Basketball Referees: How to Become a Referee for Basketball

A basketball referee, or ref, is the official who enforces the rules of the game. There are several sports officials in the game of basketball, including scorers and timekeepers, but the referee maintains fair play according to the basketball rulebooks.

There are usually two or three referees in a basketball game. In a National Basketball Association (NBA) game with two NBA referees, one official is the referee and the other is the umpire. These officials divide their responsibilities in regard to covering the court. One official is the “lead,” and positions along the baseline of the court, while the other official, or “trail,” covers the free throw line extended on the left side of the court. As the game moves from one half of the court to the other, the officials trade positions to ensure the most amount of coverage per game. The lead official also handles the jump ball, though in National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) games, the lead determines which official takes that duty.

Games with three NBA referees feature a crew chief, or a head official, as well as a referee or umpire. The crew chief determines the position of the referees in three-person games. The crew chief usually covers the strong side of the court (the side the ball is on) while the trail positions themself at the three-point line. The third official is the center official and stands near the free throw line. International Basketball Federation (FIBA) games have a referee and either one or two umpires.

A basketball referee has several specific areas of responsibility during gameplay. They include:

1. 1. Basketballs: Referees have many responsibilities associated directly with the possession of the basketball during the game. They toss in the jump ball at the start of the game, during extra periods, or in penalty situations. Referees also determine which team has possession of the ball on throw-ins, put the ball back into play after it goes out of bounds, and give the ball to the shooter for free throws.
2. 2. Equipment: The referee is also responsible for performing checks on teams and equipment to ensure everything is in accordance with the rule books. They determine the safety of the court itself, including the hoop, backboard, and floor. Referees also make sure that the basketball is properly inflated to weigh between seven and a half to eight and a half pounds.
3. 3. Fouls: Basketball referees stop gameplay when a technical or personal foul or a violation occurs. Examples of the latter include a ball going out of bounds, traveling, and double-dribbling. Refs use hand signals to indicate the type of foul, and they determine appropriate penalties against players, teams, or staff in the case of second violations.
4. 4. Safety: Referees help assure the safety of the players, staff, and spectators during a game. They check team uniforms and equipment prior to gameplay for any illegal equipment. Additionally, they call violations against overly physical play and even eject players, staff, and even fans from the basketball court for unruly behavior.

If you want to become a professional basketball referee at the highest level, here are some steps you can consider taking to meet your goal:

1. 1. Earn a high school diploma. The minimum requirement for a referee position at all league levels is a high school diploma or GED. Involvement with a team at the high school level as a student manager or referee’s assistant is also valuable at this early stage.
2. 2. Become a high school referee. Contact your state or local association for high school athletics. To qualify for a certified high school referee position, you need to pass both a written rules exam and a floor test, which judges your performance during actual gameplay. An interview and background check are also requirements for high school positions.
3. 3. Complete training. Once you pass the tests, you will receive training as a referee. Depending on your state’s requirements, basketball referee training will consist of online training or in-person training and mentoring from veteran officials in your area.
4. 4. Apply for college referee jobs. Register with the NCAA for consideration as a referee for tournaments at the college level. Submit a resume and clips of games you have refereed. Testing, a background check, and an in-person interview might also be part of your application.
5. 5. Try out for the NBA. To become a professional referee with the NBA, you must first try out for the NBA’s G League, or minor league. Expertise and experience determine which candidates the organization selects.

Basketball referees wear specific uniforms on the court that vary according to which basketball league they oversee. Referees for lower-level leagues, such as youth basketball and high school basketball, wear black-and-white-striped shirts with black side panels, black pants, and black socks.

Basketball officials for higher-level games—such as college basketball games for the NCAA—wear referee shirts similar to those worn at high school games. Officials of the NBA and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) wear light gray shirts with white stripes, black slacks, and black shoes. League referees with the FIBA wear a gray shirt with black sleeves. All referees wear a whistle on a lanyard around their neck to signal when play should stop because of a foul or violation.

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