A basketball official is someone who is in charge of enforcing the rules during basketball games. The requirements for becoming a basketball official may vary depending on where he wants to work. A person who wants to work as a basketball official at a recreational center or in a youth league may only need a basic understanding of the game and some training. However, if a person wants to officiate at a middle or high school level, or even on a professional level, he may need to obtain certification, which may require passing an exam or a series of exams.
Basketball officials ensure that the game is played and scored correctly. These officials are expected to apply the rules fairly, without favoring one team or one player over the other. They must also remain calm, rational, and firm in order to keep the game on track. Basketball officials are in charge of determining whether or not there have been any violations or fouls, as well as whether or not a score is valid. They may also be forced to penalize players if they behave badly during the game.
Anyone interested in working as a basketball official for a recreational center, camp, youth league, or other similar organization can do so without any prior experience. Those interested in these positions must often have a basic understanding of the game, as well as the rules and hand signals used in basketball officiating. An individual who wishes to officiate at this level may be required to attend an orientation or two training sessions, but this type of preparation is usually minimal.
A person who wants to work as a basketball official for a middle school or high school may face more stringent requirements in many places. The requirements vary location, but these officials may be required to have prior experience and undergo training. A person who wants to officiate for a school, particularly at the high school level, may be required to pass tests in order to become certified as a basketball official.
A person who wants to work as a basketball official at the college or professional level will typically need to put in even more effort. Officials at this level are frequently expected to have extensive game knowledge as well as years of officiating experience. A person interested in this job may be required to pass tests and obtain certifications in many cases. He might be required to attend training camps or clinics as well. Officiating in practice games and in-classroom lessons are frequently included in this training.