This week sees the start of the new basketball season. This year the competitions have started quite later than what was the norm in the last years, except two years ago when the Ta Qali pavilion was flooded in September after a heavy storm, as the local association has decided to limit its budget for the leagues due to ever increasing pressures put on sponsorships around the island where an ever increasing number of players want to eat from the same unchanged, value-wise) cake.

From the outset I wish everybody, from referees to players, coaches and administrators the very best of luck for the coming months. A special word of encouragement definitely goes to my colleagues referees where I hope that each one of us gives his very best and be prepared, technically and physically for every match and more importantly a level of consistency, at a good level, is reached.

One hopes that the games will be entertaining and that players play with sportsmanship in their minds. As a referee, it is not my joy to interrupt play but my job entails that I oversee that the game is played in a fair manner and the rules are being followed. If a player opts to contact and thus have an advantage over his opponent (or worse still commits hard contact or verbal abuse, even towards a referee or other official, that results in harsher penalties), I have no other option but to stop the game and let the rules state the resultant penalty. In other words, I have a job to do but will only act if the other ‘actors’ in the game step out of their allowed ‘boundary’ out of their will and nobody else’s.

I sincerely hope that everybody acts in mature way and does not let emotions put him out of control. This will be my 13th year refereeing the local top division and I have always strove to be fair and unbiased and can proudly state that this was always the case.

Last year I was the victim of what I now describe as unexplainable or immature behaviour when I was accused of being biased in my refereeing, quoting the received letter “..the coach and players feel threatened, challenged and totally unprotected with his (this refers to me) anti-(I opt to withhold the name of the club) officiating……our opponents express joy every time Mr. Vassallo sets foot on the court to officiate them……Mr. Vassallo might also curse a (team name withheld) appointment….yes, we have lost many games over the years because of his unorthodox officiating and with his unfair and biased calls’.

Quite strong and provocative one could say. Yes, to be open and frank, I was initially very hurt (even thought of calling it a day) with these words as they were totally unfounded and most importantly blatant lies and only a figment of childish imagination.

Thankfully enough, over the years, I have instructed myself in good psychological preparation and after a few days just ‘broomed everything beneath the carpet’.

Not only that but this letter motivated me to a very good level of form with which I ended last year’s local league and went on to have a highly successful summer in the European sphere. So, thanks to this letter I broke new ground.

Some may ask, but don’t you get influenced by such letters? I cannot vouch on others but personally I have many times, in the past, let go of many adverse incidents. I tend to love to look forward and not backwards. This letter, just like other incidents concerning other clubs (some may also have been worse and more disrespecting), is a thing of the past.

I openly state that I have no form of grudge against the club, its players or coaches and will referee and respect them with ease. I have always worked hard to be fair with everybody, no matter if you are the top player/coach or last player on the team or last rated coach. If you go over the boundary permitted by the rules, you are your own culprit for being penalized.

To be totally sincere, as I try to be always in these columns, I do have a small grudge as regards last year’s letter. Not against the team, players or coaches in question, not at all, but for the person (tale-quale and not as a club representative) who wrote the letter and who should know much better before resorting to such unsubstantiated, unfounded and defamatory remarks. This person has been active for years in the game and I used to have a different idea (not to mention respect) about him even if we may not agree on external things related to the game.

I have been and am still expecting an apology from this person (not the club) who is still within the game, albeit now in a general, not individual, clubs position as one of the top officials in the newly formed standing committee.

Meeting your goals in meetings

How often have you or a fellow member of your referee association missed a meeting or worse, found yourself hunting for excuses to skip an instructional or other sort of technical referees’ meeting? The problem, as many tend to believe, may not be a lack of commitment but it may, in fact, be your expectations or preparation.

According to Dave Sabaini (whose ideas I am slightly adapting for today’s article), there are steps you can take to assure that what you get out of these meetings ultimately matches your needs as a referee and helps you reach your goals.

The starting point, basic as it may sound but still very relevant is to really get there. It is important to write scheduled association meetings into your planner as soon as the meeting schedule is announced. You, as a referee, should treat the date as you would if it were a game. Ideally one should give the meeting adequate priority and should not schedule anything over it.

Each referee should make an effort to be present at every meeting. Key decisions are sometimes made at these meetings, decisions that can even directly affect your refereeing. If you are not present in order to give input, you will technically be under-represented.

A big no-no (this is maybe the critical factor in such meetings) is not to waste time.

Surely enough, fellowship and camaraderie are important, at times even essential, elements of association membership. But too often, meetings get delayed by teasing and flattering as well ‘war’ stories occurring amongst referees and their environment.

The real fact is however that everyone is busy. Meeting nights are another evening away from family, work, maybe even refereeing. You, as a group of referees, owe it to one another to start on time, get down to business and save the socializing for after adjournment.

Another requisite for informative meetings is that one should aim to make meetings count.

Associations often create sub-committees to handle the activities involved in running the organization.

Too often, meeting coordinators happen to do the same things at the same time every meeting and as a consequence staleness easily sets in, and this is quickly followed by apathy and lack of interest. One should try to ‘energize’ meetings, especially in today’s technological world, by suggesting the showing of a rules or mechanics video, develop an instructional PowerPoint presentation or even create an interesting questions and answers session.

Many associations have increased attendance by bringing an official from a higher level or from another sport in order to speak and offer advice.

The keys to successful association meetings are planning and program.

Here in Malta, without beating round the bush I have to openly state that, we tend to think and act amateurishly. We need to plan ahead and give new life in our ailing refereeing sector.

(The second part of today’s article was based on a Dave Sabaini article entitled “Meeting Your Goals in Meetings”).

Today’s Basketball fixtures:

Ta’ Qali: Men’s MBA Shield Div.1(6.15pm): Qormi Kia-Loyola Xuereb Inst

Women’s Peugeot League Rd 1 (7.45pm): Naxxar Danone-Depiro Still