Local Participants Engage in FIBA Training in Preparation for Pacific Games

Under the guidance of FIBA Oceania, a group of young Solomon Islanders has recently commenced with their first-ever FIBA session on technical aspects of game management, as the new National Technical Officials (NTOs) to the 2023 Pacific Games for basketball.

The training was on the bench and scoring details of the games and was led by technical bench official expert Michelle Nicholas, and FIBA Executive Director Amanda Jenkins, with the support of the GOC Sports delivery team Competition Manager for Basketball, Charles Rubaha.

Details covered included the roles and responsibilities of each of the bench officials, how to recognize key game management scenarios, and how to implement both technical and physical aspects of the calls between referees, umpires, officials, and team management.

“We are mostly a group of young and enthusiastic individuals keen on learning the technical aspects of the game”, said Uriel Matanani, the Secretary General of the Solomon Islands Basketball Federation.

“This is history in the making for these young people, as they will be the first-ever Solomon Islands support technical personnel at a FIBA level competition, which is a promising start for the future of basketball going forward”, he added.

Twenty local NTOs will have their second training session at Friendship Hall, including hands-on training next week when the main FIBA officials and technical staff arrive for the games.

Basketball is set to tip-off their events on Friday 17th November, 2023.