Canadian Referees Honoured

[By Ryan McNeill] - Canada Basketball has announced last week that Bill Brennan, Dave Werry and Larry Jacobson will be honoured for more than 30 years of officiating basketball in Canada. The ceremony will take place on May 25 at the Queensbury Centre.

According to FIBA.com, "Brennan started officiating in 1972. Werry started in 1976 and Jacobson in 1977. Most of Brennan's officiating experience has been in Regina. Werry has officiated on four continents as a FIBA International referee. Werry also officiated at six provincial and 22 national championships. Jacobson has officiated at numerous Canadian men's and women's college and university championships as well as the Saskatchewan high school championships."

I have had the "pleasure" of coaching youth basketball for the past 10 years and I can attest to the fact that being a referee is a thankless job because no matter what call you make (or don't make) you are sure to anger fans, coaches and players. As much as I love coaching my students one of the aspects of being a coach that I loathe is when I'm handed a whistle and I'm forced to referee some games. While roaming the sidelines as a coach I find that there are times where I get frustrated with the refs and it's my experiences as a referee that help remind me how hard their job is.

These three men deserve all the recognition and respect that they garner after officiating basketball games for over 30 years and dealing with rowdy fans, coaches and players.