#360 Down Under Dreams | feat. Kenny Widgeon | Hosted by Shawn Collenburg

The Crown Refs Podcast

𝗞𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝗿.’𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗡𝗖𝗔𝗔 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗕𝗟⁣ ⁣ Ken Widgeon Jr.’s love for basketball was instilled at a young age. He inherited his passion from his father, who not only played but also refereed the game. This connection to the sport would later guide Widgeon Jr. down a similar path in the officiating world.⁣ ⁣ As a college basketball player at Mount Saint Vincent in New York, he saw an opportunity to stay connected to the game from a different angle by becoming a referee during the intramural season. His decision to take up the whistle was influenced by his dad’s decade-long experience in officiating. One day he decided he was going to officiate so he took the train, stole a shirt and whistle from his dad, and headed back to campus to start officiating. He remembers making $25-$30/game, which at the time felt like millions according to him. Widgeon Jr. quickly discovered that officiating offered a unique pressure and responsibility similar to that of playing. The management aspect of the game, ensuring fairness and safety, resonated with him and became a driving force in his new role.⁣ ⁣ 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿⁣ His journey began with his certification from (NFHS), or high school basketball, a crucial first step that jump started this path. Once he was certified and had passed his test, he immersed himself in the game, working every game he got a chance to work. His relentless pursuit of experience led him to work in Men’s League games and other amateur competitions, where he quickly learned to navigate the intricacies of the game from the center of the action. He mentions having to be able to survive and figure out how to manage the game at these levels which attributed to helping him as he grew as an official.⁣ ⁣ The practical experience gained from these early games was invaluable, but Widgeon wanted to learn more. Free referee camps run by the late Lee Hendrix provided an environment ripe for learning and growth. Here, he absorbed the fundamentals of officiating, from understanding the flow of the game to mastering the positioning required to make accurate calls. These camps were not just about learning the rules but about embedding the principles of the game into his normal motions in officiating.⁣ ⁣ 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽⁣ As Widgeon Jr.’s skills as a referee grew, so did his network within the basketball community. He met and was mentored by seasoned professionals like Ronnie Nunn, Mike Schmidt, and Jon Levinson, who recognized his potential and dedication. These mentors provided not only advice and guidance but also opened doors to higher levels of competition, including collegiate and professional basketball.⁣ ⁣ Ken’s rise through the ranks of officiating was a testament to his ability to learn and adapt. He absorbed the wisdom of his mentors, understanding that officiating at the professional level required not just a thorough knowledge of the rules but also the ability to handle the psychological and emotional aspect of the game.⁣ ⁣ 📖 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 ⁣ https://medium.com/@crownrefs/from-new-jersey-to-a-down-under-dream-3326fb8c68b6⁣ ⁣ 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙗𝙮: 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙬𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙜⁣ 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙮: 𝘼𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙜⁣ ⁣ 🏀 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆⁣ Patreon.com/crownrefs --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/crown-refs/support