APIA (Samoa) – Held in conjunction with the FIBA U17 Oceania Cup and FIBA U17 Women’s Oceania Cup in Samoa, the Referee Instructor Training Program, brought together emerging referee instructors from across the region for a week of practical learning, shared experience, and on court development.

As a regionally focused adaptation of the global FIBA Referee Instructor Program, the in-person workshop is designed to strengthen National Federations by equipping local leaders with the tools and confidence to develop referees in their own communities.

Supported by PacificAus Sports through FIBA in Oceania’s Women in Basketball Program, the educational program reflects a broader commitment to building inclusive pathways and ensuring women and girls feel safe, supported, and empowered in basketball environments across the region.

For Papua New Guinea’s Magareth Mebel, the workshop environment was both new and encouraging.

"Every session was organised in a way that made it easy to learn," she said. "We had group discussions, presentations, and time to talk through fouls together. The trainers were very kind and gave me encouragement. I was nervous at first, but they helped me feel confident."

Shadowing referees during the tournament games was a highlight for Ms Mebel. "Watching the referees on court showed me how they communicate and move the game. Seeing different styles helped me understand how to teach others back home."

Ms Mebel also reflected on the personal significance of the experience. "It was my first time using PowerPoint and my first time training with referees from around the Pacific. I will never forget this experience. My goal now is to train more new referees in my country and in my community."

For Solomon Islands official Natala Tepuke, referee offered clarity on what it means to guide others.

"The workshops were very interesting and educational," she said. "I learned about the roles and responsibilities of an instructor, the teaching methods we should use, and how important good planning and preparation are."

She emphasised that strong officiating systems rely on collaboration. "Teamwork is very important if we want to have successful events and develop quality referees."

Both participants reflected on the importance of creating safe and supportive environments for women and girls. Ms Tepuke noted that confidence grows when players and referees feel protected and respected.

"Women and girls need to feel safe on the basketball court so they can build confidence and enjoy the game they love." She also highlighted the value of increasing the number of female referee instructors.

Ms Mebel shared a similar sentiment from her own community perspective.

"We need to train women and girls with care, ask how they feel, and support them with kindness. These things give them courage to run on the court. The limited resources at the local level make regional programs for referee instructors especially important for giving women access to training opportunities they may not otherwise receive."

Although the Program is intentionally coordinated to be more basic and accessible than the full FRIP pathway, its impact in Samoa was significant.

FIBA Referee Manager – Oceania, Albert Joseph explained the program creates a space where emerging instructors could learn, ask questions, and build confidence while forming connections with peers from across the region.

"For many, it was their first time collaborating with other Oceania officials, sharing challenges, and realising the strength of a regional network,” Mr Joseph said. "As FIBA continues to invest in referee development through the Women in Basketball program, with the support of PacificAus Sports, referee instructor training will remain an important tool for building local capability, increasing female participation, and strengthening National Federations."

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About PacificAus Sports

PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative developing pathways for Pacific teams and athletes to compete in elite competitions and access high performance coaching in Australia and internationally. The program partners with Australian national sports organisations to support a range of Pacific sports, with funding split evenly between women and men. PacificAus Sports also partners with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) to promote Pacific sport through ABC Television’s ‘That Pacific Sports Show’ and ABC Radio’s ‘Fresh Off the Field’. The high-performance outcomes of PacificAus Sports are complemented by the Australian Government’s Team Up program, which focuses on sport for development in the Pacific. For more information about PacificAus Sports and its initiatives, visit www.pacificaussports.gov.au and follow PacificAus Sports on Facebook.