Good sportsmanship on the part of the Joel Barlow High girls varsity basketball team has not gone unnoticed in the recent season.
For the third straight year, Barlow has been named the recipient of the Harold Swaffield Sportsmanship Award by the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO) Board 9. The board of officials serves the majority of the South-West Conference and surrounding area.
The award is given to the program that demonstrates the best and most consistent level of sportsmanship throughout the season, including players, coaches and fans.
“As a school and as the basketball program we are proud to be recognized for our outstanding sportsmanship,” said Barlow head girls basketball coach Joe Carollo. “As coaches we try to instill certain values in our players in all of our interactions.”
Carollo asks his players not only to always help each other up but also their opponents. He and his staff strive to recognize not only good plays and games but also players on the opposing teams.
“I personally shake hands with officials after every game,” he said. “We all feel you can absolutely be competitive and fiery in competition but not at the expense of ‘playing the game the right way.’”
Founded in 1921, the IAABO’s primary purpose is to educate, train, develop and provide continuous instruction for basketball officials. To accomplish this, it uses a variety of tools, including its industry-leading online training known as IAABO University. IAABO officials are responsible for enforcing the rules of the game and ensuring fair play and safety for all players. It has more than 200 local boards around the world, with members in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
