FIBA Oceania will be officiating a course alongside the under 19 championships to license more basketball referees in the pacific region.

Secretary General, David Crocker says there is a need for more qualified umpires in order for the sport to grow.

“We have eight candidates an international basketball referee license and currently we have only 19 here in the pacific and only four of those are outside Australia and New Zealand.”

Crocker confirms that Global Head of Referee Carl Jungebrand will be running the course during the FIBA under 19 Championships which starts tomorrow at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.