How to Be a Better Basketball Referee?

Often overlooked and generally scapegoated, refereeing a basketball game is anything but easy. And whether you’re refereeing a high school basketball game, a collegiate one, or as an NBA referee, improving your skillsets should always be top of mind.

Below, we are going to show you just exactly how to be a better basketball referee.

And whether you’re looking to improve your refereeing abilities to take your skills to the next level or simply want to do better for the team’s you referee for, this ultimate guide will help you accomplish both.

What do Basketball Referee’s Do?

Whether you referee basketball at an amateur or professional level, the roles and duties of the position are generally the same. And while the knowledge and rulebooks may vary slightly, the general gist of the position remains the same.

As a basketball referee, the onus will be on you and your fellow referees to enforce the rules of the game and maintain its order throughout the duration of play.

And as a basketball referee, you will need to ensure that the game runs smoothly, including both immediately before and after the start and end of the game.

This includes not only calling the game and any fouls or violations which may occur, but also managing the spectators in the stands and ensuring that the court and all equipment used during the game is safe and in a usable condition.

Similarly, as a basketball coach, the onus will be on you and your fellow referees to ensure a smooth flow of the game. This includes, but is not limited, to the following responsibilities:

• Making calls quickly and decisively based on the violation or infraction you notice

• Ensuring the initiation of time-outs for basketball teams

• Keeping watch of both the game clock and the shot clock

• Using hand signals to convey the reason you blew the whistle

• Running alongside the length of the court alongside the player’s movements

• Consulting and discussing with your fellow referees about a call made

• Reviewing video footage to ensure a call’s accuracy

• Maintaining professional communication with both team’s coaches

• Calmly, yet sternly, explaining the reason for issuing a violation or penalty

• Oversee the initial tip-off to begin the game

How to Become a Basketball Referee

While many of us dream about working as a referee in the NBA, the process is difficult and slightly cumbersome.

And for good reason. Becoming and refereeing a professional basketball game comes with an enormous amount of responsibility and the determination of the game can be, quite easily, placed into your hands.

As such, becoming a referee in the NBA takes time and interested candidates should begin refereeing at the amateur level before moving up in their career’s to the collegiate level and eventually the NBA.

Earn a High School Diploma or GED

While many professional basketball league’s prefer a college career, it is not a requirement. Rather, be sure to have earned either a high school diploma or a GED so that you may begin refereeing at the amateur level.

Volunteer as a Basketball Assistant

While not a hard-and-fast rule, you will want to distinguish yourself against other referee hopefuls. And one great way to do so is to be as involved in the game as possible. Whether you decide to volunteer as an assistant basketball coach or as a player manager, be sure to be as close to the game as possible.

Referee at an Amateur Level

Typically run by a local county or city, these tournaments are generally open to the public and are looking for volunteers to help run the games. Be sure to get in touch with your local county officials to see if you qualify and can assist as a basketball referee.

Register to Referee as a High School Referee

As you begin to referee for more professional league’s, you will need to ensure that you are both qualified and fully registered to do so. Each state, however, has differing rules and requirements.

To qualify for a state’s refereeing license, you will typically need to pass a background check, pay a nominal fee to the registering board, complete and pass a written test, and go through the interview process.

Register to Referee at the NCAA Level

As you progress in your career, you will want to move on to refereeing at the NCAA level. And whether you referee for the Division I conference or the Division III one, the rules and requirements are the same.

Firstly, you will need to begin by registering to officiate at the college level, which will include your resume, a cover letter, and any video clips of your refereeing skills.

Once approved, you will need to complete an in-person interview, a basketball knowledge test, and pass a background check to qualify.

Attend Referee Tryouts for the NBA G League

The NBA’s G League is the league’s minor league. And while you may have dreams of refereeing for the major league’s, you will likely need to begin at the minor league level, which includes the NBA G League.

As such, you will need to apply and attend the referee tryouts which are held on a yearly basis. More information can be found at the official NBA refereeing website.

Prove Your Refereeing Skills in the NBA’s G League

Once you’ve made it to the NBA’s G League you will need to demonstrate your skills as a referee and your work ethic and determination to be a great referee. Be sure to keep abreast on any rule changes and always act in a professional manner.

Ask for a Recommendation to Join the NBA as a Referee

Many referees who have graduated from the NBA G League to the NBA have done so through recommendation from their managers. As such, be sure to always follow the guidelines set in place for NBA G League referees and as you gain experience don’t be shy to ask for a recommendation to join the roster of NBA referees.

What do Basketball Referees Wear?

As a basketball referee, whether done at the amateur or professional level, you will want to always assume a position of professionalism and utmost decorum. As such, you should always dress in a professional manner and one befitting of a basketball referee.

In both the NBA and the collegiate games, referees will wear black slacks, black shoes, and a white shirt with black stripes running vertically across the entirety of the shirt.

And while, at the professional level, your uniform will be provided to you, at the amateur level you will likely have to purchase the uniform yourself.

We recommend Smitty’s V-Neck Basketball Referee Shirt as we have found that shirt to be the most professional looking one. Although a tad bit more expensive than other options, Smitty’s referee shirts are made of substantially better quality and fit and will help you to better exude professionalism and seriousness in the role.

Essential Skills Needed to be a Good Basketball Referee

As a basketball referee, you will need a combination of both basketball and interpersonal skills to be successful in the role. Below are some examples of the skills needed to be a good basketball referee.

• Physical Stamina – basketball referees are expected to keep up with the player’s and the basketball throughout the duration of the game. As such, a good basketball referee should have the physical stamina needed to keep up with the game and be able to stand for extended periods of time.

• Understanding of the Basketball Rulebook – in addition to physical stamina, a basketball referee should have an expert understanding of the rulebook and the various rules, violations, and penalties of the respective league for which they are officiating in.

• Interpersonal Skills – while many of us don’t consider interpersonal skills a facet of a referee’s core responsibilities, it is actually one of the most important skills to have. Basketball referees must be able to make quick, decisive calls all while speaking with their referee colleagues, team coaches, and team player’s regarding the call.

• Ethical Mindset – one of the utmost skills a basketball referee must have is an ethical mindset. By being able to make calls in an ethical, non-biased manner, you will be able to elevate your reputation as a fair referee and one who is not easily swayed by favors from either team.

• Attention to Detail – during a basketball game, there is continuous movement from players, coaches, spectators, and the basketball. As a basketball referee, you must be able to have attention to detail, allowing you to catch minor infractions and violations as they occur.

Top Skills Needed to be a Better Basketball Referee

As a basketball referee, whether at the amateur or professional level, you will always and continually need to fine-tune your approach to the game to become a better referee.

Below are some of the top and best ways to become a better basketball referee and to help you elevate your refereeing skillsets.

Be Competitive and “In” the Game

As a basketball referee, you will need to give it your all in each and every game. As both the player’s on the court and the coaches give 100% each game, so should you. As your main focus should be to ensure a successful flow of a game, be sure to come ready to make those tough calls, no matter what.

Don’t Be a “Tough Guy”

Basketball referees are meant to control the flow of the game and ensure fouls, violations, and penalties are properly doled out. Your job is not to get aggressive with any player, coach, or spectator. And while you can have a stern attitude, you shouldn’t try to be a tough guy.

Make Calls Decisively

A referee’s job is to make the tough calls as they see them happen. And although you may hear sighs and frustrations from fans and players alike, you should make the call decisively and without influence from any of the player’s, coaches, or fans in the stadium.

Blow the Whistle With Force

Too often, basketball referees will blow their whistles with little force, leading to players misunderstanding that the play has been stopped. If you’re going to blow on the whistle, be sure to do so with force and in a manner that it is heard by everyone in the stadium.

Be Confident

As a basketball referee, the call, ultimately, is yours to make. So, make the call in a confident manner. You are the referee and you are in charge of the flow of the game. Don’t be frightened or intimidated by players, coaches, or fans, many of whom are simply trying to get you to change your mind.

Keep Safety Your Main Concern

Whether the safety of the player’s on the court or the ones on the sidelines or the spectating fans, you should ensure that everyone is safe in the building. Don’t hesitate to pause the game if you find any faults within the court or if the crowd or player’s become too rowdy.

Don’t Care Who Wins

As a basketball referee, you should have no skin in the outcome of the game. This means that you should be completely impartial and unbiased in your refereeing skills and duties and should simply be there to ensure an orderly flow of a basketball game.

Answer Justified Questions

As a basketball referee, you will be peppered with questions from team fans, players, and coaches. However, as a referee, you must understand who, and which, questions to answer and which ones to ignore. However, never begin yelling or losing your cool during a game. A small, innocuous question can quickly lead to a lack of control if you begin yelling or becoming upset during the game.

Don’t Expect Yourself to be Perfect

While we all try to hold ourselves to perfection, in a game of basketball, being perfect and seeing and calling every foul or infraction is simply impossible. Rather, try your absolute best and be sure to be fair throughout the entirety of the game for both teams.