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Coaches Double as Officials in New Hampshire; Vermont

By Josh Weinreb on January 19, 2017 officials Print

From the Valley News

Russ Wilcox wanted to know more about basketball. He knew the basics, plus what he’d gathered from watching the Boston Celtics: dribbling, different positions on the court, an understanding of scoring and strategy. But there still were things that he, as a young high school junior varsity coach at Chelsea Public School in 2000, didn’t fully grasp.

He needed to look at the game from a different angle.

So he took up basketball officiating, making trips to St. Johnsbury, Vt., to complete an eight-class course that culminated in a “brutal” — Wilcox’s term — examination all referees must take each year to remain certified within the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials.

He officiated several junior varsity games during the 2000-01 season — which left Wilcox with a much deeper understanding of just how little he knew. Several coaches from around the Upper Valley have echoed that same sentiment, saying that officiating enhances their skills as a coach in ways they didn’t think possible by opening up a deeper understanding of the game they teach. Coaches can find better ways of explanation by learning the rule book and players, by association, gain a deeper understanding of what they can get away with.

Read more from the Valley News.