SEABL has created the position of Referees’ Development Officer and appointed Sharon Arnold to fill it. With this appointment SEABL has established another benchmark in its commitment to development. Now referees as well as players have opportunities for development.

 

In Sharon SEABL has appointed a person who brings instant credibility to the position. Sharon has been refereeing for 37 years and has officiated NBL, WNBL, SEABL, and international games. Many junior referees and young referees will have seen Sharon referee or perhaps even have refereed with her. Sharon hopes this familiarity will allow referees to be comfortable with her and voice their concerns.

 

Sharon’s highlight as a referee was doing the men’s gold medal game at the Paralympics in Sydney in 2000 with 18000 spectators in attendance. Sharon was the only woman referee on a panel of 24 for the games, and to be selected to referee the men’s gold medal game was a tremendous coup. She said that representing Australia at the international level was an immense honour, but to be able to represent Australia in Australia was a bigger thrill.

 

Sharon played basketball as well as being a referee. When she was 14 years old, she began playing and refereeing in a tin shed in Wangaratta. Sharon said because she was out-spoken, people told her to become a referee. She was taught to referee and mentored by Rod Bush, a well-known figure in Country Victoria Basketball. Sharon discovered a passion for refereeing and soon devoted her efforts to becoming the best referee that she could be.

 

The most satisfying part of refereeing for Sharon was walking away from a game knowing that she had done a good job. As Sharon said, the game is bigger than any referee, but the referee is a vital part of the game. Sharon was never satisfied with her performance as a referee and always believed she could improve. Her constant efforts to improve have given Sharon a wealth of knowledge which she wants to pass on to young referees. By doing this Sharon believes she will be putting back into basketball.

 

Sharon has two goals this year: to watch every SEABL referee in a game at least once and to reward excellence in refereeing. By doing these two things Sharon believes she can help make refereeing and basketball better. SEABL and SEABL referees are fortunate to gain Sharon’s knowledge of refereeing and passion for it.