike foul. It would only be an unsportsmanlike foul if it met any of the other criteria for an unsportsmanlike foul. The penalty is one free throw for A3, with no line-up, followed by a throw-in for Team A from the place nearest to where the foul occurred. – Arts 34.1.2, 34.2.3; Int 34-9
5. Yes. Players can now wear compression shirts and leggings as long as they are tight-fitting compression garments. – Art 4.4.2; Int 4-8

Note: The interpretations references are for the new updated document published after the latest rule changes, available in the FIBA iRef Academy Library app and on the BBNZ website.

MORE INFO

• nz.basketball/officials
• BBNZ Referees Facebook page
• FIBA iRef Pre-Game app - download from Apple or Google Play
• FIBA iRef Academy Library app - download from Apple or Google Play