Green Shirt Referees

VBRA launches Green Shirt Program in 2007

Across Australia, most sports have difficulty recruiting and retaining officials. Basketball is no exception.

Between 1997 and 2001, the number of officials in Australian sport had dropped by 26%. Some sports have indicated that they are losing more than 50% of new recruits in one season.

Australian sport faces a crisis with the continuing decline in the number of officials being recruited or staying in the system. Harassment, abuse and lack of respect for officials have been identified as major causes of the declining number of people officiating.

Back in September, Basketball Australia launched the Coloured Shirt Program in conjunction with the Under 14 Girls National Championships in Brisbane and at the National Schools Championships and an associated WNBL game in Geelong.

The coloured shirt program was originally piloted in South Australia and aims to promote positive behaviour towards referees, especially beginner referees.

Aims

The major aims of the Green Shirt Program are:

  • Make new officials easily identifiable, so that they are easy to recognise and support.
  • Promote this program to the basketball community to raise awareness and increase the recognition and support of new officials.
  • Assist in reducing pressure and lessening abuse and conflict directed towards new officials. Create a culture of support towards these new officials via the education of players, spectators, coaches and the media.

The message for the program, “I‘m wearing green so please don’t see red” simply means that if you see officials wearing a green referee shirt then it is important for you to know they are beginners and as a “learner” they may make more mistakes than normal.

Program Implementation

Basketball Victoria along with the VBRA is extremely keen to promote and encourage this program and would like to mandate that all associations across Victoria adopt the program in its entirety.

To assist the implementation of the program, Basketball Victoria has purchased Green Referee Shirts, ready for immediate distribution, in response to the orders from associations. (see order details following)

In addition to the “green shirts”, there are posters and cards promoting the program. An example of the promotional material is included with this notice.

The posters should be displayed in prominent positions within the stadium to help promote and explain the program. The cards could be used as promotional material, distributed or available to all registered teams. Another option that has been used is to hand the cards to coaches and or spectators who maybe getting a little out of line with the “green shirted referees”.

An Information for Participants letter is also included. This information letter should be made available to the new referee at the time of the distribution of the “Green Shirt”.

Shirt Distribution

The VBRA have identified two methods of distribution of the Green Shirts. It will be up to the individual Associations as to which method they adopt.

Method #1:

The shirts be purchased from Basketball Victoria, and become the property of the Association.

On completion of the Referee Beginners Theory Course, the beginner referee is issued with a “Green Shirt” to wear while officiating in any association game.

When the referee advisor / mentor determines the referee has now progressed to be a competent Level C grade referee, the green shirt shall be returned to the association to be used again for the next beginner school. At all times the shirt is the property of the Association.

Method #2:

The shirts be purchased from Basketball Victoria, and then on sold by the Association to all the beginner referees.

On completion of the Referee Beginners Theory Course, the beginner referee purchases or has included in the Beginner School Package a “Green Shirt” to wear while officiating in any association game.

When the referee advisor / mentor determines the referee has now progressed to be a competent Level C grade referee, the green shirt shall be retired by the official and kept as a souvenir.

Purchasing/Ordering Shirts

Please download a Resource Order Form, with the Green Shirts (Beginner Referee Program) listed.

On ordering the Green Shirts a supply of promotional Posters and Cards will be provided.

Please note Basketball Victoria and the VBRA, in conjunction with Basketball Australia have been able to negotiate a very good price for the Green Shirts for the initial 2007 program. The cost of the Green Shirts are $10.00 per shirt, plus postage.

(Please note, all the products on sale from Basketball Victoria be reviewed later in the year.)

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