Zara started refereeing in July 2022, driven by her love for basketball and a long-standing admiration for referees. Having always wanted to become a referee since she began playing the game, she finds even more enjoyment in the role now that she aged aged out of VJBL with the Eagles but remains in the basketball community she loves.
In addition to her refereeing, Zara plays in the St Martins domestic league on Saturdays with her best friends and is also part of a social team on Thursdays. Zara continues to stay active in the basketball world both on and off the court. A recent achievement for Zara was receiving her level 1 accreditation, a milestone she is incredibly proud of, a rewarding experience that showed her how far refereeing can take her, even beyond the Diamond Valley area.
One of her favourite parts of refereeing is working with the younger age groups, especially the U8s, where she loves watching them develop throughout the season. Zara’s highlight moment so far has been officiating 3PO Div 1 games on Mondays. She finds it exciting to adapt to the constantly changing positions on the court and enjoys seeing the game from a new perspective compared to her usual 2PO role. Refereeing in the hot 35-degree weather at DV has been a challenge, but Zara takes it in stride as part of the job.
Fun Facts: Outside of basketball, Zara loves to unwind by going to the beach, a place where she can truly relax and recharge.
Though she doesn’t have a favourite player, Zara has a soft spot for flagpies25. When it comes to vacations, Zara’s ideal holiday destination is anywhere with a beach, clear water, and warm, sunny weather – a perfect match for her love of the beach.
Congratulations to Zara of the Month of March 2025, and we look forward to seeing all that she accomplishes in the future!