​​Nadine Crowley has stepped foot in gymnasiums all over the world, yet she still remembers the scene in Jarvis Collegiate Institute in Toronto, the bleachers overflowing with people and the noise echoing down the halls.

Crowley, a now retired FIBA Basketball Official, would attend games as a child watching her father, Stanley Crowley, referee.

Stanley officiated both basketball and football in many towns across the province, but Nadine specifically remembers games from Jarvis Collegiate because of the atmosphere.

“The gym would be packed with people, and it would be packed with Black people,” said Crowley. “I was from Clarkson in Mississauga and at that time, I think there were four Black families in Clarkson, so going to Jarvis was like a homecoming, I was like, ‘This is the best thing ever.’”

Crowley expressed that when the game tipped off, Stanley would be all business. The crowd would cheer, and coaches would yell. But when the final whistle was blown, Crowley remembers the distinction in which people spoke about her father, a testament to his professionalism.

This story has come full-circle for Nadine, who has already made a lasting impact on the game of basketball and continues to give back to the sport she loves.

“We need people that other people can relate to,” says the 2018 Ottawa Sports Lifetime Achievement Award Winner. “Mothers have come up to me and said, ‘You know, you've really inspired my daughter and she wants to get into something like this. How can she do that?’”

Crowley began officiating over 30 years ago, although she did not initially set out to become a referee. The Mississauga native played basketball collegiately at both McMaster and Lakehead University while pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Masters in Counselling.

After graduating, Crowley explains that officiating allowed her to remain involved in basketball.

“When I was young it was about the environment,” said Crowley. “I just loved the feeling of being part of a sporting event, and officiating was a good way to be able to do that.”

Despite the individual-nature of being a referee, Crowley was part of a network of women climbing the ranks as officials in Ontario. The group grew together and supported each other during each developmental phase of their career.

“It was really nice to be able to go and give back to the game,” she said. “And to grow as a referee, surrounded by this female support system, that to me was a huge highlight.”

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Crowley became licensed as a FIBA carded official in 1999, one of the first Black women to reach this milestone. She spent years travelling the world, calling games at three FIBA World Championships, in addition to the Asian Games, FISU Games, and several CIS and CCAA Finals. The Canadian took tremendous pride in being a referee, knowing she was representing much more than herself.

This journey provided Crowley with time for self-reflection, as she continued to work on her craft. These findings also extended to her work as a registered clinical social worker. Crowley has owned a private practice in Ottawa for nearly 20 years and specializes in helping families through the mediation process. As she studied more about mediation, she also learned about officiating, explaining the many parallels between her two occupations.

“A lot of refereeing is mediating, it’s about managing both sides, so that everything is fair and equitable,” said Crowley. “I find it quite similar in terms of how I'm dealing with people, and that’s the part of the game that I love. I know players might yell and jump up and down, but I'm able to be empathic with respect to the emotions. I know they're not directed at me, personally. It's just the competitive nature of the game.”

Crowley’s poise on the international stage led her to an illustrious career. After retiring from officiating in 2011, she remained involved with basketball becoming a FIBA Referees Instructor. Crowley earned her level two designation, becoming the first Black woman to achieve the status. In this role, she educates, trains, and evaluates current FIBA Officials to ensure the game’s integrity.

“I’ve learned so much about refereeing by being a Referee Instructor because it’s a different way to look at the game,” says Crowley. “For me, it is great because this job hits all my skill sets - the interaction with people, the transfer of knowledge, and the constant learning.”

There are just 11 FIBA Referee Instructors internationally and only two women – Crowley and France’s Chantal Julien. The Canadian was also just one of two FIBA Referee Instructors nominated to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Being one of the lone International Black female referees, she has also served as a role model for other young women who aspire to officiate. While becoming a referee may be a tough sell for some, Crowley is committed to mentoring and supporting young officials through their journey.

“We need more representation and we need more women in it,” says Crowley. “As our group of women grows, so does the strength of the game, and especially the women's game.”

“It's that old adage that if you can't see it, you can't be it,” she said. “It's incumbent upon us as ex-players or players to be able to lift up the next generation and you do that by being involved, by being engaged, and by making those connections.”

This is one of the main reasons Crowley has been dedicated to officials development. In addition to her role as a FIBA Referee Instructor, she is Chair of the Canadian Basketball Officials Commission (CBOC) Education and Development Committee, an organization that focuses on fostering consistent and accountable officiating in Canada. She also founded the Officiating Mentorship Program for the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa in 2012.

Throughout the last 30 years, Crowley has worked on six continents, has made friendships that span decades, and has conveyed her knowledge to the next generation of officials.

“To be able to evolve over the years and hit all these different basketball developmental milestones, I think has been fantastic and also to be able to give back to the younger referees around the world,” said the retired FIBA Official. “Basketball has given me so much, it’s unbelievable, and I’m really thankful for it.”

While Crowley may be grateful for the game, it is basketball that should be thankful, as her mentorship has undoubtedly improved the sport for years to come.