Mohan says local clinic top priority

Jun 27, 2009 Sports

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Before Referees’ Association

International Basketball Federation (FIBA) referee candidate, Lugard Mohan (LM) stated in an interview with Paul Haynes (PH) for guyanabasketball.com that facilitating a local basketball referees’ clinic should be a top priority.
Kaieteur Sport was sent the interview, which was done in New York after Mohan and his counterpart, Aubrey Younge completed the FIBA referees’ accreditation course at the Olympic Centre in Colorado, United States of America.
The duo have since passed the fitness and theory tests and are awaiting results from their practical assessment that will be sent directly to the national federation before they are finally successful and can be accredited.
Below is the full content of the interview.

PH: Do you plan to conduct clinics for the current and future referees based on the knowledge and training you have received?
LM: Yes definitely, it is best and only fitting that we share our training and knowledge with the other officials in Guyana, so definitely we’ll have a referees’ clinic or training programme.

PH: Based on the new FIBA three-member officiating rule, will Guyana adopt this new rule change for local games or will it only be enforced in FIBA sanctioned games?
LM: We have to adopt  to the three-person officiating if we are FIBA affiliated, that’s what is being thought, so at least the referees would have practical knowledge, so when there is another clinic they would be prepared, it would come natural.

PH: What was your overall experience at the US Olympic Training Centre?
LM: Overwhelming, the training/practice facility at the US Olympic Training Centre is mind blowing, state of the art; they have every indoor team sport right in that village. The other participants that attended were all professionals, officiating is their livelihood – that’s what pays their bills. For us, it was like a hobby to give back to the game, now we’ll try to look at it like a profession.

PH: Based on the physical demands for the Beep test, are there potential candidates that the Haynes Foundation can lobby for to attend a future certification clinic to increase Guyana’s referee pool?
LM: I can only answer that question if I conduct a physical test for the officials; from just looking at a person it is unfair to determine his fitness. Everyone’s concern for me was based on my fitness, and I had really appreciated that, it motivated me to work harder on my fitness; I lost 15-20 pounds preparing for the Beep test.  We should have a Referees’ Association that requires the fitness test. Everything we do now should be gearing referees for a certification programme, so whenever there is a referee’s clinic it will be easy for the participants, and easy for the administrators to select representatives for Guyana.

PH: Colorado is known for its mile high altitude. Was that a factor in maintaining your focus and physical abilities to successfully complete the clinic and certification program?
LM: I guess that’s why we were prepared, the concern shown by everyone that knew, and mostly those who knew about Colorado’s mile high altitude, was motivation for us to be in good physical and  mental shape.

PH: What were the major highlights of the clinic and how will it affect the game in Guyana?
LM: The major highlight is the three-person officiating, it is easier court coverage and makes the game easier for players, fans and the officials, whose payment will or might be affected, but that is something we’ll have to discuss as a body. In terms of affecting the game, my take is it will clean up contact and off the ball plays, making the game less physical and more skilful and I guess more attractive.

PH: With more referees receiving formal FIBA training, will there be more consistency and less controversial calls on the court?
LM: Definitely, we want to form a body that the officials will be answerable to, officials can’t be paid and not be responsible for their actions.

PH: What were the positives and negatives of the trip?
LM: The knowledge of three-person mechanics, the professional way at looking at what we do, the positives really outweighs the negatives, the negatives were things of a more administrative nature, for example, We should have rented a car with GPS, in comparison to the monies spent on transportation.

PH: What advice do you have for individuals aspiring to be a FIBA certified referees?
LM: To be a real professional at what you do no matter what is your pay cheque and be the best, get all the information, it’s all available on the internet at FIBA.com and be confident, neat and fit.

PH: Will Guyana form a basketball referee association?
LM: Yes definitely, I think it is number 2 on our priority list, the clinic being Number 1
Mohan expressed gratitude to the following: USA basketball, The American Embassy in Guyana, Guyana Power and Light Inc., Noble House Seafoods, Windjammer Hotel and Friends, Hits and Jams TV, John Fernandes LTD, Patterson Associates, Demerara Power Company,  Kingsrow Barbell Club, Dyna’s Ravens, Georgetown Masters’ Association, National Sports Commission, Theo Henry, Ret. Col. Godwin McPherson, Robert Cadogan, Aubrey Younge, Haynes Basketball Foundation and Family and Friends.

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