For many years, STOP (Score Table Officials Personnel) has provided services to Basketball SA, BASA, the Adelaide 36ers, the Adelaide Lightning and other basketball organizations in the provision of score table staff. For those that were not aware, STOP provides personnel for all national league games, Central ABL games and junior national championships in South Australia, as well as providing extra assistance for other events such as the SA Junior Championships and district finals.

STOP has provided this tremendous service to basketball in South Australia for a long time with little input from Basketball SA or BASA. This system has only survived because of the efforts of a number of dedicated volunteers, many of whom have been involved as STOP members for over 10 years. In addition, the STOP committee has shouldered the load of recruitment, training and rostering of score table officials and has been responsible for ensuring that games have been staffed at appropriate levels.

In its role as the peak body for basketball in South Australia, Basketball SA believes it needs to play a role in the recruitment, development and retention of score table officials and also to take responsibility for the appointment of officials to elite-level competitions. To achieve this it will form a new score table committee which will take on the tasks that were previously performed by the STOP committee and also provide increased assistance in the co-ordination and promotion of training courses.

This transition is occurring with the support of the current STOP committee and was communicated at a STOP AGM this week. Although this will mark the end of a very successful era for STOP, we are hoping that all STOP members will continue to be generous with their time as they have done is the past and that the only external difference in the short term will be a closer link between the committee and Basketball SA.

In order to form the committee, Basketball SA is calling for nominations for positions. If you are interested in participating, please read the attached charter and email a completed nomination form to Paul Arnott (parnott@basketballsa.com.au) by 5pm on Friday November 21. The committee will be formed by late November and have its first meeting in early December.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,
Paul Arnott
Competitions Manager
parnott@basketballsa.com.au
8444-6407 (w)