Two teenage referees from Springwood Basketball Association have been selected to represent NSW at the School Sport Australia Basketball Championships in Darwin in August.
Emi Foster, 17, from Glenbrook and Kirrily Wood, 14, from Luddenham, have been refereeing for three years. They referee in the Waratah Junior League and Springwood’s junior and senior competitions, in addition to playing in domestic competition. Kirrily is also a representative player for Springwood in the women’s U16 team.
Being well-versed in the rules and knowing how to deliver that information was important, Emi said, especially when refereeing games involving adults more than double her age.
“You have to be patient and think about what you say about the rules in a nice way. You have to be non-emotional and say it straight,” the Penrith Anglican College student said.
The duo were excited to referee at a national event and are hoping over the week-long championships they will get the nod to ref the grand final.
“It will be awesome meet new people and going up to Darwin; it’s exciting,” Kirrily, a Springwood High School student said.
The teens were selected to represent NSW after solid refereeing in May at the PSSA Primary Basketball Championships in Broken Hill for Kirrily, and the Combined Independent Schools Boys Primary Championship in Tamworth for Emi.
“Aside from being good representatives of basketball, it’s great to have reps for the community,” said Springwood Basketball Association president Deb Marsh.
“It gives all those young girls someone to look up to.”