Calgary Minor Basketball Association

📣 Exciting News for CMBA Officials! 🏀

We’re thrilled to announce that CMBA is now aligning with Basketball Alberta’s “Blue is New” initiative, which means that moving forward, new officials will receive a blue whistle under our updated Blue Whistle Program.

But first, let us be clear:

-For the past seven years, CMBA has proudly supported and mentored new and young officials through our White Whistle Program.
-Nothing about our program is changing right now except the colour of the whistle.
-All of our training, mentorship, evaluation, support systems, and expectations remain exactly the same.
-The blue whistle signifies “new official” status under the new provincial alignment.

🧊 Why the colour change?

“Blue means new” is the core of Basketball Alberta’s initiative. New referees will now don a blue whistle as a badge of their entry into officiating. It’s a small change with a meaningful purpose: clarity, consistency, and unity across Alberta.

By adopting the blue whistle for new officials, CMBA ensures that our practices align while still preserving all of the trusted supports, training, and culture we’ve built over the years.

✅ What to know right now

If you are already in the White Whistle Program or you are a current official, nothing changes for you, except if you are just starting, your whistle will now be blue instead of white.

You will still receive the same mentorship, evaluation, feedback, resources, and opportunities you always have.

Over time, as new officials join, you’ll begin seeing blue whistles on the floor, a signpost that someone is embarking on their officiating journey. Additionally, only our first year officials will wear striped jerseys now. Upper year officials will have a different jersey.

Our commitment to quality, integrity, development, and excellence in officiating remains stronger than ever.

We are very proud of the foundation we’ve built with the White Whistle Program. This colour update offers alignment and clarity across Alberta without disrupting the heart of what we do.

Please reach out if you have any questions, and stay tuned for further announcements/materials about the Blue Whistle Program rollout.

Let’s continue building great basketball together.
🔵 🏀