Introduction to Officiating and Knowledge of the Game A. Professionalism B. Importance of blowing the whistle C. Game management D. Working with players and coaches

A. Professionalism Come 20 to 30 minutes before the game and be dressed properly. Do NOT horse around or shoot baskets while you are waiting or at quarters or at half time. Make sure coaches have their scorekeepers and timers in place and trained well before game time. Always hustle, the players are running so we should also be moving to get to our new positions. Look interested and excited about being there.

A. Professionalism (Continued) Be friendly and courteous to players and coaches. During the game when making calls you can still have a friendly face, but be firm in your decisions. It is important to have in your gym bag a notepad and pen, so you can write down the one or two comments the supervisors gives you. This will be helpful to watch your yearly progress. Be confident from the time you arrive; the coach will respect the official that seems to know what they are doing. Always have proper posture and facial expressions when talking to someone, and use eye contact. As an official you must never make a call in anger (we are suppose to be the ones under control when the game gets a little out of wack.) Practice Signals & Voice looking into a mirror

A. Professionalism (Continued) When talking to the coach always address him/her as coach, never by their first name, even if you know them personally. The coach can pick out the official that is out there just going through the motions, so make every effort to be alert and sharp at all times. You must trust your partner, so from the beginning make sure you are both calling the same things, then when they make a call support them.

B. Blowing the whistle: As an official you can learn the RULES (travel, double dribble, out of bounds). As an official you can learn the MECHANICS (signals and movement on the court. BUT, as an official good judgement (making the right call) is learnt by observation (attending clinics) and experience (refereeing games and having an evaluator help).

B. Blowing the whistle: (Continued) Basketball is a wonderful game, it flows along smoothly with players dribbling, passing, and shooting, the fans and the coaches are all watching the action, they are all focusing on the play WHEN SUDDENLY a whistle from an official sounds, everything STOPS, all attention is towards the official who made the call (the whole world is watching you). Now what you do in the next few moments will help make you a better official. You must be clear in your communications (by voice and signals) to let your partner, the players, coaches, scorers, timers and yes the fans know what infraction has happened and how it will be resolved. So that is a lot on your shoulders as a young official, therefore, it is so important that make a sharp blast from the whistle (so everyone knows that you have confidence and you know what you are doing.)

C. Game Management This means it is the part of the game that we as officials have the power to control. This means it is the part of the game that we as officials have the power to control. The usual RCBA game lasts about 80 minutes The usual RCBA game lasts about 80 minutes The situations (before the start of the game, time outs, subs, shooting fouls, violations) are times that we can manage and keep to a minimum by getting things done efficiently and quickly (without rushing) and have the game move along more smoothly.

C. Game Management: (Continued) 1. Before the start of the game: Make sure scorers and timers are ready, make sure players are ready to come on the floor quickly for the jump ball. It is your job to see that the game is started on time. 2. Quarter and half breaks: This is the time to check the score book, then discuss any concerns with your partner, then one moves quickly to where the ball is to be put into play and the other gets the players out and ready.

C. Game Management: (Continued) Time outs: These are short breaks for the coach to discuss things with his players, not you. One official should be available for the table, while the other one goes to where the ball will be put in play. After time outs get the player out and the game going. 4. Subs: These are NOT time outs for the coach, the new players should be brought out and ready for action. One official only is getting the subs ready, the other one is where the ball is to be put into play.

C. Game Management: (Continued) 5. Violations: The official that makes the call follows the procedures and gets the ball into play, have good communication with your partner, so they know the direction. Keep things moving quickly. 6. Shooting fouls: One officials calls the fouls and reports while the other one gets the players lined up for the free throws.

C. Game Management: (Continued) NOTE: In all these above situations, it is important to keep the dead ball time to a minimum. Good officials pride themselves in putting the ball into play without unnecessary delays. Remember the longer it takes you to put the ball in play the longer the time a coach is concentrating on you and your partner, so get the game going smoothly so the coach can concentrate on the game.

D. Working with players and coaches There are situations in a game that if handled early will save you and your partner a lot of grief later on. The players want to play and the coaches want to coach, so we must give them every opportunity by calling the game consistently and to the best of our ability starting from the beginning of the game. If a player pushes someone early in the game – CALL IT. If they do it again – CALL IT. If they do it again – CALL IT. By this time the coach should take the player aside and explain that they must stop fouling. If this is not call early and is left uncalled it will become more serious and dangerous later in the game. Calling the little pushes early eliminates the problem later.

D. Working with players and coaches (Continued) In conclusion, work hard, be confident, blow your whistle, hustle, be friendly but firm and continue to keep the LIZARDS under control. In conclusion, work hard, be confident, blow your whistle, hustle, be friendly but firm and continue to keep the LIZARDS under control.