Moyer-Gleich: Over the past few years, youve seen Becky Hammon have opportunities. But, whatever, I wore stripes and got paid, so that was my first time refereeing. I have a few females that message me every so often. Embrace who you are and that will shine in all of your work. Furthermore, once someone told you that you could make this a career, was the goal to get to one of those two leagues? In month-long celebration of women in sport, the Raptors will have an all-female broadcast team for March 24 game vs. Denver. Its not like you can go to college for it and take classes. She didnt know her path, but she liked the idea of staying in the game. I see female security guards. It just brings another level of intensity to it. Its more than just officiating between us women. We go on vacations together. My communications degree wasnt really holding a ton of weight, so thank God I had a scholarship and didnt have to pay for it, so that was a good thing. Nobody's ever truly ready, but I'm as ready as I can be. Im certain that one day the NBA is going to have an all-female crew. Show up and do better next time.. We text all the time were in a group chain. But now that Im older and social media is the thing you look at and youre like, dang, women, arent getting as many opportunities. WNBA? And now referee Jenna Schroeder, who graduated from suburban Clio High School, has joined the lineage. "She is the latest example of the NBA G League's impact as a valuable pipeline for our NBA officiating staff.". Sean Wright rounded out the trio as crew chief, according to referee assignments posted on the NBA website. Our experience as women have brought us close together. I was sending them all types of gifs and funny images. We do vacations together in the summer so were really close and tight-knit. Culture. We always say, hopefully, one day well get to the point where its not as big of a deal. Black-Led TV Shows, Nick Bosa and Joey Bosa: Everything to Know About the NFL Brothers, Who Is Andy Reid's Wife? I can't think of a better person to join our staffnot only to continue our good work, but also to be a role model for younger referees coming up in our program.. Schroeder was promoted Tuesday by the NBA to full-time official status, making her the fourth woman on the league's current referee roster and the sixth in league history. I think I was probably more excited than they were. If I totally kicked the shit out of a call, its like, Dude, am I going to hold onto that call for the rest of the game and they think Im crazy? Or just say, I totally missed that call, my bad. That seems to work way more than just acting like you never miss anything and that youre perfect. Be yourself because everyone else is taken. She graduated from Saginaw Valley State with a bachelors degree in Communications. This season has seen a record 7 female referees officiate at least one game in the NBA. This industry is really competitive. There seems to be more outward rebuttals from players toward officials than ever before. It was awesome. When I have these talks with the young ladies, I tell them to study their rules and mechanics because thatll give them confidence while theyre out there on the floor. One of my first jobs, too, was officiating. Moyer-Gleich: Its kind of natural. Its always very quick. It was this really important moment that happened in the middle of a really difficult season as were navigating COVID [including] what it means to do this work and do it safely. When I was growing up, my mom didnt really harp on my gender. Its just crazy to see, but social media is highlighting it. Do you mind describing the process it takes to become a lower- and higher-level official? They love the sport and are willing to put the work in, the time in and trust that they can develop the skills they can do it. It is huge to know that we are supported. I would referee anything church leagues, AAU, pro-ams, any place that would take me. Holtkamp-Sterling: Oh, I say go for it. Follow James L. on Twitter @JLEdwardsIII. It was fun watching them out there doing their thing. She raised two children in a very small town, low income by herself, and pushed me to strive for my goals. Copyright 2023 NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Cheryl Flores and Dannica Mosher have been promoted to. The Comerica Park experience and calendarmeshed well for the basketball official. On Oct. 9, Schroeder officiated her first NBA game, a preseason contest at Atlanta. All the social justice [initiatives] that the women are doing in the WNBA. Theres just been wonderful momentum. "If we didn't hear about Dee and Violet the first time, we'd still be wondering if it was possible. Schroeder knows it goes with the territory. The young woman wanted Del Duco, a veteran. A quick Twitter search yields compliments. Dont be afraid to pursue mens basketball. Published on January 25, 2021 08:59PM EST. Their two predecessors were Dee Kantner and Violet Palmer. Natalie Sago and Jenna Schroeder have made NBA history as the first female referees to work on the same court. Not that she spent much time thinking about the future while playing at Oakland University and later SVSU. Get used to these faces. She is definitely my biggest supporter and encourager, and she is everything that I want to be one day when Im a mom. Also, in the WNBA, its the best of the best. She also has spent seven seasons as a college official in the Atlantic Coast, Big East, Atlantic 10 and American Athletic conferences. If youre good, [the NBA] will find you, theyll let you work and you can do it. Its empowering because when I was growing up you didnt know those things. Schroeder has officiated three seasons in the NBA G League and two seasons in the WNBA. Jenna has shown the requisite skill on the court and the knowledge of our rules to earn an opportunity to officiate NBA regular-season games, said McCutchen. In January, the NBA saw its first two-woman ref crew with Natalie Sago and Jenna Schroeder. When I was growing up, my mom didnt really harp on my gender. ", Schroeder played at Oakland University & SVSU. All rights reserved. Those leagues, though, are where you grow the most and see the most stuff. From 2011 to 2015, she was a bartender during a memorable stretch for the Detroit Tigers, who reached the World Series in 2012. It was an awesome day and it was super fun to be out there with Jenna. She also worked the NBA G League International Challenge at NBA All-Star 2018 in Los Angeles. No portion of NBA.com copyright 2023 National Basketball Referees Association. It was a really good, bright spot in an otherwise challenging season. Obviously, there is a love for the game you wanted to be around it after playing. If you want to become, for example, a college referee or WNBA referee or NBA referee, youre going to want to learn from people in those places. I refereed recreational soccer when I was 12 or 13. Most referees when they start out have 9-5 jobs, then go referee a game after they have been working all day. There are things that you can talk woman to woman that you cant really talk to a man about or how are you going to handle a certain situation that men dont really have to deal with. I think thats a respect thing. Im seeing more female sports psychologists that work for the teams. Mosher: Its great to have that platform and [the league] provides that. Im seeing more female broadcasters, and sideline reporters that are female. "I told the referee where to shove it," Schroeder said. Be yourself. She is the latest example of the NBA G Leagues impact as a valuable pipeline for our NBA officiating staff.. OK, so in my mind, I can understand how someone goes from college to the NBA. Youre happy in the moment and then youre like, dang, I cant wait to see three females on the floor. This season, there have been a record 7 female NBA referees who officiated at least one game. Moyer-Gleich: Oh, my biggest advice thats a tough question. I would not want to work for a company that didnt support me. The first college camp I went to, they said, No, you have to work womens college basketball. I was like, wait, what? Then, for them being able to take that kind of publicity and the pressure, Im sure that they felt it doing that game and doing it well and being excellent. Its anything goes. Im close friends with both of them, so Im honored to work with them and to be a part of their journey. Thats something that means a lot to me. She is my rock and my role model. The same goes for how coaches and players treat refs. Schroeder also has seven years of collegiate officiating experience, working in the ACC, Big East, Atlantic 10 and American conferences. McCutchen retired from officiating in 2017 after roaming the courts for 25 seasons. When I was going to the [G-League] try-out, George Tolliver had everyone in the room write down their goal in a notebook. I cant go to the mens camps? They have a good pool of young officials in the league that are going to make mistakes, but it just takes time. NBA draft: Which rookies can have biggest impact in 2023-24? Right now, I walk out onto the court and theyre like, Who is that? Theyve never seen me before, and Ive seen them on tape and TV. Knowing that were in it together and can learn from each others experience and lean on each other when we need it has been huge. "It's like my feminist dreams come true, that like my personal values are colliding with my professional values and it's awesome. Rip City Remix is an homage to the vintage era of the Portland Trail Blazers. Jenna Schroeder NBA Basketball Referee Record. Its great to see how far its progressed in the right direction. Schroeder also has seven years of collegiate officiating experience, working in the ACC, Big East, Atlantic 10 and American conferences. With breaking those barriers to feel like you have a community thats supporting you, is whats going to give you the competence to go out and shine. Thats probably not a good fit for anybody. And Monday is that . Whats the biggest adjustment from going to, lets say, college to the WNBA? Very green, inexperienced,like all of us were at some point, Del Duco said. The WNBA is all of the best players. Follow Vince Ellis on Twitter @vincent_ellis56. I hope that at some point women officiating mens sports will become the norm at all levels. Holtkamp-Sterling: The NBA is a leader in so many ways with both social justice and recognizing that the league can use its position as a sports leader to help create equity for so many people that historically have been denied those opportunities. Its a big deal. 1 overall pick, Victor Wembanyama, is targeting first game for the San Antonio Spurs during Summer League play in Las Vegas. Shes my confidant, who talks to me while Im stuck in the airport for our delays; who talks to me when I have to buy every single dinner in my hotel room because of COVID she sits and has dinner with me on FaceTime. I always get excited when I see a female, no matter what their role is in the arena. Before becoming an NBA referee, Holtkamp. We have a great group of us girls. she was promoted to full-time NBA referee, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. I hope that gives them the strength to keep going. Im excited about what it means for our profession moving forward. What does it mean to have the NBAs support in developing female officials? Jelks: Our experience as women have brought us close together. We have to encourage other women who are fighting this gender equality battle right now. Jelks: Its huge. Id ref in Detroit, on 7 Mile, Id go anywhere. : Oh, my biggest advice thats a tough question. Ive never met them in person. espnW. Is it what you expected? My mother. If youre good, [the NBA] will find you, theyll let you work and you can do it. I think Womens History Month is a time where we have to appreciate the people who came before us. Shes very caring and no matter what happens in her life, she always handles and gets through it gracefully. It was a beginning and an ending.. "But I was obviously hoping this was my year. You just had to facilitate the game. You go from high school to Division III to Division II to Division I smaller colleges and then the bigger ones like the ACC. They basically run themselves ragged trying to do both.. Go out there with that mindset of wanting to be the best referee, whatever is your journey. Pursue your passions really is what I tell them. Its almost unheard of that in (nine) years you go from high school and then youre in the NBA. The Hornets-Magic game on Monday will be the first time an NBA ref crew has included two women. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. They love the sport and are willing to put the work in, the time in and trust that they can develop the skills they can do it. Has there been a call that youve missed, saw it at halftime, and then apologized to a player? I was like, This is huge. Its not just one of us out there. There are five full-time women and two non-staff. Holtkamp-Sterling: My mother. When I get to the game two hours earlier, Im seeing more female sports trainers. This industry is really competitive. Schroeder is the fourth referee to be promoted to the full-time NBA officiating staff from the G League for the 2019-20 season, joining John Butler, Nate Green and Evan Scott. If we didn't hear about Ashley and Natalie, we'd still be wondering. Its part of the game, and we just deal with it and move on. As the WNBA players have gotten more media exposure that they deserve, and into [the NBA] where you see women being hired in front office positions and coaching positions. A Miami Heat-Charlotte Hornets game brought comments. Voices. "I was shocked by the timing of it," Schroeder said. She was going to stick with it, Del Duco said. Its really only a starting point. In male-dominated industries like this, its easy to try to emulate other people. [Games are broadcast] in over 200 countries. Sago: We have a great group. I played on the high school basketball team, and we had to referee the third- and fourth-grade little girls. Lastly, only six female officials in NBA history. My goal was to be a sponge. Its really cool because weve all kind of been on our separate journeys in our individual careers, and now weve all come together within this association and were making history this season. Ive never really had a negative experience, like, from being a female in the G League, NBA, WNBA or even college. THE FIRST NBA INDIAN ORIGIN REFEREES JOURNEY FROM PRE-MED TO PRE-REF, NBRA ANNOUNCES RATIFICATION OF AGREEMENT FOR G LEAGUE START OF SEASON, See Billy Joel, Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones in concert. (AP) Jenna Schroeder was an aggressive player in college, fouling out in two of her first three games as a guard at Saginaw Valley State and even picking up a technical foul for a colorful comment. All rights reserved. Shes worked so extremely hard at getting the plays right and getting in the right position and breaking down tape. James L. Edwards III is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Detroit Pistons. Theres a bond for us about going through the training system and then being on the staff together. Seven female officials have worked games so far this season, which is the most to work games in any season in league history. I just picked a degree and it was see how this goes. Weve known each other for a long time and weve actually worked together before in the G League, WNBA, and obviously in college. Id go to these college camps, referee, and then theyd pick you up if they liked you or thought you were good. Read more on the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter. Even in [the NFL] with Sarah Thomas being the first female Super Bowl official. That progression, to me, isnt as clear. . Try a week on us. Pursue your passions really is what I tell them. As the WNBA players have gotten more media exposure that they deserve, and into [the NBA] where you see women being hired in front office positions and coaching positions. Youre supposed to empower other women. Its amazing to be a part of an organization thats leading the way and giving women the opportunity to showcase our skills in a professional mens sport. Im just making the rounds and introducing myself. I dont normally watch basketball, I try to stay away from basketball when Im at home so I can focus on life [outside of the game]. Its part of breaking barriers in any sport or any business. I think that they should follow their passion. Did your knowledge of the game improve? Youre seeing more and more because its social media. It was an awesome day and it was super fun to be out there with Jenna. The move comes after stints in college, the WNBA and the G League. Eventually, it wont be as big of a deal. She later officiated a game involving Detroit, where the other members of the crew introduced her to Pistons coach Dwane Casey. But you dont go from high school to the ACC. I think that they should follow their passion. Men dont get that, so we need each other to lean on in those circumstances. Embrace who you are and that will shine in all of your work. Jelks becomes the seventh female full-time ref in . If you can enjoy the journey along the way, then it makes it all worth it at the end of the day. Female officials Q&A Part 1: Path to the NBA, Raptors announce all-female game broadcast team, 6 officials proving refereeing isn't a gendered job, NBA Mailbag: Offseason predictions + routine, Wembanyama not going to Summer League in Sacramento, Bucks' Lopez wins Bob Lanier Community Assist Award, Learn Fresh, NBA Math Hoops attend 2023 Draft, Blazers name G League affiliate team 'Rip City Remix', 3 Jr. NBA alumni become 1st from program to enter NBA. What was your first step into big-time officiating? Basically, it was one person walking up and down on the floor, and if a little girl falls on the floor youd have to help her up or whatever. Michigans financial picture was even worse. Its allowed repoire to be developed between all sides. Fantasy: Why the Porzingis trade helps Celtics, Wizards and Grizzlies. I wouldnt want to work for a company who didnt want me for me, if I couldnt just be my genuine, authentic self and be who I am and they cant accept that. Meanwhile, Schroeder, who started on staff in the 2019-20 season, had refereed 27 regular season games. Referee data is available for the 1988-89 through 2022-23 seasons. Jenna Schroeder (left) and Natalie Sago made history as the first female NBA referees to officiate the same game. It kind of manifested right when I got out of college. It shouldnt be a competition. This season, there have been a record 7 female NBA . Looking back, it was, thus far, the highlight of my professional career. It just was really amazing to be able to support them during that time. Its awesome that they get to be the first ones to do it. It meant the world to me because I think seeing is believing. Referee Jenna Schroeder stands on the court in the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Washington Wizards, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. My goal was never to be a G League referee, even though thats what I wanted. Youre supposed to empower other women. 8 Women Are Changing What the Modern NBA Referee Looks Like By Joe Grobeck | May 11, 2023 Sameness is a word of emphasis when talking about officiating in the NBA. Jenna Schroeder struggled with all of that. It was this really important moment that happened in the middle of a really difficult season as were navigating COVID [including] what it means to do this work and do it safely. I was in high school and making $50 on a Saturday. Just doing that with Natalie [we] used to referee college basketball together. Holtkamp has firsthand experience. Sago, 31, and Schroeder, 35, were two of the three people on the officiating crew . You have to seek out their knowledge. Jenna Schroeder was an aggressive player in college, fouling out in two of her first three games as a guard at Saginaw Valley State and even picking up a technical foul for a colorful comment. In addition to their NBA assignments this season, Schroeder and the other three new staff officials will continue to officiate NBA G League games. Now you see it and youre like, wow, it is an opportunity for us. You need to keep it moving, and find something that is a good fit. We will continue their work for the women who come after us. Is there a horror story for you that sticks out about being an official, female official? Moyer-Gleich: The woman I admire most is my mom. Dont be afraid to pursue mens basketball. Some stats are relative to league average (+ above average, below average).Personal fouls include all fouls, not just fouls called by this referee. Danica Mosher: Honestly, it was awesome. It shouldnt matter about our race, gender, ethnicity. Previously, he was a reporter for the Lansing State Journal, where he covered Michigan State and high school sports. This was a huge moment not only for our sport before our league. Its really cool to work for a company that is pushing females and that they really believe in us that we can do the job just like the men can. In the beginning, no. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I was sending them all types of gifs and funny images. Oh my God all the time. There arent classes for it. Schroeder was promoted Tuesday by the NBA to full-time official status, making her the fourth woman on the league's current referee roster and the sixth in league history. Its kind of natural. In your short term in the NBA so far, whats the biggest challenge in that league? They really were exemplary role models of what the NBA is pushing in terms of putting the best referees on a game doesnt matter what gender. First and foremost, its friendship. When I first started, I wanted to work in mens basketball. Whether you get cheers or accolades, a lot of its out of your control. Yeah, I do. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 1) Lauren Holtkamp Kicking off the list is Lauren Holtkamp. So, its great that professional basketball allows it to be equal and let you even have the opportunity to do it. March 26, 2021 9:32 PM. In journalism, and I would assume this is the case for officials, too, there has to be a fine line in a relationship. There are things that you can talk woman to woman that you cant really talk to a man about or how are you going to handle a certain situation that men dont really have to deal with. We just have a good group of females, we're all close, we have great relationships and we share these moments.". Baseball was perfect because I could work 81 home games in the summer and then have the flexibility to referee all winter long without any outside distractions during the basketball season, Schroeder said. "But I was obviously hoping this was my year. On International Womens Day, we celebrate Jenna Schroeder and Natalie Sago, who were the first two female officials to officiate the same NBA game. Then, five years later, there was one: Palmer. They know its a process for us to get into the league, just like its a process for the players, its a process for the coaches.. Life/Style. Danielle Scott: This was a huge moment not only for our sport before our league. Schroeder rose to the NBA developmental league, where she officiated for three seasons. Its more than just officiating between us women. I obviously could never pass that up. Theres always this communal sense of like, Im glad youre here. She is definitely my biggest supporter and encourager, and she is everything that I want to be one day when Im a mom. I worked my way up through that route. and shes kind of been like someone, I looked up to my whole life. "I think you have to promote things like this because otherwise people wouldn't hear about it and it would still be like an anomaly," Schroeder said. The NBA's roster of female referees continues to grow. You see that happening for us on the referee staff. I dont know if there was ever a dream to become an official, but if there was, when did it manifest? Try to think this is the way to make it to the top, but the only way to find success when youre at the top is to be truthful to who you are. "Someone looked at me one day and asked why I didn't just do it as a profession, and I said, 'You can do that?'". Youre happy in the moment and then youre like, dang, I cant wait to see three females on the floor. And yes, definitely, I want to be part of that.". "Someone looked at me one day and asked why I didn't just do it as a profession, and I said, 'You can do that?'". They tell me congratulations. I just think it goes back to what we were talking about earlier: People get emotional because these are their livelihoods. She becomes the fourth female official on the league's roster, joining Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling, Ashley Moyer-Gleich and . Those were my big college leagues, and thats when I would say I was like, OK, I got this. Very soon after that, I got into the WNBA. The city of Flint, Mich., has a long history of sending its own to the NBA.
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