JBA moves to lift standards

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

In an effort to improve the standard of basketball across the island, Ajani Williams, president of the Jamaica Basketball Association (JBA), said the association is acquiring the services of American-based official, Michael Henderson, to assist with the training and development of local officials.

"Michael is a former National Basketball Association (NBA) referee and he is glad to come to Jamaica, and we are happy to know that we can get someone like him to come in and do some seminars with our local referees," Williams said yesterday.

"He will definitely be coming here next year, but it is just a matter of funding because I intend to improve the standard of officiating," he said.

Williams, who is in his first year as president of the JBA, added that he would also be looking to bring in a second NBA referee sometime next year.

"We are insisting that the quality of referees and coaches in all our competitions improve in order for us to move this sport forward," he said.

The quality of officiating in the National Basketball League has been one of the major talking points in the competition this season. The JBA currently has approximately 30 referees who are contracted to the association.

Recruit and train

Williams revealed that the National Technical Committee, an arm of his association, would be doing an islandwide drive to recruit and train referees and coaches for next season's competition.

"We have our National Technical Committee up and running, which was not running before, and (chairman) Winston Harvey's job is now to go out and recruit basketball referees across Jamaica," he said.

"He will also be enhancing the training of the current referees up from level one to two and three," Williams said.

"This will certainly help to develop the standards and quality of the sport across the island. People watch quality and they want to see top-class basketball and officiating," Williams reasoned.