How to Become a NBA Referee
Want to become a NBA referee? Here’s a blog that outlines what it takes to become a NBA referee, from the must have skills to the training necessary.
Train Hard
If you want to become a NBA referee, you will need to train hard. There are a few things that you will need to do in order to be successful. You will need to have good knowledge of the game, be in good shape, and be able to make quick decisions. Let’s take a more detailed look at each of these things.
Join a local basketball league
Becoming a professional referee takes years of hard work and dedication. If you’re serious about becoming an NBA referee, you need to start by joining a local basketball league. This will give you the opportunity to get experience officiating games and developing your skills. You should also try to attend as many clinics and camps as possible to learn from experienced officials. Once you have gained some experience, you can start applying to officiate games at the collegiate level. If you perform well at the collegiate level, you may then be considered for a position in the NBA G League. Only the best officials are selected to officiate NBA games, so it is important to continue working hard and perfecting your craft if you want to reach this level.
Get a job as a ball boy or assistant coach
Start working at the youth or high school level. Generally, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old to apply for these entry-level positions. Many youth and high school programs are always in need of ball boys or girls, and assistant coaches. Check with your local schools and recreation departments to see if there are any open positions. You can also check online job boards, such as Indeed.com or Craigslist.
Get Educated
The first step to becoming an NBA referee is to get a college degree. While you don’t necessarily need a degree in a sports-related field, it will definitely help you down the road. You’ll also need to become certified through the National Basketball Referees Association. Once you’ve done all that, you’re ready to start officiating games!
Complete a high school education
To become a NBA referee, you must first complete a high school education. After high school, you will need to attend an accredited college or university and complete an accredited officials training program. Once you have completed these steps, you will be eligible to take the NBA officials exam.
Attend a college with a good basketball program
In order to become a NBA referee, you must first attend a college with a good basketball program. This is because the NBA only hires referees who have experience officiating games at the collegiate level. Furthermore, attending a college with a good basketball program will give you the opportunity to gain experience officiating games at a higher level of competition, which will make you a more competitive candidate when applying for jobs with the NBA.
Start Refereeing
Start by refereeing at the high school level. You can also become a referee by joining a local basketball league. There are many opportunities to officiate at the youth level. The more experience you have, the better your chances of becoming a NBA referee.
officiate youth games
If you want to become an NBA referee, you need to start by officiating youth games. You can do this through your local park and recreation department, or through youth sports leagues. This will give you the opportunity to get experience officiating games and to learn the rules of the game.
work your way up to high school and college games
You can start your refereeing career at lower levels of basketball and work your way up. Most high school and college referees start out working at recreational levels, such as in city leagues or YMCA games. You can also become a certified official through the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) or the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
Join the NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the premier professional basketball league in the United States and Canada. The NBA is an organization that consists of 30 teams, and is responsible for the development and governance of the sport of basketball. So how does one become an NBA referee?
Complete an NBA referee training program
All potential NBA referees must first complete an NBA referee training program. The training program is designed to teach prospective referees the rules of the game and how to officiate a NBA game. The training program also teaches prospective referees the mechanics of officiating, such as proper positioning on the court and signals for calling fouls. During the training program, prospective referees are also evaluated on their physical fitness levels.
Attend an NBA officiating camp
One way to become an NBA referee is to attend an NBA officiating camp. There are a limited number of these camps each year, and they are invite-only. You must be officials at the collegiate or high school level to attend these camps.
The NBA scouting combine is another way to become an NBA referee. This event is open to the public, and anyone can try out. The top officiating prospects from this event will be selected to attend the NBA officiating camp.
There is no one guaranteed path to becoming an NBA referee, but attending an NBA officiating camp or theNBA scouting combine will give you a better chance at becoming an official.
Maintain Your Skills
Although some people think that being a NBA referee is easy, it is actually a very demanding job that requires a high level of skill. If you want to become a referee, you need to be able to keep your cool under pressure and make quick decisions. You also need to have excellent communication skills and be able to handle difficult situations.
Stay in shape
To maintain your NBA refereeing skills, you’ll need to stay in top physical shape. The rigors of an NBA game – running up and down the court for 48 minutes, making split-second decisions – can be demanding, both mentally and physically. You’ll need to be in excellent cardiovascular health, with sharp vision and hearing.
Your physical conditioning should include a mix of cardiovascular exercise and weight training, to maintain both endurance and strength. You should also work on your flexibility, to stay agile on the court. Most importantly, pay attention to your diet – eat healthy foods that will give you the energy you need to perform at your best.
Study the rulebook
66 of the NBA’s 79 officials are former collegiate referees, while the other 13 have significant experience officiating in high school, AAU or Amateur Athletic Union, and international basketball. Peak performance officials typically officiate 300 to 350 games per year.
Although some new officials join the NBA referent ranks every year, the competition is intense. There are only so many games to go around, and experienced referees with good reputations get preferential treatment when it comes to scheduling. That’s why it’s important for prospective NBA referees to gain as much experience as they can early in their careers.
One way to stand out from the crowd is by being able to officiate a wide variety of game types. In addition to traditional high school and college games, try your hand at officiating youth leagues, summer camps and foreign competitions. The more experience you have, the more confident you’ll be when it comes time to call an NBA game.
Of course, knowledge of the game is just as important as experience. Prospective referees should study the official NBA rulebook inside and out. They should also be familiar with any changes or updates that have been made to the rules in recent years. The best way to stay up-to-date on changes is to attend clinics offered by the NBA Referee Development Program throughout the year.
Attend clinics and workshops
These clinics and workshops will be your chance to get in front of those who matter and prove that you have what it takes to work at the highest level. You’ll also get valuable feedback that you can use to improve your skills.
