How to become a referee in the US

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by AremRed

I'd encourage him to work it to get used to the USA style of ball.

Fair. I'd encourage him to find high school leagues with real coaches that will actually pay you a decent amount.

[Dad]

Originally Posted by SC Official

Fair. I'd encourage him to find high school leagues with real coaches that will actually pay you a decent amount.

This.

While there is definitely a reason behind taking games which make you wonder what the point of life is, it's better to know exactly what you're getting into before you do it.

When you first start it's way better to take those $90 double header middle school games. Given you haven't just started, find some decent HS leagues like SC said. There's no reason to get assaulted -- yet.

[Raymond]

Next Level Referee Training, Villanova, June 24-25.

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[Mark Padgett]

Don't forget that if you're going to referee here in the U.S., you must always follow the first rule of officiating - no exceptions.

[bas2456]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Don't forget that if you're going to referee here in the U.S., you must always follow the first rule of officiating - no exceptions.

It's been a while since I've seen a reference to the (golden) first rule.

[Kansas Ref]

oh and one final thing of warning: you will have to get used to having your personal "social security number" listed on the paperwork of all the gyms/school districts that you work in--yes some woman who is usally the "assistant to the assistant athletic director" will need your ssn so get comfortable issuing around your ssn to various folks all around the city/state--it took me a whole season to get used to this and I'm still leery of it.

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Don't forget that if you're going to referee here in the U.S., you must always follow the first rule of officiating - no exceptions.

Isn't the first rule of officiating taught all over the world already??

[Hugh Refner]

Also get used to there being large rule differences in the levels of U.S. basketball. If you ever make it all the way up to the NBE (National Basketball Entertainment), there's no violation for traveling or carrying.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Kansas Ref

oh and one final thing of warning: you will have to get used to having your personal "social security number" listed on the paperwork of all the gyms/school districts that you work in--yes some woman who is usually the "assistant to the assistant athletic director" will need your ssn so get comfortable issuing around your ssn to various folks all around the city/state--it took me a whole season to get used to this and I'm still leery of it.

Depends on where.....none of the schools I work at have my SSN. One of the benefits of an association that handles the pay for games on behalf of the schools. Only they need to know the SSN....one place.

And for those that must pass out your SSN to work games, get a TIN instead. Use it instead of your SSN. The IRS will know the mapping of that TIN to your SSN for the purposes of taxes but you get to keep your SSN secure.

[bas2456]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Depends on where.....none of the schools I work at have my SSN. One of the benefits of an association that handles the pay for games on behalf of the schools. Only they need to know the SSN....one place.

Jealous.

Where I work, I visit a bunch of different school districts. For the two that I work in for about half of my games, after the first time I've worked in that district that school year, I just write "On File" when the voucher asks for my SSN.

Some schools around here have begun to use an automated pay system, but I kinda like opening up the checks I get in the mail. Also having the paper trail helps with my personal accounting.

[italian_referee]

Thank you all guys for all your useful responses!

I have another question: Is it possible to referee games for free voluntarily and have some kind of proof of that?

I am asking this because I am coming to the US with a F-1 student visa which does not allow off-campus employment unless related to the course of studies (in my case it is not related at all), and non-paid refereeing activity may not be considered as employment, and hence I may have some chance of doing that.

Do you have any experience to share?

Thank you all!

[Mark Padgett]

That's pretty simple. Work all the games you can, and tell them to send me the check.

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by italian_referee

Thank you all guys for all your useful responses!

I have another question: Is it possible to referee games for free voluntarily and have some kind of proof of that?

I am asking this because I am coming to the US with a F-1 student visa which does not allow off-campus employment unless related to the course of studies (in my case it is not related at all), and non-paid refereeing activity may not be considered as employment, and hence I may have some chance of doing that.

Do you have any experience to share?

Thank you all!

Non-professional referees in America are almost always independent contractors, which are not employees, so I doubt working games would not be permitted.

[italian_referee]

Originally Posted by SC Official

Non-professional referees in America are almost always independent contractors, which are not employees, so I doubt working games would not be permitted.

Yes, that is what I thought, but rules are really strict in this sense. If you have a student visa, you cannot work apart from very specific circumstances.

On the university website there is the following definition of employment: it is considered employment any type of work performed or services provided in exchange for money, tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, food or any other benefit. An unpaid position where the work performed receives no pay or other benefit is instead considered as volunteer work and it would be fine! It also specifies that "even if you are not receiving any form of compensation for services provided, the activity may still be considered unauthorized employment."

Hence, the basic rule, as far as I understood, is: if you get money, it is considered employment. I would have some chances that officiating were not deemed as employment if I did not receive any money, and that is why I asked if it is possible to officiate games without being paid and having it on paper.

Unfortunately I am afraid that this is a serious issue...

[LRZ]

Knowing something about the Philadelphia region, my guess--and that is all it is, speculation--is that you would have difficulty navigating the local scholastic bureaucracies to work school ball without getting paid. Rec leagues, possibly. If nothing else, there will likely be intramurals at the university. Where will you be? Temple? Penn? Villanova?