Tamondong wants NMIBF to adopt NFHS rules

Robert Tamondong, right, poses with fellow referees before a preseason high school championship game in Guam. (Contributed Photo)

Former Saipan referee Robert Tamondong wants 18-and-under basketball leagues and tournaments in the CNMI to adopt the rules of the National Federation of High School.

Tamondong, who is now officiating games in Guam after moving to the U.S. territory last September, said NFHS rules are more ideal and suitable for young players as opposed to FIBA rules that are more geared toward older more experienced players.

FIBA stands for Fédération Internationale de Basketball and is the organization that governs the sport of basketball worldwide.

“It’s different here because it’s high school rules. We are not using FIBA rules. NFHS rules develop young players. FIBA is international rules and I think it shouldn’t be applied there for the young players,” he said.

Tamondong, who just tuned 60 years old last week, hopes the Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation will use NFHS rules in their developmental leagues, which include high school, middle school, and elementary competitions.

“The federation there should adopt high school rules. Even the referees should also be trained to officiate using high school rules,” he said.

Tamondong, who now works as an accountant for Island Equipment Co., said NFHS rules encourage more teamwork and discourage one-on-one plays.

“High school rules will help coaches to design faster plays as their players need to pass the ball within 4 seconds. If you’re holding or dribbling the ball for 5 seconds it’s a violation so the ball must rotate or pass in order to avoid a violation,” he said.

He added that he’s open to returning to Saipan to help teach referees and NMIBF officials how to implement the NFHS rules to their grassroot programs.

“I really want to go there and share my experience. But the high incidence of COVID-19 there makes it next to impossible for me to fly in there,” he said.

Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, NFHS is the national leader and advocate for high school athletics as well as fine and performing arts programs. It promotes amateur sports participation and athletics programs at the high school level.

With regards to Tamondong’s experience officiating games in Guam, he said it’s more challenging in his new home as players are faster and bigger.

“My first time to officiate was a preseason varsity game and players were tall. In fact the tallest I’ve seen in my first game here was 6’6.” The competition here is definitely higher than compared to Saipan, which is good for a referee like me here.”

Tamondong apparently gave a good impression of himself that he was eventually assigned to the championship game.

“It’s good they assigned me to a championship game as I was able to show what I’m capable of in terms of officiating matches. I received good feedback from my colleagues specially in controlling the high school varsity game between St. Paul and Father Duenas High School.”