If you truly love basketball but your competitive playing days are pretty much over there is still a way for you to run up and down the court and be a part of the game.

Officials (aka referees) are as much a part of every game as the players and coaches and there is a need for more of them in Monmouth and Ocean County.

Shore District Board #194 of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials, Inc. (IAABO) is recruiting the next group of officials and will be offering a training class this spring.

Monmouth and Ocean County residents over the age of 18 are encouraged to join the more than 300 active officials who are members of the of the shore group where education, training, development and instruction take place for both young and experienced officials on a regular basis. If you have watched basketball games and said “I can do that” then now is the time to sign up for the class and take the first steps toward wearing the black and white shirt with a whistle around your neck. Nelson Ribon, Secretary-Treasurer of Shore Board #194 said “we are always looking for passionate men and women to join our organization who want to learn and become high quality high school officials, and even perhaps work at the collegiate level. There is no better training organization for basketball officials than IABBO.”

Those interested in learning more should visit www.shoreboard194.org where information is available. You can also call (732) 207-7153 for more information.

Meanwhile, the Shore Umpires Association will be conducting umpire training classes for individuals who are interested in becoming certified high school baseball and/or softball umpires. If interested you should contact Vinny Smith at vinny5317@yahoo.com for additional information and an application. Training classes begin on February 7 at Monmouth Regional High School. The SUA is the organization that supplies baseball and softball umpires for all the Shore Conference high schools.

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