new to basketball REFing

[Mark Dexter]

Originally posted by Ref_007
Hi,

During the first part of the winter for the last 3 years I have been Refing JR and SR Girls HS volleyball. It is not required we wear stripes for this and we stand in basically the same spot for the whole game.

Personally I like wearing stripes and I like playing basketball. So this year one of our local ref.'s took me under his wing, everything he did he explained so I could learn.

I read through the FIBA official rules and FIBA guide for 2 person Refing. It is being arranged by my school for me to take a class and write a test next year so i can become registered. I am looking forward to this.

Right now I am 14 years of age and in the 9th grade and already I am officiating grade 12 students, It takes allot of self confidence for me to blow my whistle against older kids but in the long run officiating is a fun part of sports for those of us who always got picked last for the team or not at all.

I live in Canada and things are a little different but I really enjoy reading all the posts here. Hope so see you again soon,

A freshman should not be officiating seniors. I can just see now if one of my school's 5 foot naught 9th graders called a fifth fould on one of our 6 foot 5 seniors:
Ref:"That's your fifth."
Player:"Are you sure?"
R:"Yes."
PTowering over, and drawing back his fist) "Maybe you'd like to do a recount. . ."

Bottom line - stay out of HS ball until you've graduated from HS. (Imagine the conflict of intrest - you're reffing team A and B, and depending on which team wins, your school will/will not go to a tournament, etc.)