by Lorna Gordon |
attend the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 . While |
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the games were delayed a year , Shaun was | ||
You know that old saying , if you want |
incredibly humbled to have been included |
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something done , ask a busy person ? Well , |
in the selection . |
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the person who is featured in this month ’ s |
“ We sit next to the instructor and mark |
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Finest is certainly busy ! |
down all refs ’ calls to a computer program ; |
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Shaun Dodds was put forward for this |
the instructor can look at any of these |
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article by his wife , Eliza . When she told |
calls and they occasionally ask us what we |
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me about all his accomplishments and his |
think ,” Shaun explained . |
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passion for sports , I knew I had to speak |
“ The video referee is an important job |
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to him . |
as it helps to keep referees on the straight |
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Shaun ’ s interest in basketball started |
and narrow and helps them with their |
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when he was a youngster when he |
development . The refs want to do the best |
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began to play the sport for fun . During |
they can for the game and by us helping |
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his teenage years , his basketball practice |
them identify where they could do better , |
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fell by the wayside and it wasn ’ t until |
it helps them improve .” |
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he moved to Melbourne and needed |
His input to the sport was recognised |
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something to get out of the house and |
in 2018 when Basketball NSW gave him |
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back into fitness that he took it up again . |
an award for being senior volunteer of the |
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Basketball has remained a firm |
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favourite since then and when Shaun |
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moved back to the Hills , he got involved |
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with Hills Basketball and has been a |
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referee and coach with them ever since . |
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He has worked hard in his game |
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of choice and has progressed up the |
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refereeing ladder . |
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“ I started instructing at a local level |
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with the junior teams and worked my |
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way up to a state graded instructor , which |
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included three or four levels in between ,” |
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Shaun told me . |
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“ I also attend national events and was |
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due to start refereeing with the Women ’ s |
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National Basketball League ( WNBL ) but |
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didn ’ t get a chance to do any of those |
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games because of COVID restrictions .” |
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Shaun is also a video referee , one of |
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only 18 in the world , and because this skill |
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Photo : Kathryn Johnston . |
is in high demand he was shortlisted to |
Shaun being recognised by Basketball NSW . |