Ki ora

I am a referee with Canterbury Basketball and I have refereed your Senior Boys team on many occasions this season.

The most recent game I refereed was their semi final game against Christ's College on Tuesday 16  August.

This is a team of boys that you should be very proud of. They represent your school with pride and passion. At all times they are very respectful of the officials and they always come up after a game and thank me for refereeing.

Their sportsmanship towards the other team is to be commended.

I referee a lot of schools and St Bede's would be the school I would hold up as an example of how good coaching and firmly held values can, and do translate to sport.

The coach of the team leads this attitude by example.

I believe that we all pounce on bad behaviour in our young people so it is really lovely when great sportsmanship, pride and passion can be celebrated.

As an aside the young men that come to support their team are awesome. They are great sports who are also very respectful.

Please pass this onto the boys and their coaches.