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.