While the Sister Islands typically see less basketball action than Grand Cayman, game officials on Cayman Brac recently had a chance to develop and strengthen their refereeing skills.
Greg Hamilton, a Cayman Islands Basketball Association-certified referee instructor, conducted a clinic for the officials in Cayman Brac on 4 May.
The four-hour clinic was hosted at the Layman E. Scott High School and was the first of its kind on the island.
Ten participants attended, along with roughly a dozen basketball players from the Sister Islands community, which enabled practical learning during the clinic.
Hamilton told the Compass, “The attendees’ involvement, focus and commitment to learning the material was a great confidence builder for everyone.”
Although the participants are not yet certified referees, Hamilton said, “This clinic was the first step to [the] certification of future officials in Cayman basketball.”
Elevating the standard of basketball officiating in Cayman is one of the basketball association’s broader missions, and this initiative supports that. The aim is to ensure that local leagues are supported by certified officials who are confident and competent.
During the clinic, participants got the opportunity to increase their knowledge of basketball rules, mechanics and game management.
The clinic, which Hamilton described as “smooth and effective”, also gave the participants an introduction to the history of basketball, the invention of the sport and how the game is played and defined by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
Hamilton shared that becoming a basketball referee in Cayman can lead to international opportunities.
“Referees who gain experience and certification locally can be selected as candidates to become a FIBA referee by the National Federation,” he said.
Mitchum Sanford, head of sports for the Sister Islands, told the Compass, “We’re very, very grateful for CIBA for assisting us in this manner.”
He said Hamilton did an “awesome” job during the clinic and they are looking forward to hosting him in the Brac again in the near future.
“Going forward … we’re hoping to continue on an annual basis [doing] refresher referee clinics with our basketball instructors or referees,” Sanford said.
He said the Brac is currently planning its first 2025 basketball tournament, titled ‘King of the Court Basketball Tournament’. It will be a six-week tournament starting on 25 May and will run every Sunday at 6pm at the Layman E. Scott High School.
There are currently five registered teams, with one being from Little Cayman and another being a teenage team from Layman E. Scott High School.
