REFEREES for Basketball Ballarat aged under eighteen have begun to use green whistles as part of a campaign about creating a respectful environment.<\/p>\n
The Green Whistle Campaign was started by Basketball Victoria and involves all referees who are minors using a green whistle so they can be identified by players and spectators.<\/p>\n
Basketball Ballarat CEO Neville Ivey said the whistles are an important reminder.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe campaign specifically targets the basketball community to provide an appropriate environment for our referees,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA high percentage of our referees are under 18 and this is an acknowledgment to encourage more appropriate behaviour.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese referees are essentially children and their wellbeing is paramount so this may be a visual trigger.\u201d<\/p>\n
The initiative is one of many that Basketball Ballarat have implemented to try and keep referees safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot only here in Ballarat but across all sports there is a systemic issue around players providing varying behaviour from being a bit cheeky to being flat out abusive,\u201d said Mr Ivey.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been running tech foul initiatives where if someone is abusive to a referee we have sanctions at our disposal.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe green whistle takes it to another level where it is reminding players.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Ivey said following the COVID-19 pandemic there were more issues than normal with behaviour, however, these are slowly dissipating.<\/p>\n
\u201cPost COVID it felt like people came back a bit angry and we saw a lot more behaviours which are considered abusive,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve put a lot of time and effort into referee coaches which support the referees and I think it\u2019s getting better.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
REFEREES for Basketball Ballarat aged under eighteen have begun to use green whistles as part of a campaign about creating a respectful environment. The Green Whistle Campaign was started by Basketball Victoria and involves all referees who are minors using a green whistle so they can be identified by players and spectators. Basketball Ballarat CEO […]<\/p>\n