[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Here in the United States it is difficult for an official to get FIBA certificate. About 8 or 9 years ago FIBA tried to institute an age limit on its officials and many of the industrial countries of the world (USA, Canada, Great Britain, and Austrialia) said that that they could not legally discriminate because of age. At the time USA Basketball instituted a two level program for officials. The lower level is: USA Basketball Referee. The upper level is: FIBA Basketball Referee. I am registered as a USA Basketball Referee and doubt if I will ever get the chance to get the FIBA registration. In the U.S. the only USA Basketball Referees that have the chance of getting the FIBA registration are NBA, WNBA, and female NCAA Div. I officials. USA Basketball Referees and FIBA Referees are the only officials that are quailified to officiate the games played at the beginning of the college season here in the U.S. but they are hardly ever used because USA Basketball does not mandate the colleges and universities to use them. If a college does not use USA Basketball or FIBA Referees for a game against a foreign team they are fined $75 per official for the game. There are not too many officials registered as USA Referees or FIBA Referees because the only games played using FIBA rules in the U.S. are the AAU Men's Basketball program. I hope that I have not put everybody asleep, but that is how it is in the U.S.

But please don't get down on FIBA rules. If you were to pick up the FIBA Rule, Case, and Mechanics Books, you would be suprised how close the rules are to NFHS/NCAA rules, and for that matter if you were to compare NBA/WNBA rules to NFHS/NCAA rules there are many rules that are the same word for word. It is just how the rules are enforced on the court. Remember, in the NBA/WNBA, officials are paid not for blowing the whistle but for not necessarily blowing the whistle.

I have two friends that officiate in the WNBA and know one official in the NBA and believe you me, they truly are some of the best basketball officials in the world.