Fitting send off for Steve, Nicolle DiConza

If ever the officials deserve attention and recognition then it's this weekend in the NBL1 West with husband and wife referee pair Nicolle and Steve DiConza having the chance to have a farewell to forever cherish.

The decorated refereeing pair met through basketball and have gone on to since get married, have two children together and continue officiating both in the NBL1 and WNBL together, and with Steve also spending time in the NBL.

However, by the end of 2023 and they decided that with their sons Lucas and Ollie growing and needing to become more of their focus on weekends that the time was right to call an end their outstanding careers refereeing basketball.

They will now get the chance to bid farewell to the game in the best possible way with Steve and Nicolle refereeing together on Friday night alongside Steve's younger brother Adrian in the Willetton-Perth clash at Willetton Basketball Stadium.

Then on Saturday, Steve will officiate alongside two of his closest friends, Craig Copes and Mark Grist, in the Redbacks-East Perth Eagles match up at Belmont Oasis.

STEVE DICONZA

From humble beginnings refereeing at Victoria Park, it's been quite the remarkable journey since for Steve DiConza where he is about to finish his career having officiated 559 games – more than any player has been out on the court for in SBL/NBL1 West history.

Along the way, DiConza has been a five-time NBL1 West Referee of the Year while officiating in six Men's Grand Finals and six Women's Grand Finals.

Not only that, but he has spent 10 years on the WNBL referee panel and five years in the NBL and he would have laughed if you told him he would have achieved all of that before he refereed his first SBL game at the time back in 2005.

"If you had told me 20 years ago I would have refereed NBL, Women's NBL and continued to be a high calibre official and be able to hang my whistle up at my peak then I probably would have laughed," DiConza said.

"So for me refereeing in the NBL is something not many people get the opportunity to do. There's been some very good referees in this state that have never got to do that so I'm proud and we did have to bide our time back then.

"Bully (David Bull) was still running around along with Houghto (Peter Houghton), Bret Campbell and Damo Lyons was still in town so we had to wait because that was before you'd be flown around the country.

"Back in those days you had to wait for a Wildcats home game and those guys were all ahead of you so I'm proud that I stuck with it and the journey I've been on, and the legacy I hope I'll be able to leave for the up and coming NBL1 WA referees."

To share it all with wife Nicolle

Above everything else, for DiConza to have met his wife Nicolle through basketball and to have gone through everything they have done through their careers and lives, and now to officiate one last game together understandably gets him emotional.

The support they have given each other along the way has made everything possible that they have achieved. But for DiConza, what he will always treasure more than everything is the support Nicolle has given him in hard times, to chase his dreams and now to be raising two sons with him.

"She's my rock. I went through some pretty dark days through the NBL when I was in there and if it wasn’t for her, I don’t know where I would have ended up," DiConza said.

"I gave everything to this game and there was stuff that occurred which just put me in a really bad spot but Nicolle has always been there for me.

"She's been the one that followed my journey was there to support me whether it's been in the WNBL or NBL, and then she got her opportunity in the WNBL as well.

"She's always been the one with the kids to look after them when I was in those spaces working my guts out to get more NBL games, and spending more and more in the gym or reviewing tape.

"I'm indebted to Nicolle, she's an amazing human being and an amazing referee. I'm just lucky enough to call her my wife."

Feeling this week ahead of last games

Now that the reality is sinking in that this weekend will see DiConza referee the 560th and 561st, and last, games of his career in the SBL/NBL1 West, it's hitting home how real it is but he can't wait for the weekend's games at the same time.

"When I announced it to the panel that this was going to happen last year, I had actually conceded that I wouldn’t referee another game and that was it," he said.

"That last final that I did was going to be it, but Adam (Bowler) felt that it was the right thing to do for me to have one last game and I thought I was going to be OK until Adam let me know how it was going to work out this week and I got a bit emotional I must admit.

"I've been around basketball 30-odd years and through it have met some of my best mates, my wife and a lot of amazing people.

"So it hit me pretty hard on Monday that this was going to be the last week and I reckon that the closer we get to Friday and Saturday it'll get even more emotional, but as much as it's sad, it's a celebration too and something I'm very proud of."

Perfect combination for the last two games

DiConza did think he was content with walking quietly into retirement from basketball at the end of last season with no fanfare.

However, now that things have worked out how they have where he'll get to referee at Willetton on Friday alongside his wife and brother, and then on Saturday at Belmont with two of his best mates, and it might sound corny, but honestly it's the thing dreams are made of.

"It does feel like the perfect way and there are so many people I would have loved to step on the floor for the last time with," DiConza said.

"My mentor David Bull is one and I remember his very last game I refereed a Grand Final with him and that's still etched in my memory. I think with Nicolle and Adrian on Friday will have its points and then with Gristy and Copesy on Saturday, we've gone through a whole heap of stuff together.

"That's been through the Women's NBL, NBL and we've picked each other up, been sound boarding and I can't wait to finish it with them."

Others to share the occasion with

It's not just those that DiConza will be sharing the court with on the weekend either that he's looking forward to, there's plenty more people he is looking forward to seeing and even those he'll be thinking of who can't be there.

"Then there's other people as well like on Friday night I get to work with Geoff Schulz for the last time as the referee coach, and Saturday night with John Stone who I will be indebted to forever for the massive imprint he's put onto not just my basketball career, but me as a human," he said.

"Unfortunately one of my other good mates, Trav Stewart, will be away with work so he couldn’t be part of this weekend but there's so many people who have been involved in my 20-odd years.

"Bryn Arnold is another one and I started refereeing basketball with him back at Vic Park and he'll be there on Saturday night with his family. I just can't wait, it's going to be really special."

Right time to make the decision

With the stage his and Nicolle's sons were at and how well they have been there to support their parents in their basketball commitments, DiConza just felt by the end of last season that the time was right to step away from basketball.

He still feels like the time is right for a number of reasons, but ultimately it's about putting his family first.

"My kids are getting to that age now where Lucas has just turned 11 and Ollie is eight so they don't want to get dragged along to basketball every Friday and Saturday night," DiConza said.

"They've done it for all of their life so far and both Nicolle and I are real grateful that they have. But it gets to a time where the boys want to do things that they want to do with their weekends.

"There are a lot of things that made this decision come to what it is, but I think it is the right decision to make for me and I think for my family, but Nicolle can answer that for herself. I also think it's the right thing for the referee panel.

"There's no point me continuing to go around if my heart's not 100 per cent in it because I've always been one who does all those extra yards and goes all the way if you're in. If I can't practice what I preach then it's time for me to hang my whistle up."

Could you see yourself ever coming back

That does bring up the question if DiConza could ever see him make a return to refereeing as his sons grow up, but right now he can't see it happening.

"I've never even really thought about that. We've got a few referees who have come back over the time and done that, but I'm not sure if I would ever consider that," he said.

"I think I'm quite content finishing on 559 games after Saturday night and knowing that I'm done and that's my contribution to the league.

"At some stage I might be involved in some way, but the way it stands right now I'm quite content that Saturday will be the last one."

NICOLLE DICONZA

The weekend is certainly not just about Steve either, Nicolle DiConza will also be refereeing her last game on Friday night at Willetton Basketball Stadium to bring to an end what has been a remarkable journey she deserves to be proud of.

Not only has she now refereed in the league for the last 17 years across 311 games, but she has also broken through to spend five seasons on the WNBL referee panel and is regarded as one of the finest officials not only in WA, but across the country.

She can't wait to have what is sure to be an enjoyable yet emotional experience alongside her husband and brother-in-law on Friday night.

"I’m excited to be finishing my career with reffing with Steve and Adrian," she said.

"I have so much fun reffing with them and we all grew up reffing together and so a good way to finish."

Feeling like the time is right

With Nicolle juggling having a full-time job, raising two boys who have ever increasing interests and also their own sporting commitments, running the household and then having a refereeing career means that life sure has been hectic.

Because of that, the time just did feel right to retire from basketball.

"Yeh this league has watched me grow up, I started as a 17 year old from the country and I got engaged, got married and had two kids over the past 17 years," she said.

"Our kids have sat in every basketball stadium besides Kalgoorlie, they have been dragged everywhere and whilst they don’t complain it’s now just time.

"We live the busiest lives, we both coach each of the boys' footy teams and basketball teams, play football, are on football committees and both work very busy jobs. We used to fit refereeing in that as well but it’s now time to have a tiny bit of time to ourselves."

Sharing the journey with husband

What will always mean the most when Nicolle reflects on her basketball journey is that it's what brought her together with her now husband Steve, and the way they have been able to be there support each other all along the way.

"It’s been a journey and I have just been so lucky I get to do it with my best friend," DiConza said.

"There have been highs and lows throughout it and just to have the support of someone who has lived it and is living it is something that no one else would understand.

"He has been my biggest supporter over the years and i obviously love him so much. I couldn’t be prouder of his journey! I’m so happy that he is the person I get to do my last game ever with!"

Reflecting on 17-year journey

It's been quite the career that DiConza has had as a referee with the 311 games so far in the NBL1 West that started back in 2008.

She was Most Improved Referee in 2015 and has officiated in three Women's' Grand Finals and then also between 2018-2023 was on the WNBL referee panel.

That's a whole lot to be proud of and there's a lot for Nicolle to reflect upon as she now prepares for a last game on Friday night.

"When I started there was only two other females in the league. Now there is a healthy number of them, so I hope that I was able to inspire at least some of them," she said.

"I think also the fact that I managed to reach WNBL after I had two kids is hopefully an inspiration that you can do it all if you want to. It’s not easy but whatever your dreams are you can reach them. I just hope I have left the game a little bit better than when i started."

Life after basketball

Given everything else Nicolle has going on with life and the family, it's not as if suddenly things became much less hectic without her own basketball commitments, but there are some things she is now looking forward to.

"I’m looking forward to Friday nights at home watching the footy and NBL1 on tv with the kids and Steve," she said.

"It will be amazing to not pack my kids for hours of basketball - food, pjs and activities. I am also looking forward to having a drink after footy at Piara Waters rather than running off to get ready for basketball."