Last year, the VJBL initiated the Girls Got Game program fully supported by Basketball Victoria.

The Objectives of the Girls Got Game program are:

• To increase the profile of women and girls participation in Basketball in Victoria. 
• Reduce the attrition rate across the continuum of women and girls in Basketball in Victoria.
• To provide Associations with opportunities to promote women and girls in Basketball in Victoria.

The program has continued this year and last week Chloe Ellis from our Bulleen referees was the weekly winner. The following is from the VJBL Web site, but congratulations to Chloe on this fabulous award.

This week's winner in Girls Got Game Award is Chloe Ellis from the Bulleen/Templestowe Referee Branch.

Chloe has been refereeing for three years.  She started refereeing because she loves basketball, and like most beginner referees she was eager to earn some pocket money. Basketball has been a massive part of her life, having started playing basketball when she was six years of age.

Chloe loves refereeing because she is getting paid to do something that she loves. She recommends refereeing to girls because it is a great job and is a lot of fun. “It offers opportunities to build your confidence and helps with strategies to handle conflict. Refereeing helps develop social skills and of course there is the exercise,” she said.

Kim Round from the VJBL commented, “I was impressed with Chloe's maturity and conciseness of her calls during today's Grand Final. Her obvious enjoyment of the game made it a very enjoyable game to be a spectator at and increased the enjoyment for all concerned”. Even though Chloe has only been refereeing for 2 years “she was more than capable and confident enough to officiate today's EDJBA Grand Finals as well as being trusted with the added responsibility of running with a green shirt in a Grand Final.”

Congratulations Chloe and thank you for helping all concerned today enjoy the game. 

Kim Round
VJBL Commissioner