In a ground-breaking move for basketball officiating in Guyana, the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF), in collaboration with FIBA, will host a 3×3 Referees Certification Clinic on April 4-6.

The certification clinic will take place during the highly anticipated One Guyana 3×3 Quest tournament, bringing together elite 3×3 referees from across the Americas, the Caribbean, and Guyana in their bid to join the prestigious ranks of FIBA-certified 3×3 referees.

General Secretary of the GBF, Patrick Haynes, who also serves on the FIBA 3×3 Commission, highlighted the historical significance of the event, noting that it will be the first time a FIBA certification course is held in Guyana.

“This is a monumental achievement for Guyana,” Haynes stated.

“We would like to extend our gratitude to FIBA and their Americas Zone office for investing in this clinic, as well as to the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, for their support in making Guyana one of the hot spots for 3×3 basketball in the Americas this year.”

Haynes highlighted that the GBF is making a concerted effort to elevate Guyana’s standing in the international basketball community, adding, “We are placing great emphasis on hosting the first-ever 3×3 Quest in the English-speaking Caribbean. The clinic aligns perfectly with our mandate to develop basketball in Guyana and push our 3×3 programme onto both the regional and global stage.”

The clinic is open to referees between the ages of 21 and 40, and Haynes strongly encouraged local 3×3 referees to seize this opportunity, as Guyana currently lacks any certified FIBA 3×3 referees.

“Having certified referees is crucial for the continued development of 3×3 basketball in Guyana,” Haynes added.

“This clinic will provide our referees with top-tier training and practical experience under the guidance of one of FIBA’s leading 3×3 instructors.”

The two-day clinic will comprise theoretical sessions and practical assessments, with the One Guyana 3×3 Quest tournament serving as a live evaluation platform for aspiring referees.

Meanwhile, preparations for the One Guyana 3×3 Quest are well underway, with teams from Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, the USA, St. Maarten, and other nations across the Americas already registered.

The tournament winner will earn the opportunity to represent the Americas at the FIBA 3×3 World Tour in Edmonton, Canada, in August.

Haynes noted that the hosting of the One Guyana 3×3 Quest, the first FIBA 3×3 Quest tournament in the English-speaking Caribbean, along with the referee certification clinic, further solidifies Guyana’s growing reputation in the 3×3 basketball scene.