Behind the whistle: Malta hosts the FIBA General Assembly

Richard Stokes
Competitions Administrator & ECM Co-ordinator

This weekend, Malta (through the Malta Basketball Association) will host the 2008 FIBA Europe General Assembly. In fact this general assembly is the supreme authority of FIBA Europe and consists of all 50 national federation members.

The General Assembly meets once a year and in between these sessions all power is delegated to the Board of FIBA Europe, whose members (25 in total and who are elected in the general assembly) each serve a 4-year term.

From these columns I welcome each delegate to our beautiful islands and hope that this year’s assembly will contribute towards more beneficial work for our lovely game of basketball in the European continent.

Taking this opportunity, I have decided to dedicate this week’s column to FIBA but, as is the main trend in this page, on a refereeing aspect. In fact I am presenting an interview with Mr. Richard Stokes who was an international referee for a number of years and is now the competitions administrator for FIBA Europe, whose offices are in Munich, Germany.

Question: How were you introduced to the game of basketball?

RS: By the time I was 11, I was almost 6 feet tall but I played Rugby at secondary school. I then first started playing basketball at 13 years of age. In fact, it all commenced when one night, the basketball team had a game and only 5 players were available. Thus I was ‘drafted in’ and, although I was terrible to start with, I loved it and then, by time, managed to improve enough to play at a good junior level.

Q: If you had to look back at your refereeing days, which event/s returns immediately to your mind as great memories?

RS: I remember learning of my nomination to the Candidates Clinic for International Referees at 23 years of age. This was very emotional for me, as I, and other people who supported and mentored me, had sacrificed so much personally in working to achieve that.
Additionally, having both my mother and father being able to watch me officiate at the BBL (British League) Finals would be another nice memory. Having said all this, I need to mention the fact that having made so many great friends and seen some great places are probably the best memories.

Q: How difficult was the transition from a referee to an important member in the FIBA referee administration team?

RS: This was not so difficult. However, I had to draw the line, at a very early stage, between previous personal relationships and the new professional one.
I still manage to maintain my relationship with former colleagues, who I now have to work with in a different way and from a different aspect. I think it is good I am managing this.
In my current job, I can still see both sides, and appreciate the problems that officials face on and off the court. I hope I never lose sight of that! Of course, I am also working with Miguel Betancor (Head of FIBA Referees Department) in this role and I think we are on the same wave length in most things. This fact surely makes life easier!

Q: What the requisites of a good referee?

RS: There are various factors that make up a good referee like knowledge of the rules, physical condition, calling the game and game management. You can have two of these and be a good referee,
You can be very good with three of these factors but the great referees have all four.
Aside from that you have to be prepared to never stop learning and be ready to push yourself always further. A good referee should never compete against other referees but competes against himself to be the best s/he can be.
Off the court you will need an understanding girlfriend/wife/family as without this emotional support and balance, life would be very difficult.

Q: Along the year you also journey around Europe and deliver practical and theoretical lectures during national referee clinics. Which is the main message/s you strive to always give to referees?

RS: Although many referees can learn the rules and go to the gym to physically prepare themselves, I think it is harder to teach things like calling the game that is actually needed and managing both the game and the participants.
We need referees that understand the game and can manage the emotional and volatile situations that occur during games.
Coaches will always have a different opinion than the referee, which is part of the game. Yet the way how you manage these different opinions and possible conflict is vital.
Good referees can have a very positive influence on the game.

Q: What are your views on the future evolution and progress of basketball in Europe?

RS: European basketball has never been stronger and officiating has never been deeper than at present.
On the playing side, one has just to look at the number of European players going to the NBA.
However if you also look at the Euro Basket championships, our game is at a great level in many countries.
As regards officiating, we have always had good officials at the top level. You can see that by the European representation at the World and Olympic levels, but now I think we have more officials of that calibre.
The switch to three-person officiating has meant a reduction in the number of 'stars', if I can use that term, and a change of emphasis toward a ‘team’ approach from the floor officials.
Our refereeing team here in Europe amounts to 340 international referees. We are able to teach in a better way with the use of the internet, as well as other mediums, and our support and investment for training and development has never been at a higher level.
We have to work in all the countries, whether big or small, if we are to improve officiating as a whole.
Every year we see new guys in Europe and some of the talent really excites me. I am sure that in the next few seasons we will see a whole new generation coming through.

BERNARD VASSALLO
izvor: Malta Independent Online