2024 was a huge year for the referee program at Sutherland District Basketball Association. Following the handover from Leanne Walsh to Tom Marsh, it was a priority for the program to sustain the momentum that Leanne had injected into the program during her term. We saw another 30 officials join the program within the referee and score table space during the representative off-season (2024-2025), which contributed to better coverage across our domestic and representative platforms.

As continual acquisition put pressure on our infrastructure, it was important for us as a program to consolidate that growth. 2025 saw us shift our focus to retention and development to ensure that our referees could develop the fundamentals needed to service the game to an acceptable standard and elevate the basketball experience for coaches, players and spectators at the club.

A holistic approach was taken to develop our referee program members as a whole. Our team focused on developing the 3 core skills that enable a referee to execute their role effectively – Positioning, Accuracy and Communication. With our approach targeting the broader group, it allowed individuals to take on leadership opportunities and a greater sense of responsibility, which helped us identify key personnel who will lead the program into the future.

Now that we’ve seen that individual growth and initiative, we look very forward at tailoring development plans for these individuals so that they can grow in their role and become trusted leaders amongst the program.

The growth of our supervisor team has been a notable achievement throughout the year and we would like to thank the ongoing efforts and professionalism of the following members

  • Kale Armstrong
  • Renee Harbach
  • Murray Wagener
  • Kevin Marsh
  • Ryan Frearson
  • Zachary Mullane (Development)
  • Eli Foley (Development)
  • Ryan Truong (Development)

2026 will see some valuable training opportunities and upskilling for our supervisors in the education and conflict management space, which will help give us an edge in developing our referees and also meeting the needs of our stakeholders at the stadium.

The Officials Program would like to recognise the work that Paul Campbell has delivered to the 3×3 program at Sutherland. Paul has worked diligently and conscientiously to create a framework that enables our officials to deliver a quality basketball experience when these events are held throughout the year, delivering the SDBA 3×3 product to the national standard that it rightly deserves.

As we continue to develop and build our elite officials panel, we would like to recognise the dedication and progress of our officials who have aspired and achieved within state and national programs during the year.

➡️Marcus Hayden

NBL1 East Semi Final Appointment

NBL1 East Grand Final Appointment (Reserve)

NBL1 National Final Appointment

WNBL Panel Appointment

NBL Blitz Appointment

➡️Kale Armstrong

BNSW Senior Waratah League Breakthrough Year

Basketball Australia – National Schools Participation Division Grand Finalist

➡️Ryan Frearson

BNSW Senior Waratah League Breakthrough Year

➡️Thomas Marsh

NBL1 East Quarter Final Appointment

BNSW Senior Waratah Grand Final Appointment

➡️Molly Manns

BNSW Senior Waratah Grand Final Appointment

➡️Michael Bills

NBL Score Table Reinstatement

After a steady year through 2025, we are excited to announce that more resources have been allocated to the program which sets us up for an exciting 2026. We look forward to increasing the presence of the referee program at the club and ensuring the community has access to the program with an organised educational calendar and clear pathways for our officials to progress through.  

SDBA has organised a strong group of development officers in the playing space, so it is crucial for us as a referee program to match that standard, align with the goals of the club and take our athletes and officials to a higher standard in 2026. As always, we would like to thank all the stakeholders at SDBA for their ongoing patience and co-operation as we continue to develop the referee program into the future. The environment that everybody has created through conduct and co-operation has made a great space for the development of our officials and we look forward to returning that favour through a higher standard of service delivery and stronger relationships so we can move forward together as a club through 2026.

Tom Marsh

Referee Program Manager