i'm officating for the first time in 2 days, but i feel like i'm not ready. Ive been browsing through the site and it's given me lots of hints and tips, but i have a question. What do you guys mean by stuff like 4-18-6. Correct me if i'm wrong, but I'm assuming that's in the rulebook of refereeing or something. If so, is there a site with the rules of officating basketball games?

tnluong,
Welcome to The Forum.
4-18-6 Rule# -Section# -Article#
4.18.6 Case# .Section# .Article#

By which rules will you be officiating?
The rules vary.
Some are online and some are not.
mick

i will be officiating intramural basketball games at a university. Instead of 3 refs, there will be 2. Clock only stops on timeouts. There's 2 20 minute quarters. Could you please send me the sites for the rules?

Which country?
Do you know if you will be using International, American University, American High school rules?

Try a google search.
mick

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

You can read all you want and study all you want, but once the ball goes up and you run down the court, you're probably going to say "Holy shiz" anyway.

Just try to get through the first couple of games. Be in position, hustle, and don't worry about knowing everything. You won't.

It gets better. Trust me.

thanks for your advices, guys. I'll let you guys know how i do in a few days.

tnluong,

A couple of things to think about for your first game.

1. You will feel a little overwhelmed at first, you'll get in the groove soon. If everything seems to be happening too fast, take a couple of steps back. Get a wider angle and you'll be able to see better. Especially on the baseline.

2. Focus on the defense. If there is contact and the defender did not have a legal guarding position or he initiated the contact (by moving toward/into the offender, sticking a leg/hip into his path, swinging an arm down, etc.), it's a foul on the defense. Otherwise it's either an offensive foul or nothing. The key is the defender.

3. Once that whistle blows, slow down. Take your time reporting fouls to the table. Make sure your partner is ready before putting the ball in play. It will calm you, give you time to think, and make you look like you know what you're doing.

4. You don't hear it on TV or from the stands, but good referees talk a lot. Talk to your partner, the players, the table. Talk to the coaches (just not very much ;)) The game runs a lot smoother when everybody knows what's going on, tell them.

5. Have some fun.

BTW, your partner is the only one who needs to know it's your first game. ;)