How to Become a Basketball Referee In Canada

What Is a Basketball Referee?

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 rule books.

FIBA official Nate Saunders (far left)

How Many Referees Are There Per Basketball Game?

There are usually two or three referees in a basketball game. In Canada, throughout the various provinces most high school games will have 2 referees. At the elite prep high school, college, university, semi pro and pro leagues you will find 3 referees officiating the game. The games will have one official designated as 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 endline 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.

Games with three 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 them-self 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.

4 Areas of Responsibility for Basketball Referees

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

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. 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.

3. Fouls: Basketball referees stop game play when a technical or personal foul or a violation occurs. Examples of the latter include a ball going out of bounds, travelling, 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. Safety: Referees help assure the safety of the players, staff, and spectators during a game. They check team uniforms and equipment prior to game play 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 behaviour.

How to Become a Basketball Referee

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. 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. Become a high school referee: Contact your provincial 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 game play. An interview and background check may also be required for high school positions and higher levels.

3. Complete training: Once you pass the tests, you will receive training as a referee. Depending on your provincial requirements, basketball referee training will consist of online training or in-person training and mentoring from veteran officials in your area.

4. Advancement: In order to advance through the ranks, most individuals will attend development camps where they will be observed and evaluated by national referee coaches and instructors. The development and education pathway shows individuals the various stages one has to go through in order to advance. Each individual must meet the outlined criteria. In doing so they can be considered as a referee for high level tournaments at the various high performance and college levels. You may also be required to submit a resume as part of your qualifying process. Testing, a background check, and an in-person interview might also be part of your application. Expertise and experience may also determine which candidates selected.