Aspiring Ref
 

Hello everyone, this is my first post on the website. I have been thinking about getting into officiating basketball as a hobby/ side job, however after researching online I really still don't know what I have to do to get on my way. I live in Port Huron, Michigan. If anyone could point me in the right direction to get me started it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You

I can never decide which piece of advice to give first. They're both equally valid:

• Begin drinking heavily
• Get a lobotomy

When done together, they will relieve you of this unholy urge. ;)

Okay, really. Here is my best advice for people who want to get started right:

• Get the rules book, case book and officials' manual. Study them.
• Hang out here. There's a lot of experience and wisdom in these pages.
• Get hooked up with your local officials association. They can help you get started working in your area.
• Get some training. Your local association can help here.
• Go to a good camp. The sooner you go, the fewer bad habits you'll have to unlearn and the faster you'll progress.
• Learn these two key phrases: Get in, get done, get out; Illegitimus Non-Carburundum. Their proper usage will become obvious over time :D

love for the game
 

Congradulations, the first thing that you must have is a love for the game. Don't officiate for the money. If you have the love for the game the money will come.

Here ya go, Snipes.
Welcome to the forum.
mick

http://www.mhsaa.com/resources/official.htm

wow you guys are quick. thanks for all your help, i'm sure ill be talking to you guys a bit.

Snipes,

This is a great place to learn a lot and to see a lot. Be sure to ask any questions you have; there are a lot of great officials who known their stuff on this site!

First rule of officiating
 

We always help newbies by relating the first rule of officiating (all together now) -

"Always tuck your whistle in your jersey before you take a leak."

Good one, However, you did not give me that advice. I learned the hard way>:D

I guess that's where the expression "wet your whistle" came from. :p

officials humor, quite special :p

welcome to the board and officiating Snipes:)

newbie help
 

*Try to find someone in your area who is an official.
*Find a mentor to help you. This was huge for me when I started.
*Your mentor or official friend will normally have last season's rule books that they can lend you so that you can study up.
*Spend some time with one of the books called the Officials Manual. That is real helpful for new officials.

The rule books for High School basketball come from your association who orders them through the NHFS. Their website is www.nfhs.org. Dont bother ordering the books right now. You will get them when you join your local association. And, as mentioned above, you can get older copies from vetran officials.

But when you do get the books spend some time with them. Learning the rules is key.

*Practice your signals. In the mirror. With a spouse/buddy. Seriously. The sooner you get comfortable with proper signals the easier everything will be. Have a buddy of yours call out the foul or violation. For instance he calls out "traveling." Then you have to go "tweet" and then do a stop clock signal, then a travel signal, etc. Or he says "shooting foul" and you go tweet, make the foul signal, then indicate what it is, etc. If it is a foul, after your "call" it, go "report" it, which is the process of inidicating to the scoring table what the foul is. I know this sounds totally dorky, but it is really helpful for newbies. It is the number one suggestion that I have.

Good luck!

Many of the above suggestions are great, especially if you can find a mentor. I am fortunate that I have 3 or 4 mentors who have helped me along the way. As important as studying the rules and learning the proper mechanics and signals are the most important thing when you are beginning is working as many games as possible. Find a rec league, middle school league or CYO league in your area and work as much as possible. Theory and rules will take you only so far but but doing games regardless of the level will give you the experience you need. And finally, if at all possible have someone film you from the stands. Although watching the tape can be brutal I know it always helps me to see how I look on the court, my position and mechanics,etc.

Rule 1a is not to have a lanyard that is 'too long'.

Hey, that's not a rule ;)

nope, just a tip, but tips are as helpful as rules sometimes ;)