Published: November 02, 2009 10:53 pm      

Call out for basketball officials

Area association looks to bolster its ranks

DUNCAN — Those looking for a hobby for the winter need look no further than the Driver’s Education building at Duncan High School.

Tonight, the Southwest Oklahoma Basketball Officials Association will hold an area meeting to go over part one of the test and address rule changes for the upcoming season. The meeing is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

With only 15 officials in its ranks, the association is looking to build membership while promoting the sport.

“Right now, there is a shortage of officials,” area coordinator Chuck Croy said. “For us, it’s basically the same number of people that we had last year.

“We start officials at the grade school level and we try to get them to the junior high level. It depends on how advanced they are. We like to have new officials work high school junior varsity games with veteran officials at the end of the season and have them ready for next year.”

The association works games throughout the region in Grady, Stephens, Carter and Comanche County. Croy has been an official for over 25 years and like most, finds the job as a way to stay close to the game he loved growing up. And, there are additional benefits.

“I’ve really always loved the game of basketball and it has kept me close to the game and it also keeps me in shape,” Croy said. “I’m too old to play competitively anymore, but I’m still part of the game. I get to see a lot of basketball in a lot of different classes.”

For more information on the meeting or information on how to become a basketball official, call Croy at 580-467-0441.