Basketball New Zealand and Refbook partner for officiating technology

Refbook has signed as a technology partner for Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ), providing a specialist platform for officials across the federation’s high performance pathway and competition network.

The online solution will provide the flexibility and functionality needed across all of New Zealand’s representative basketball, including the national mens/womens leagues and all junior championships.

Refbook’s diverse feature set and modules will provide the different functionality needed for multiple tiers across the pathway, providing a consistent technology to underpin officials’ development. The platform’s key aspects of assignment, availability and list management, travel and expenses, match reporting and pathway development all form the backdrop for enhancing operational efficiency and high performance outcomes.

The partnership is a key part of the national body’s strategy for improving the development and tracking of technical officials nationwide.

Refbook Head of Commercial, Jon Chapman, said the partnership is an exciting milestone in the company’s growth, and sees the federation relationship as an important opportunity for the region.

“We’re looking forward to working closely with the team at Basketball New Zealand, and together have already identified a number of strategic projects that will provide value to both elite and developing officials. We welcome their long-term view shown towards a best-practice technology ecosystem and ability to enhance management of the sport’s officials more broadly.”

Basketball is the fastest growing sport in New Zealand and is the second most popular sport behind netball. Each year the sport has experienced exponential growth at both secondary school and community level.

BBNZ Chief Executive, Dillon Boucher says that the collaboration with Refbook will help basketball officials to deliver high-quality outcomes across the motu (‘country’ in New Zealand’s indigenous language).

“Our officials are at the heart of what we do; organised basketball couldn’t exist without their knowledge and dedication to the game. We know for them to be successful they need a wide range of ongoing support in the form of training, mentoring and tools to keep on top of their game – we see Refbook playing a vital role in the continued growth of our basketball officials across Aotearoa,” says Boucher.