Basketball SHORTAGE OF REFEREES

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28264, 30 April 1957, Page 2

Basketball SHORTAGE OF REFEREES

Senior Teams To Be Called On Because there are insufficient referees to control basketball matches in Christchurch this year, each week this season two senior teams will each supply nine referees. This was decided at a meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Basketball Association last evening. The draw steward (Mrs A South) reported that only 16 referees were available for the 66 games that would be played each week. The president (Miss E. Yates) said that in her experience there had not been a year when there were fewer full-time referees, and there seemed little that could be done other than to use playerreferees to an even greater extent. If clubs do not supply the referees the teams concerned will forfeit their games the next Saturday. Discussing the handicap tournament, Miss Yates said she considered an improvement in the handicapping in the junior section was still necessary, and it was decided to increase the jun ioi handicaps next year. ’ Third grade teams will be on scratch, fifth grade on three goals, and sixth grade on eight goals. The Wellington association advised that it intended to select a colts’ team this season, and asked if Canterbury would agree to an annual fixture. As the Wellington grading differs from that in Canterbury it was decided to request further information on the ages of players before a final decision was made. The secretary (Mrs P. Murdoch) reported that 183 teams had entered for the 1957 competitions.