Thames Valley Kings Test Young Official Award
First Young Officials Award for wheelchair basketball was run on Saturday (30th January) at Thames Valley Kings wheelchair basketball club at Kennet Leisure Centre in Thatcham.
It was attended by 11 club members from Thames Valley Kings’ junior club who were taught about refereeing and table officiating.The award is aimed to give young people a basic introduction into officiating and to encourage them to pursue other opportunities in wheelchair basketball apart from playing.
This was the first two pilots the second to be held at Bury Bombers later in February, they are being used to refine the award ready for it to be rolled nationwide to all junior wheelchair basketball clubs across Great Britain.
This was a pilot day for the Young Officials Award run by wheelchair basketball’s Young Official Development Officer, Robby Davy-Cripwell, he said “The day was a real success the young people were receptive to the award and learning about how to be a referee. They really enjoyed taking part and seeing refereeing from a new light.”
Thames Valley Kings’ Coach, Jacqueline Cass, said, “It was great for the young people at my club to have a chance to appreciate the officiating side of the game to enhance their on court game. They really liked that an interest had been taken in them. Plus it also has given them more of an understanding now that decisions can be made that they don’t agree with.”
The Young Officials project was created by Youth Sport Trust (YST) in partnership with ‘V’, eight National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and the English Federation of Disability Sport East Midlands (EFDS EM). The aim of this project was and still is to increase youth involvement in sport by developing young people as officials.
This year Wheelchair Basketball has been included as one of the fifteen sports partaking in the scheme.
If you’d like more information about the Young Officials Award please contact Robby Davy-Cripwell on 01509 279900 or email r.davycripwell@gbwba.org.uk
