Resources for officials, tutors, mentors and observers. Building a database of resources useful to all.

2022/2023 Season
These fees are the minimum requirement. These match Basketball England's scale. Fees can be negotiated between clubs and officials.

Take pride in your appearance. Make sure that you are wearing the correct uniform, an official YBL* referee top. Check with your co-official(s) so that you wear matching referee tops.
*YBL referees must wear a referee top, black trousers, black trainers or basketball shoes.

Both referees need to check that the table officials are present, table equipment and scoreboard are working. The match ball to be checked for suitability for the game and not used for warm ups once deemed suitable.

Pre- game
Make sure teams have provided a team list with the correct licence numbers to your table official team.
Complete a receipt and claim payment from the paying club. Receipts are available for printing on the YBL website.
Warm up suitably, including cardio and stretching.
Discuss with you co-official(s), agree on how the game will be called. Agree on things to watch out for, game mechanics and teamwork.
Have a pre-game discussion with your table team and both coaches, inform coaches of your ground rules for the game.

In- game
Remember your mechanical movements on lead and trail. Use the correct signals. Make sure you keep up with the play. Run, don't walk!
Use time-outs and time between quarter periods to discuss the game with your co-official(s). Check with the table if they are happy or have any point to raise. Remain professional, remember to hydrate yourself. Either stand in front of the table or stand towards the opposite side of the court to the table to review the game so far.
It is NOT acceptable for any of the officials to start dribbling the ball or to start shooting the ball into any of the baskets.
It is important to be professional at all times, this works well and earns respect of the coaches and their players.

Post- game
Shake hands with players, coaches, your co-official(s) and table officials. Check the score sheet is correct, that a captain is not ‘signing under protest’ once happy sign the sheet. Do not rush out of the venue. Make sure everything is right before you leave. When possible leave with you co-official(s).

The Technical Foul should be awarded to any player or coach who has caused an infraction which is not a contact foul. There are three main categories:-
Verbal dissent; When the player/coach tells you he disagrees with the call. Often shouting at you at the same time.

Visual dissent; When the player/coach shows some sort of body action such as raising the arms, shaking the head, wagging a finger at you or some forms of gesturing towards you.

Players and coaches informing the refs of how to ref the game. Examples are “and 1” being called out by players/bench.”Foul “ or “That’s a foul “ being called out.

Technical infractions which may breach the ethos of sportsmanship. An example of this is running outside the court to avoid a screen which gives the player an unfair advantage.

Guidance
Move closer to the table, administer the technical foul procedure then inform the captain which player has the technical foul and why you have given it. Then administer the fouls shot(s). You may also inform the coach if you think this is suitable.
For example; “Captain, I have given player 4 a technical foul for verbal dissent." Can you also inform him that a further technical foul or unsportsmanlike foul will result in a disqualification.

Coaches Guide
As with the unsportsmanlike foul it is your responsibility to ensure that good sportsmanship and discipline are upheld within the team. Perhaps the main part of your job in these situations is to having a calming influence, as often you will be the most experienced person on the court.

Clubs guide
Does the club have a policy on how to prevent technical and unsportsmanlike fouls?

Referee Outcome
One Free Throw awarded at the time of the TF being issued. The ball returns to whomever had possession.

There are 4 categories for an unsportsmanlike foul which should be followed; however, this guidance is in relatively plain English. It was felt that in previous seasons not enough Unsportsmanlike Fouls were called at all levels. Some being treated as normal foul calls.
1. Was the action a basketball action, if no then call an unsportsmanlike foul.
2. Was the contact hard or likely to cause injury if yes then unsportsmanlike.
3. In the last 2 minutes any foul before the ball is inbounded is unsportsmanlike.
4. Any contact with head or neck whether intentional or not is unsportsmanlike.

Coaches
1. It is the coaches responsibility to support the referee with the calling of the unsportsmanlike foul. A way that this can be done is by ensuring that the rule is rigorously adhered to in all training sessions.
2. It is the coaches responsibility to educate their players bearing in mind their age and emotional ages. It should not be “win at any cost” ethos.
3. It is the coaches (and clubs) responsibility to ensure that parents are educated and support the referee's.

Article 37 (FIBA Wording)

C1 Not a legitimate attempt to play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules.

C2 Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent.

C3 An unnecessary contact caused by the defensive player in order to stop the progress of the offensive team in transition. This applies until the offensive player begins the act of shooting.

C4 Contact by the defensive player from behind or laterally on an opponent in an attempt to stop the fast break and there is no defensive player between the offensive player and the opponent’s basket. This applies until the offensive player begins the act of shooting.

Referee Outcome
For an Unsportsmanlike Foul, generally, two Free Throws are awarded.
If an UF is called upon the player making a basket, it will be basket awarded 'and one' FT to follow.
The team who takes the free throws will then gain possession at the three-point line extended with a new 14 seconds offence.

Being a referee in basketball can often be a lonely position. Yet refereeing is an essential part of the game. Often worked in isolation with the exception of your co-officials. But, improving your own performance will often give you a lot of satisfaction and will also enhance the standard of the game.

Guidence
After every game as yourself;
Did basketball 'the game' win? If 'yes', then you had a reasonable game. If 'no', or 'not sure' then start to self analyse:
Did I call all shooting foul?
Did I call all the fouls which put the team at a disadvantage?
Did I get into the correct position to be able to call fouls and violations correctly?
Did I call poor skills, such as travelling/ illegal dribbles, so that playing standards are enhanced?
Was I able to communicate my calls clearly and with authority?
Did I cooperate with all my co-officials?
Did I give them help when needed, but ensured that my areas of responsibility were upheld?
If at all possible ask more ecperienced referees to give you a pointer to improve your game. Can you select one improvement from the above guidance and work hard at it during the next game?

Coaches Guide
Coaches are some of the best persons to help referees. Yet, many will criticise a referee in a negative manor especiallu in the heat of the game. Get into a good habit of letting a ref know that they have a good game, often this can be done either at the end of the game or the net time you see them. Work to balance your criticism. Any improvements you want to see in a ref is also linked to what they did well. Good coaches use praise to motivate their players, do the same with referees.

Clubs Guide
Good clubs will often initiate an officialing carer often by asking a parent or enthusiast to help out in the first instance. Take this one step further by enquiring on their progression on a regular basis so that the officials feel wanted.