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.
"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.
