MMBRA Welcomes 25 New Officials at its August Recruitment Clinic

The Metropolitan Montreal Basketball Referee Association (MMBRA) officially kicked off its 2026–2027 recruitment season this past weekend, welcoming 25 aspiring basketball officials to its first recruitment clinic of the new season.

Held on August 22 and 23 at Dalbé-Viau High School in Lachine, the two-day clinic provided participants with an introduction to the fundamentals of basketball officiating while giving them an opportunity to learn, practice, compete, and get to know one another as they begin their journey toward becoming MMBRA officials.

The weekend brought together classroom instruction, on-court mechanics, interactive activities, and game simulations, giving the recruits a well-rounded first experience with the responsibilities and challenges that come with being a basketball official.

From the Classroom to the Court

The weekend began with classroom sessions designed to introduce recruits to the foundations of basketball officiating. Participants were introduced to the role of an official, the expectations that come with representing MMBRA, and the basic principles they will need to develop as they progress through their training.

The classroom learning was complemented by extensive on-court instruction, allowing recruits to take the concepts they had learned and put them into practice.

Leading the classroom and on-court sessions throughout the weekend were MMBRA officials Greg Southward, Robert Shaul, and Jayson Stiell. Their experience and guidance gave the recruits an opportunity to learn directly from officials who have spent years working across different levels of basketball.

On the court, recruits were introduced to positioning, movement, signals, communication, and the mechanics required to effectively officiate a game. The emphasis was not simply on learning where to stand, but on understanding why officials move the way they do and how proper positioning allows them to make better decisions and work effectively as part of a crew.

For many of the participants, it was their first opportunity to step onto a basketball court not as a player, coach, or spectator, but as an official.

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Building Connections Off The Court

While learning the fundamentals of officiating was at the heart of the weekend, the clinic was also an opportunity for the 25 recruits to get to know one another and begin building the relationships that will be an important part of their experience with MMBRA.

Anita Quintana led a series of icebreaker activities throughout the weekend, bringing her creativity and energy to the clinic. The activities gave participants a chance to step away from the technical side of officiating, have some fun, and connect with the other recruits who will be going through the same learning process.

For a group of officials who may be meeting each other for the first time, creating a positive and welcoming environment is an important part of the recruitment process. The goal is not only to develop better officials, but to build a community of officials who can learn from and support one another throughout the season.

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The Record Number of Women Recruits

This year's recruitment clinic also marked an important milestone for MMBRA.

Of the 25 recruits who participated in the clinic, six were women. This represents the highest number of women ever to participate in an MMBRA recruitment clinic.

The continued growth and diversity of the association's recruitment classes is an encouraging sign for the future of basketball officiating in the Montreal region. Bringing new voices and perspectives into officiating strengthens the association and helps ensure that the next generation of officials reflects the basketball community it serves.

MMBRA looks forward to supporting all of this year's recruits as they continue through their development and begin taking their first steps toward becoming officials.

Putting the Training Into Action

The weekend concluded with game simulation scrimmages, giving the recruits an opportunity to experience a more realistic game environment and put their new skills to the test.

With the help of local basketball players, recruits were able to officiate simulated games and begin applying the mechanics, positioning, communication, and decision-making skills they had worked on throughout the clinic.

The scrimmages provided a valuable transition between instruction and real-game officiating. Rather than simply practicing individual mechanics, recruits had to process what was happening on the floor, communicate with their partners, follow the action, and make decisions in a live basketball environment.

For many, it was their first taste of what it is like to be responsible for managing a game from an official's perspective.

While there is still plenty to learn, the game simulations gave the recruits an important first opportunity to put their training into action.

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The Road Ahead

The recruitment clinic is only the beginning for this year's class.

The next major step for the 25 recruits will be MMBRA's selection tournament, currently expected to take place during the first weekend of October. At the tournament, the recruits will have the opportunity to officiate their first official games while being observed and supported by members of MMBRA's supervision team.

The selection tournament will provide the association's supervisors with an opportunity to see how the recruits apply what they have learned in a live-game environment. For the recruits, it will be their first chance to experience the pace, pressure, communication, and decision-making that come with officiating an actual basketball game.

Between now and the tournament, the recruits will continue developing their knowledge and mechanics as they prepare for their first games.

Their journey from first-time recruits to MMBRA officials officially began this past weekend, and the association is excited to see where it takes them.

Thank You

MMBRA would like to extend a sincere thank you to all 25 participants for bringing their enthusiasm, energy, and willingness to learn to the clinic. Starting a new journey as a basketball official can be challenging, and the commitment shown by this year's recruits throughout the two-day clinic was an excellent first step.

A special thank you also goes to Greg Southward, Robert Shaul, Jayson Stiell, and Anita Quintana for volunteering their time and expertise throughout the weekend and helping make the clinic a success.

Finally, we would like to express our appreciation to Dalbé-Viau High School for generously donating the gymnasium and classroom space for the weekend. Their support allowed MMBRA to bring together our new recruits in one location and provide them with the space needed for both classroom instruction and on-court training.

The first step has been taken. Now, the work continues.

Welcome to MMBRA, Class of 2026–2027. We look forward to seeing you on the court.

The photo album for the recruitment clinic is available here.