652.game management manual for the beginners in basketball officiating handbook for basketball referees

MOSCOW

MOSCOW – 2014

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Copyright ОАО «ЦКБ «БИБКОМ» & ООО «Aгентство Kнига-Cервис»

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Fedor Dmitriev

Mihail Grigorev

Ildar Latypov

GAME MANAGEMENT

MANUAL

FOR THE BEGINNERS IN

BASKETBALL OFFICIATING

Handbook for basketball referees

Moscow - 2014


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УДК 796.323

ББК 75.566

Д53

Edited by:

Fedor Dmitriev International referee

Mihail Grigoriev International referee, honorary FIBA referee

Ildar Latypov PhD, Head of Department of Theory and Methods of Physical

Culture and Sports of Volga Region State Academy of Physical Culture, Sport

and Tourism (Kazan)

Д53 Game management manual for the beginners in basketball

officiating:

Handbook for basketball referees / Fedor Dmitriev, Mihail Grigoriev,

Ildar Latypov. – Moscow: 2014. – 88 р.

This book is recommended for young and experienced referees. During

the game it is very important to understand principles of the rules, their

interpretations, spirit and feeling of the game. Psychology aspects and pregame

conversations are ones of the main parts of referees’ preparation. We hope that

this book will help you to understand and feel the basketball game much better.

Foto:

Elena Nazarova

Computer edited by:

Stanislav Morozov

УДК 796.323

ББК 75.566

© Fedor Dmitriev, 2014

© Mihail Grigoriev, 2014

© Ildar Latypov, 2014


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Game management manual

for the beginners

in basketball officiating

(Part I)


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Before you decide to be a professional basketball referee you have to contact

or have some conversations with experienced basketball referees. The basketball

referee job is very complicated, combined with a lot of difficulties, stress and

pressure from everywhere, which influence people’s life. At the same time it is

very interesting job which gives young person a chance to make self- affirmation

as an individual personality, to realize his self and to increase self- education.

On the other hand, referee’s job is so specific that it can be lost at any

time due to the injury, age, low rating, the subjective assessments independent

of referee himself, and also his personal behavior in relation to the job or to

colleagues. That’s why there is a question in front of experienced referees about

the correct presence of the content, tasks and prospects of officiating to the

young and how to direct them in the right way. First of all young referees need

to get a high education. This should go in parallel with the beginning of

referee’s career. High education gives a chance to the self-perfection, to

independence from the officiating. Very seldom somebody young thinks about

the life in forty, fifty years old. Time is passing very quickly and perspectives

are rapidly being concluded. Perspectives finish as soon as you are allowed into

the highest group of referees because you immediately become a competitor for

many other referees.

To get upward as a young, great potential referee is easy and possibly

quick but the main thing is to hold selected height, not to roll down. We have a

lot of «well-wishers» everywhere. That’s why it is very important to

strategically determine further activity, to set a goal and move to it.

Having a good education, which you can constantly improve, gives you a

chance not to receive additional stresses when you are older (after 45 - 50

years), when a question can stand out:

- What shall I do from here on?

It is necessary to think about this constantly. We have a lot of different

referees’ careers examples. And each beginner has his/her personal choice,

which is always to be respected.

Before we approach the parts of referee’s preparation it is necessary to

clarify or understand the main destination of his job, namely the control of the

process of game in the limited space and time. It is about high standard

assistance to players and coaches in order to open up their skills. It is important

to emphasize the referee’s role as a defender of valid result of the game.

Considering referee’s preparations it is important to indicate one of the

basic stages - pregame preparation, for in this all other forms of preparation are


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generalized. It then leads to the good performance, good referee’s job. The

success of your job, prospect and future will depend on pregame preparations’

implementation. Authority is not immediately earned; it comes heavily but

collapses more rapidly and easily. That’s why everything that is connected with

the professional officiating should necessarily be related to doing the best. We

do not have trifles in the officiating – all things are important. This is the same

principle as in all human activity. Problems in our life, conflicts occur because

of the trifles. Sometimes it is not visible but it is accumulated and then it is very

heavy to stop the “boiling point”.

Where does the pregame preparation begin? Many referees consider that

it begins with the warm-up in the sport hall, gyms, then the pregame

conversation happens and the team of referees goes out onto the court. This is

wrong opinion and it must be changed. Everything begins from the point when

you have attended all the seminars, have passed the tests and also have got a

referee’s passport along with the first nomination. Feelings of satisfaction,

happiness, increased emotional feeling of success – all are present in such cases.

These feelings are very good. These are your positive, first stage. At the same

time somebody can feel doubts and uncertainty.

Together with the nomination you receive information about your partners,

commissioner or instructor of the game, about the city, where this game will be

held and the teams, which will play there, teams’ positions etc. It is necessary to

collect more information about the game, then to determine the route of your trip

and to begin to be prepared for the game yourself. Preparation for the game does

not mean that you must repeat the rules, interpretations, mechanic of officiating, go

mad, or make same excesses - all homework must be done long before the

nomination. Preparation for the game is the study of the meeting teams, their

leaders (formal and informal), behavior of coaches who accompany the team of

specialists, the team leaders. The collection of such information is difficult but

possible through colleagues and commissioners during the conversations, personal

contacts, survey (analysis) of video, Internet etc. Nowadays with the assist of the

Internet it is possible to obtain much information. To analyze games is to analyze

their participators. For good officiating it is better to make analysis of all players,

especially the leaders of the teams and problematic players, coaches, assistants of

coaches to look at their strong sides and weaknesses. The strong and weak sides of

players can be written down into your diary in order to inform colleagues before

the game if it is necessary.

Detailed information about the game gives the possibility to be prepared

for the game. Who are these formal and informal leaders in the team? It is


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obvious for all that often head coach or captains are leaders in the team. They

are the famous people and captain well-known player, and a lot of spectators,

fans come to look at his game. This is obvious and objective.

But sometimes during difficult game situations, at conflict moments we

can find some players, who by their actions, personal qualities may lead (push)

the team, and motivate it from inside and push it from the heavy, difficult

situation. For them there is no “advantage - disadvantage” principle, feeling of

the game, philosophy of the game. They play according to their personal inner

rules - to fight to the end of the game, to the final signal. They certainly

recognize basketball rules - to play fairly. These are experienced players who

have large life experience. They heavily recognize their errors, mistakes but

they do not pardon the mistakes of others including referees’ mistakes. They

can lose but only in the fight. They are informal leaders. They do not make PR

actions but they clearly make their job and hold discipline inside the team. If

referee finds contact with the informal leader, it means it’s possible that the

game will pass under referee’s control. In such situations referee can earn the

authority and get huge experience, life one including. The selection of tactical

things as parts of the pregame preparation, the analysis of playing patterns and

moments are also necessary. The success of a good forthcoming officiating

depends not only on the preparedness of referees but also on the skillful and

competent fulfillment of their work.

This process consists of several parts: preparation for the game, control of

the processes of game and summing up of the results with analysis of the

performance of work. The formation of strategy and tactics for the game, the

composition of the plan of actions are very important for this. It is necessary to

get basic knowledge about technology and tactics of game in offence and

defense in order to react to the rapid change of game situations.

Do not forget about the necessary official procedures, which should be

observed with each official departure:

- Passport (visa, if it is necessary);

- Tickets (if there are no prepaid tickets);

- To have license or passport of referee;

- Place of accommodation (hotel);

- To know address, telephone, e-mail of your colleagues and commissioner;

- To have official rules, official interpretations, mechanics and regulations of

competitions.

There are no trifles (small things) in officiating. This must be controlled

and understood. Referee must be prepared directly for the game: must examine


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situation after obtaining the nomination, analyze the trip, and collect documents.

Also you must analyze your forthcoming work in the team with your partners. It

is necessary to know your partners, commissioner. Preparation for the game

begins at home. It is necessary to turn attention to two crucial points before the

departure to the game – these are meals and sleep. Meals must be balanced and

correspond approximately with what you will eat during your trip. Vegetables,

fruits, juices must always be included. Heavy, high-calorie food can be used

four hours before the game and as far as possible it is better to refuse such food

before the game and replace it with salads, soup, fish, fruits. Drinking water is

possible in any quantity. Any alcohol is forbidden.

Sleep must be valuable and last for eight hours as minimum. Information

before the game must be as much as possible (about the city, where the game will

be held, hotel, meals, transport, meeting teams, spectators, media, security, time of

the game, playing hall, cloakrooms for the referees, enter into the hall, scorer table,

the arrangement of equipment, signals, video, the benches of the teams, medical

personnel). It is not possible to examine preparation without the administrative

part.

Young referees attend many seminars and clinics. They have a lot of

information but to use it on the court is very difficult for them. It is important in

this situation not to break the young referee psychologically but to competently

bring him to the forthcoming work: to support him psychologically and to help

concentrate on the game itself.

The main thing is not to quiet but to motivate young referee to

concentrate on his successful performance only through the positive thinking.

He must be competent, balanced, intelligent person, able to handle his emotions

and feelings in difficult situation.

Referee - public personality!

Teamwork

Good referees’ team work is a main task each referee faces during the

game. The purpose of the teamwork is to reach the valid result of the game.

No one is secured against the mistakes. Mistakes are the part of the game.

They are, of course, accompanied by negative reactions, appeals, disturbances.

In such situations and cases it is most important not to hurry with making

decision. The technology of making such decisions must be discussed before the

game. It is necessary to determine the sequence of your actions. You must

answer yourselves the following questions: “What? Who? Where? When?”


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Some characteristics of referee

Presentations - these are your face, the first impression. Therefore referee

uniform must be selected by your size, must be clean, pressed, foot-wear

(shoes) be polished. These are not wishes but requirements for everyone without

the exception. Also any referee must possess two whistles (1 extra), small

magnetic the basketball court board and diary, personal computer.

A good referee is always polite, confident. It is necessary to remember

that there is nothing more important than the game. For this it is a must to be

professional in everything and always. One of the postulates of FIBA says: “At

the moment, when referee obtains money for his job (sum is not important), he

becomes professional!” Each person is individuality. He has his own style. The

style of referee must be constantly improved.

The knowledge of basketball and of everything related to it must be

encyclopedic. It is necessary to collect information about the games, players, rules

and also interpretations of game situations on the base of the rules. These are real

requirements, if you actually want to become professional referee. There are no

trifles (small things), and everything is considered when it is desired to reach a

result.

A good referee - is always punctual. Punctuality - very important factor

and not only because of the fact that referees must arrive to the game in time.

Punctuality concerns everything connected with the game, or time before and

after it. A good referee never officiate game alone. Inside the team of referees we

have not only referees on the court but also table officials and commissioner. A

good referee never enters into the long conversations with the players and the

coaches. He makes this briefly, correctly, clearly, rapidly and only if necessary.

On the other hand, the conversation with the table officials if necessary must be

more detailed. A good referee avoids unnecessary gestures, signals, phrases in

order not to have additional conflicts with the players, the coaches, or the

spectators.

A good referee - not slaver of Rules. What’s very important is not

pedantic application of the rules of game but understanding of game through the

prism of the rules. Mistakes occur everywhere and also with everybody. When

it occurs, there must not be any discomfort. When the error, mistake is

correctable - it must be corrected, when - no, game must be continued as soon

as possible. Main thing in control of the game is to achieve officiating not only

by whistle, but also by voices, words, phrases, gestures, and when it is


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necessary, do try to help, to assist coaches, players to express their

craftsmanship more and in the spirit of the rules of game. Each game gives a lot

of information for self evaluations.

Game includes many conflict situations. Do not be afraid of conflicts and

problematic moments in the game. Be prepared for them, expect the motion of

game and try to be looking for a solution in heavy situations. Expect the

unexpected! Referee must feel problematic moments during the games in order to

control them.

Some referees begin intensely to prepare for the game, to physically

practice, to run, to make excesses. All your physical conditions you had to deal

with during the preseason preparation. Now you have only to maintain it and to

prepare yourself psychologically for the answer to the questions:

- How to manage the stress;

- Not to show nervousness;

- To govern self emotions;

- To manage the situation, when an incorrect decision was made.

To manage the stress. Do not catalyze the critical situations.

Not to show nervousness. Officiating – creative job, in which nerves are one of

its components. Nervous states of the young referee are different from

experience referee’s ones. Firstly, it can be connected with inexperience and

small information about the games. Advice is even simple decisions do make

confidently, with the expressive amplitude of gestures.

To govern emotions. It is necessary to understand and to consider that the

conversation/communication is the main part of life. Pressure on referees is just

the one of forms of conversation. Another form consists of the skills to

communicate with people. The negative reactions of fans, players, coaches and

others – all form the part of the game.

To manage the situation, when an incorrect decision was made. Important

element in control of game is a reaction to one’s own incorrect whistle.

Recognize it, show gesture and say: “Excuse me, this is my mistake!” It is

important to see, where the ball is located at the moment of whistle, in order to

continue game. In other cases of making an incorrect decision (whistle or

silence) try not to make extra error in the remained minutes of game. If your

partner made error, help game continue according to the rules. Answers to these

questions will give you the possibility to be more prepared to the next game.

The psychology and self preparation are parts of the pregame preparation, with

its base being the work with people, the skills to communicate, to lead, to

handle your own self.


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Official FIBA rules are the connecting link, when referees correctly use

their requirements. Rules help the different schools of world basketball to speak

in one basketball language. Application of the rules creates a good control of

game, even when you make a strong decision which is accompanied by conflict

or appeal. It is necessary to understand that after selecting the way of sport

referee, you will always be under criticism.

The procedure of control before the game

The important role in a good performance of referees the pregame

conversations play, namely discussions of the most important, problematic

patterns, which are likely to happen during the game. Many game situations

must be determined and discussed before the game. Strategy of communications

in these situations must be fixed. Experienced referee (instructor) can help

young partner to understand the connection between the thinking, feelings and

actions. The analysis of video materials can help to get prepared.

When the referee is prepared for the game always are present

positive and negative thoughts. Experienced referees make all possible for

themselves to think only about the positive things and about good decisions. It

helps them to be concentrated and handle the game well. Below we can find the

plan of self-control - the primary positions, on which should be focused our

attention whilst preparing for the game.

Self-control before the game

To be confident. Confidence gives the possibility to be calm during reaction to

the rapid change of game situations.

To know your job. Do basic duties on the court and outside of it.

Be Calm. Checking of you conditions before the game and during the game.

To make simple things is good. It is necessary to do everything well and in time.

To feel good and confident. A good pregame preparation, conversation and

good physical conditions give freedom and confidence in actions.

To control the game, using only positive moments. During the game it is

necessary to work only through the positive. Analysis of mistakes you will

make next day with video.

To be representative. It is necessary to always be in the form, punctual, correct.

You are public personality. You represent your country, your federation.

To be calm. External calmness gives confidence to all - everything passes under

your control.


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To be strict and independent of game. Strictness - this does not mean

punishment. Strictness - this means that you will not allow players and coaches

to change the rules of game.

To fix moment without the regret. If you are assured that there were the

violations or foul, do not wait – just make decision.

If we examine preparation for the game wider, as the teamwork of

referees, table officials, and commissioner, then it is necessary to note that in

practice we have an adapted collection of positions on which should attention be

focused. These questions to each game are the same, only degree of attention is

different. To have such collection of positions is a must for every referee. It

makes the referees’ job as one team much simpler. Referees preparations begin

not only before the game but before the season. Before the game are determined

the primary positions, the points of understanding of one or another game

moment, or another question, preparation directly for the forthcoming game.

You should be ready to game but not concentrate only on violations. It is

necessary to think about better things for the game, how to react in the difficult

situations with the coaches, the players. Referee should know how to control

speed of game. If the speed of the game is high and appears the risk that some

game situations may go out of control, referee can slow everything down, by

giving the ball to player in/out of bounds with the small pause, visually

controlling situation with the partners, table officials and commissioner. The

main task is to overcome the chaos on court, so everything should be under your

control. Also the speed of game can be increased: you may actively give the ball

to the player in order to re-start the game, and the advice is, do not stop the

game if not necessary.

To each referee it is necessary to know and use official signals and

gestures, provided by the FIBA rules. The official gestures within the rules of

game - this is the language of your contact, communications. They help referee

to associate, communicate with all participants during the game. Referee is

collector, accumulator and analyzer of information on the game. Only skillful

apply of the rules of game will help referee to protect his solution and himself

from all possible appeals. The development of plan directly before the game

must be discussed during the pregame conversation. Investigating the positions

of pregame conversation, I must say that it must always pass only in positive

key, just as analysis after the game. The progress of referee occurs only through

the positive criticism, whilst a negative one pushes the referee down. All

positions examined in the pregame conversation are examples, standards one

must reach. There is no sense for the young referee to discuss all positions


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before the children game. Below are represented the problematic moments,

which are necessary for the different levels of competitions, and what’s

necessary for the given game is determined by the commissioner and

experienced referee. Let us examine the positions, which can be analyzed in the

pregame conversation.

Pregame discussion

1) Chief referee duties before the game (table, game ball, equipment, signals).

2) Changing of the Rules. Interpretations.

3) Jump ball. Arrow of alternative possession. Game clock.

4) Area of responsibility (back and front court for TRAIL, CENTER, LEAD).

5) Rotations (systems, visual cooperation during foul, who indicates the rotation

and when it is indicated).

6) Off the ball coverage.

7) Out of bounds situations and throwing situations (eye contact, cooperation

between referee with the ball – other referees, referee with the ball – table

officials/ commissioner, 5 seconds control).

8) Violations: 3, 5, 8, 24 seconds. Pressing defense (responsibility of TRAIL and

CENTER).

9) Hand checking.

10) Screens, holding without the ball.

11) Flopping (official procedure).

12) Technical, unsportsmanlike, disqualifying fouls (procedure).

13) Last shot (responsibility).

14) Basketball interference and goal tending.

15) Double and triple whistles.

16) Substitutions (procedure).

17) Communications with table officials (verbal and visual).

18) Timeout (during the game and the last one).

19) Three points shot attempt (responsibility).

20) Free throws (5 seconds control).

21) Team bench area (behavior of substitutes and team staff).

22) Principle of verticality.

23) Post play (rebound situations).

24) Last five minutes of the game or overtimes.

25) End of the game. Signing of the scoresheet. Leaving the basketball court.

26) After game discussions. Comments.


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Special attention

1) Level of the teams (motivation, players, position).

2) Hall, fans, table officials, signals, basketball court.

3) Criteria of violations and fouls (1 and 2 halves of the game; the double games).

4) First roughness (game by hand checking, holding, pushing).

5) Game without the ball - basic work of referees.

6) Game of centers (rebounds, pushes, screens). Active CENTRAL referee!

7) Difficult, questionable out of bounds violations (AID). Visual contact.

8) Cooperation with the commissioner and the table officials (gestures, verbal

and visual signals).

9) Control of substitutions and timeout (quantity of players).

10) Teams’ benches (players, personnel, coach, assistant, doctor and others).

11) TF and UF criteria (constancy).

12) Control of the signals: 24 seconds, time, buzzer (signals), “the framework”.

13) Clear perception about the team which is throwing the ball in and where it

should be thrown after the timeout.

14) Video equipment.

15) Travelling, carrying the ball through, double dribble (criteria).

16) 3 points shot attempt (CONTROL and AID).

17) Timeout request and substitution (latest possibility).

18) Free throws: early input in 3 seconds area and from 3 points area.

19) Control of 24 seconds devices in frontcourt (along with dropping to 14

seconds).

20) 8 seconds counting of control of the ball in back court (time at the end of

counting).

21) If you have doubts about YES or NOT decisions in the game, then: in 3; 5;

8-seconds situations or in travelling - THERE ARE NO violations; Player in

the act of shooting, interference or goal tending, then count or not – it’s YES.

22) During timeouts: the purpose is the positive dynamics of officiating. It is

important to know how the game would be continued; gesture and time

control; last shot and the end of the game time or 24 seconds.

23) Gestures are official language of game (to use official gesticulation).

24) After foul during the shot - the control of the flight of ball. Responsible are

center and trail referees.

25) During the throw – ball from out of bounds - control game time and 24

seconds team control (trail referee).

All your solutions must be clear to majority of people!


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Duties of the chief referee before the game

It is important to understand that all the referees on the court have the

same rights, but chief referee has more responsibilities. He should verify:

- Score table, equipment (signals of 24- seconds and stop of game);

- To determine game ball;

- To confirm equipment for video;

- To know coaches and their assistants;

- To know the numbers of the captains of teams from the score-sheet;

- The correctness of filling of score-sheet;

- To verify the signals of stop of the game time and 24- seconds, and also the

presence of additional signal (whistle, etc), the score-sheet, signed by coaches,

the arrow of alternative possession; to determine the method of the

demonstration of difficult numbers of players;

- To focus attention on unnecessary things on the table officials (mobile

phones, to press, etc).

Changes in the rules. Interpretations

It is important not only to analyze these or those changes in the rules and

their interpretations, but to give examples of the game situations in which they

can be used in the game. If you inform coaches about the changes before the

game, you won’t have to answer their questions or appeals during the game, so

that you will be able to control the game process.

During discussions about changes and interpretations of rules you should

determine the line of your officiating from the first minutes and to the final

horn. You should be constant in yours solutions. It very often happens that at

the beginning of game young referees fix almost all contacts but in the end of

the game they are afraid of giving fouls because this is the fourth or fifth foul of

players or even team leaders.

This produces nervousness in players and coaches. It is necessary to

remember that game continues up to forty minutes and constancy in decision

making is a guarantee of high qualified job. Constancy is also necessary in the

situations with unsportsmanlike, technical, disqualifying fouls.

Jump ball. Arrow of alternative possession. Game clock

Referee must be confident that partners and table officials with the

commissioner are ready for the beginning of the game. Referee must be sure

after jump ball that the arrow of alternative possession is established correctly,

and game clock and device of 24- seconds are correctly switched on.


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Area of responsibility (back and front court for TRAIL,

CENTER, LEAD)

Mechanics determines the locations of referees depending on game

situations with the ball or without the ball. The eyes of two referees (with the three

persons officiating) must be on the “strong” side. Eye is a tool of collecting

constantly changing information on the court. Having positions on the court helps

your eyes to see the episode at an optimal angle: both on the vertical line and

horizontal. The area of responsibility of referees is not a dogma with strict closed

boundaries but a method of cooperation to control situations on the court during

the game.

Rotations (systems, visual cooperation during foul, who indicates

rotation and when it is indicated)

Rotation is mostly initiated by the Lead referee, when ball is located on

the opposite side of basketball court (to the Lead) and near the central referee,

near the players, but not during the shot or during quick passes of ball. Lead

referee penetrates to another side of base line and this is a signal that it is

necessary to make a rotation of Trail referee to the Center referee, and Center to

Trail. In any case you must control the game without the ball (off the ball) and

near the ball (on the ball), and if it is necessary to wait for the checking of

situation, do not occupy your new position, but just control the game situation.

You will always have enough time to occupy your new position. This case

concerns the Trail and Lead referee. Very rarely Center referee can initiate

rotation, for example, when offensive player with the ball and defender are

located on center referee’s side, near the central line. Center referee goes up,

makes 1-2 steps and becomes Trail referee. Lead passes to other side to the new

Trail referee, and the former Trail becomes a new Center. During any rotation

the cooperation between the partners is necessary. Sometimes there is no need

in rotation. It is possible to use “two steps” rule, which is to displace from your

position by 1-2 steps to the necessary side in order to control the situation and in

this case to learn, where partners are located and then to return back to your

classical place.

During change of positions or transferring to another half court for the best

control of game, referees must practice visual cooperation with the partners, “to

exchange glances”, to look at each other. Referees should always know and control

10 players on the court and also each other, creating the imaginary “triangle”. If

someone of the referees does not make a correct rotation and notices this later,


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there is no need to make a chaos on the court. For new Trail referee it is necessary

to control and to correct situation: to pass (to cross) to the other side of court, after

establishing the regular arrangement of referees. During foul situations two

referees who did not give foul for violation, must control all players, knowing a

number of free throw shooter if a foul situation occurs or know the direction of the

following attack. This is important especially when after fouls or violations pause

substitutions or time out occurs. It is necessary to remember that many conflict

situations appear during the pause in the game. Team work here is very important.

Game without the ball (off the ball)

Game consists of situations near the ball (on the ball) and game without

the ball (off the ball). By percent ratio this is evinced as follows: 20% near the

ball along with 80% of game is without the ball. Therefore the control of game

without the ball is the “key” to the successful officiating. If all three referees

look at the ball then this is a problem. All game is built around settings of

different kinds of combinations, interactions in order to give a chance to one or

several players for the good shot attempts. This always occurs through setting

different kinds of screens. It is necessary to estimate the extended elbows,

hands, arms, shins, knees, delays, blockings which can lead to personal fouls.

This occurs more often without the ball and here referees must be ready to fix

illegal actions of players. The most important thing is the first illegal action, but

not a reaction to it. (ACTION, NOT REACTION!)

Travelling

More often travelling is fixed by Trail and Center referees. Obvious

travelling is an obtaining of the undeserved advantage of the offender over the

defender due to the early detachment of pivot foot and then putting the ball on the

floor.

Experienced defender after determining the pivot foot of that offender

occupies a correct guarding position, while taking off pivot foot earlier than

beginning of dribble does not give a defensive player enough time to take a new

legal guarding position - that’s where blocking occurs. Therefore along with an

offensive player receiving the ball, the nearest referee has to act according to the

diagram “ball – offensive player’s foot – defender’s foot”. So it is possible to

make a correct decision and when referee looks only at the ball he does not

control the whole situation.

Sometimes referees fix a foul to defenders but they pass, ignore or miss

travels before that foul. During one on one game and the game of centers under


17

the basket it is necessary to clearly determine pivot foot of the player with the

ball because players change pivot foot or make additional step obtaining the

advantage over the defender. The following diagram will help with the

beginning of dribbling from the certain place when you want to determine the

correctness of displacement: “left pivot foot - pass to the right side or right pivot

foot - pass to the left side”. In 90% of cases occurs a travelling violation.

Out of bounds situations and throwing situations (eyes contact,

cooperation: referee with ball – referee, referee with ball – table

officials - commissioner, control of 5 seconds)

Sometimes during the games referees had difficult situations when ball

went out of bounds, and referee who is responsible for the side line or base line

is closed or does not see from whom the ball went out. Referee should stop

game clock by the appropriate gesture of rules and at this moment establish

visual connection with the partners and then make a final decision. Partners

must be ready to assist in this kind of situations. Assist, help must be clear.

Gestures must be distinct and visible to all. If you have a doubt, then jump ball

is a best decision.

Visual cooperation (contact) is important and necessary. In all cases referee

who is responsible for throwing in is obligated to establish visual communication

with his partners, table officials and the commissioner by the appropriate gesture

and to obtain answer from the partners and the table officials about their

readiness for the continuation of game. Referee, who stands near the player

counts for how many seconds player holds ball. It is known from the practice of

experienced referees that it is better to give a little more than 5 seconds for the

throwing in, because if violation occurred, then 5 seconds must be obvious for all.

It is also necessary to control the lines of the court after throwing in; the player

who receives ball on the court under the pressure can touch the line at the

beginning of his actions. Referee must be ready for this and not look only at the

ball but control the legs, feet of player. This is important especially in the end of

the game when with pass from out of bounds begin the active actions of the team,

due to the shortage of the game time. Sometimes situation out of bounds occurs in

front court near the center line. Advice for the young referees is to stand between

the center line and the player that is closer to the thrower player so that he would

not make the step into back court and would not throw ball into back court thus

immediately making mistake. Extra conflicts or violations you are not in need of.

There is the moment pedagogical, which the smart players and coaches will


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understand. During the shoot pause in the game do not turn head from the game

and the players.

Violations 3, 5, 8, 24 seconds, the violation of 5 seconds

The violations of 5 seconds can occur:

- When spent more than 5 seconds for free throws;

- During close guarding position by defender and offender does not make any

actions;

- When thrower with the ball spends 5 seconds and does not make a legal throw in.

Fixation of the violation of the rules of 5 seconds – it is an easy violation.

When referee takes a visual reading of 5 seconds, this gives possibility for players

not to make mistakes. Because for all it is obvious for what referee counts.

This is the same concerning the counting of 8 seconds.

Violation of 8 seconds

The offensive team must transfer ball from the back court into the front

court during 8 seconds. Ball must touch court, opponent, referees, player in the

front court, or player with the ball passes the central line – therefore two feet

and ball are located in the front court. The counting of 8 seconds continues in all

remaining cases even if one foot of player with the ball and ball itself are in the

front court, or ball on seventh second is flying from back court or crossed the

central line and player receives the ball in the front court on the ninth second -

this is violation. Trail referee should count of 8 seconds.

For Center referee in this case it is also necessary to control situation in

order to help, assist partner until ball comes to the front court.

Counting 5 and 8 seconds

From the practice: to count each second of possession is very heavy.

Therefore it should be counted with palm by ejecting it to the side of court so

that it would be seen by everybody who is connected with the game. When on

the device of 24 seconds time has passed from 16 to 15 second and ball has not

been transferred into the front court - this is a signal that we are situated in “red

zone” and it is necessary to rapidly make decision.

Trail referee must control 24 seconds devices. It is best to count off by palm

but not to eject fingers on two hands for the counting of 8 seconds. When against

the player with the ball some defender plays closely, in close guarding position,

and offender does not make any action - does not pass the ball, it is important to be


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ready for the visible count of 5 seconds and if necessary - to call violation. The

gesture of counting palm must be with the wide amplitude and be visible for all.

24 seconds violation

Trail or Center referee fixes 24 seconds violation by the mechanics. They

are located on the court, and for them it must be distinctly visible how long players

have already played and how many seconds remain on the 24 seconds devices. As

far as possible Trail or Center referee must visually control the end of time of 24

second-possession, and especially if to the offensive team the ball is given for

throwing in, the front court referees must know how much time of possession

remains. It is possible to direct attention of table officials and 24 seconds operator

to the remained time of team control. Everybody must be ready for the game.

Sometimes it happens when two referees on the court miss signal for the

24 seconds violations or operator of 24 seconds devices incorrectly resets 24

seconds (14 seconds). Referee, who stands on the base line (Lead), can assist, if

he is confident and sure. This is good team work. This is correct for the game.

Mechanics in this kind of situations is secondary. The main task is to understand

and to feel the spirit of the rules, to control situations and to make a good,

correct decision. For referees it is necessary to control and cooperate with the

operator of the 24 seconds device when the correct new countdown of team

control starts after shoot or throw in from out of bounds or when new team is in

control after stealing the ball from the opponent team. It is very important to

know when the team begins to control the ball on the court. When referee fixes

24 seconds violations, referees should know the following information: 24

seconds signal; ball location during the signal.

Back court violations

For the back court violations Center and (or) Trail referees are

responsible. The most important thing, when it comes to the determination of

violations, is to see and to evaluate:

- Who controls the ball?

- Who the last touched the ball in the front court?

- Who first touched the ball in the back court?

You should remember that the width of center line enters into back court!

Press defense

Very often different teams use different kinds of press defense as the

team defense is played. For the full control over the game you must be ready to


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the quick changes of directions of game, be they changes of motions’ directions,

or large number of contacts, or mistakes of players. Here the high concentration

of two referees - Trail and Center – is of importance, but Lead must be ready to

assist his partners and not run so far from the game to the base line.

Trail referee controls the game, staying a little bit behind the last player in

the back court, and also he counts 8 seconds to control the possession of ball.

Center referee does not leave his position near the central line, prepared to assist

his partner at any time. Sometimes it happens that also the lead referee, if

players are not located in the three-second area, remains near the side line for

the total control of the whole game by three referees.

Hand-checking

One of the basic criteria of good teamwork of referees is the

determination of illegal use of hands. On this it is necessary to focus attention

from the very beginning of game. Should be determined all criteria, positions

and conditions of the use of hands by players. Player does not have a right to

touch another player by hands (one or two) when this creates interference with

free movement of offenders and when it may lead to tough game or reactions of

players.

Very often referees fix the reaction of players to the illegal use of hands.

Defender touches, holds the offensive player by hands and does not allow him

to be moving freely but that offender in response to this pushes off the hands of

defender. In the majority of these cases referees fix the second action but not

first, because it is more obvious. In all game situations rules allow the contacts

of players by hands if they do not give advantage to the opponent. It is

necessary to select correct position on the court for the whole control of game

and to stop from the first minutes any incorrect game by hands, to be constant in

decisions and solutions from the beginning to the end of game.

Screens, holding without the ball

Analyzing game situations and problematic moments in the game, we can

make a conclusion that the majority of incorrect decisions (missed fouls and

like) occurs at the moments of game without the ball, because referee very often

intuitively looks for the ball or follows it. “If you always look at the ball, then

we just have another spectator in the basketball hall”, - one of the experienced

referees said. Control of the game - is control of game without the ball, too. The

purpose of each team is to derive player on the prepared position for the shot

and all the combinations (screens, penetrations etc) are made for that and do


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occur, in the majority of cases, without the ball. These playing actions occur

very often with the incorrect use of hands, the delays, the pushes, extension by

knees, by arms, by elbows, etc. It is necessary to be always ready to clear

definition which is permitted within the rules of game.

The clear determination of incorrect game without the ball shows high

level of referee, his class and authority. This is very important especially for the

young referees.

It is necessary to remember that if player is without the ball, then factors

of time and distance are considered. Defender must give some time and distance

to offensive player without the ball for stoppage and changing the direction of

motion. If player is with the ball, then factors of time and distance must not be

considered. Offender must stop with the ball or change direction of motion and

defender must stand or move to the side or back but not forward. Referee must

feel each step, each motion of players during the game.

Screens

Screens - one of the most important elements of game, which very often

happens especially in the offence. Time and space are important factors. It is

necessary to pay attention to each situation of setting screens. The main

criterion for the referees is no move within the cylinder of the player who places

screen. If player who places screen is moving at the moment when contact

occurs, it is considered as a guilty of incorrect setting of screen (blocking).

The main thing for making a decision is how the screen was set: correctly

or not. Referee should remember that offender, while placing screen against the

defender, can occupy the position in front of him or on the side as close as he

desires if this occurs in visible area of opponent. If screen is placed out of

opponent’s vision from behind or on the side of the player against whom the

screen is placed then it is necessary to leave one - two steps so that he could

avoid the charge of illegal contact.

The incorrect use of the widely extended arms, knees, legs, elbows must

be punished. Special attention must be given to the widely extended hands and

elbows during active offensive motions. Screen should be placed so that the

opponent has a chance to avoid contact. Player who places screen must be fixed,

static when the contact occurs.

Sometimes the actions of players, who place incorrect screens, occur

without the attention of referees because they look outside of their primary area

of responsibility that is "on the ball" and commit mistakes. The incorrect screen

made within out-of-control area is usually a beginning of combination and

entails receiving advantage, which is unacceptable.


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Flopping (figure drop, imitation). Official procedure

A lot of players attempt looking for “cheap” fouls from the referees;

imitating and figure falling on playing court after the small contact but often

generally without it. The professionalism of referee consists of the clear

recognizing and a strict warning of this. If we call these “cheap” fouls we break

constancy in the officiating. This is not to be allowed. There are several

methods of determination of figure falling, drop or imitation. It is very

important to speak about this before the game during the pregame discussion. If

contact was not so obvious but referee saw the intentions of defender and

situation did not require operational interference it is necessary with the first

pause in the game to explain to player - in some short friendly phrase -

everything about his actions and what’ll happen in case of repetition. The main

thing is that the player could understand you immediately without discussions.

During the obvious figure drop or the imitation a technical foul must be

fixed. If a foul for the figure, imagined drop is not given at this moment, the

procedure can be as follows. With the first pause in the game the nearest referee

to the player warns player about the figure drop and technical foul for this, if it

happens next time. The referee nearest to the coach of the team warns coaches

and team on the bench. Everything must be made operationally and clearly.

These actions show your team work and control of the game.

Technically for determining “figure drop” it is necessary to look at the

defender especially at his feet. If he stands on the heels or rolls from the toes to the

heels and at the moment of contact he is also straightening his knees, this is one of

the reasons why player may fall with light contact. He loses the balance of his

body.

Technical, disqualifying, unsportsmanlike fouls

Technology of making decision

These are strong punishments. If game situation requires their adoption,

then they must be immediately used. Control, management and monitoring over

the game are primary for the referees. And if it is necessary for clear vision and

order of the game, all measures and decisions must be accepted. All

provocations and toughness must be punished. However, situations occur, when

referees fail to control some small contacts, violations, which lead, in turn, to

the tough violations, and then referees have large problems with the


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determination of responsible players.

Rarely before the game someone of players, coaches or people following

the team want to receive a strict punishment. In practice such cases are only

few. If such cases are not few, it means referees selected incorrect criteria to

control the situations, they were not constant in solutions, they were not ready

psychologically and physically to the game, did not work as one team,

misunderstood the permissible contacts and they missed motion of game,

feeling of game, control of game.

Technical, disqualifying, unsportsmanlike fouls must be expected

(foreseen). It’s not necessary to be afraid; but one must try to expect what’s real.

“Fire” is easier to prevent than to “put out”! In the conflict situation no one

must see your nerves, confusions, even partners and the commissioner. You will

clearly determine responsible person or persons and actual punishment. In the

difficult situation it is necessary that at least one of the referees would continue

always to control players on the court and team benches area. All solutions,

decisions must be taken without the excess of emotions. Here experience,

internal calmness and authority are very important. Any assist, aid of partners

must be accepted and the solution is determined according to the diagram:

- Conflict situation - fixation;

- The stop of game - the determination of foul;

- Who controls ball;

- The determination of responsible person or persons;

- Punishment.

Procedures must occur as fast as possible. Pauses must be reduced but

also no hurry is acceptable.

Last shoot (responsible referees)

Technology of making decision

We examine last shoot in each period or extra period. In this situation on

the spot of shoot there must be four eyes of referees, one pair closer to the shoot

and partner’s one, depending on game situation in order to determine:

a) Status of shoot;

b) The position of ball at the moment of time signal;

c) The correctness of play of defender or shooters.

In this case the third referee must have his opinion about shoot situations

for the possible consultation with the referees.

In the difficult situations of “last shoot” crew chief must consult with the


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partners, the commissioner, the timekeeper if necessary after which make a final

decision. If the crew chief before the game confirmed video equipment he can

also use it for making final decision concerning the last shoot but only

according to the situations, described in the rules of game.

Goaltending and Interference

It is necessary to see and to determine who made interference with entry

or interference with ball. Trail and Center referees are responsible for the

determination of these violations. During the shoot, take 1-2 steps toward the

side of basket to assist, to help but do not leave the area or turn your head to the

next attack or fast break of offensive.

With the fast break when Trail referee is so far, Center referee can make a

decision concerning the interference with entry and interference with ball.

Sometimes Lead also can assist or help with decision because he does not

always occupy place on the base line during fast break. Sometimes there are no

players yet within Lead referee direct area of responsibility.

Dual, triple whistles

Game situations do not exclude dual or triple whistles. In these cases

there are two moments. The first - referees fixed foul or violation which actually

occurred, this is positive moment. From the other side, referee or two referees

who gave whistle not in their area of responsibility, they left their direct area

without attention. This can occur in the critical situations when actually your

partner does need assist. If referee who is responsible for his area made a

decision and gave whistle, duplicating or assisting in these situations are not

necessary. In these situations it is necessary to focus attention on the following:

- Visual contact with the partner;

- To make a pause, to estimate situation and if you make final decision, to begin

to move to the table officials for the transmission of information. Dual, triple

whistles occur also in “boundary” area of responsibility. The punishment the

referee nearest to the place of violation must define, and he must decide to

whom offense goes - this will be understandable for all. If referee is obviously

making a mistake in his solution, partners must advise, express their opinion but

if the first solution has to be changed, only nearest referee must have a word.

Everything must be executed as fast as only possible.

It is necessary to avoid dual and triple whistles, trust your partners. But if

such situations occur, analyze them after the game and in the pregame


25

conversation fix the areas of responsibility and prepare for any kind of

cooperation for good team work.

Substitutions of players

The procedure of the substitutions of players produces the referee nearest

to the table using for this a visual communication with scorer and official

referee signals. Referee must be confident that the player who becomes new

substitution left the playing court and former substitution becomes player. The

procedure of substitutions cannot be so long but also you cannot begin the game

without full confidence that all the necessary procedures have been arranged.

Sometimes it happens that the game begins with six or four players on the court.

If you arranged all necessary procedures for the substitutions, the main thing

remains to control these procedures in order to avoid problems and conflicts.

Cooperation with the table officials

On the court during the game are located three teams - two teams of

players and one team of referees. Team of referees consists of: referees on the

court, the commissioner and table officials. Without a good teamwork of

referees is not going to bring a good result. A constant cooperation between the

referees, the commissioner, the secretaries is necessary for this. Such

cooperation can be verbal and visual. Clear gestures and signals form the

language of good cooperation. The basis of all gestures comes from the official

gestures of the rules of game, which do not require interpretation. It must be

clear and understandable. It’s necessary constantly to repeat and to know them.

Gestures must be executed not very quickly and with amplitude. Before the

game you must decide with the scorer how to demonstrate “large” numbers of

players.

Time out

Time out - this is time for the analysis, planning of further actions, control of

the area of teams’ benches and for small relaxing. At that moment when referees

meet each other during the time out it is very important to determine which team

will have ball, also place for throwing in immediately after the time out, or who

will be shooter and the quantity of free throws. Referees must know and accept any

appropriate idea about the bases of game, the technology, tactics and strategy.

Time out - this is time especially in the end of the game during which


26

referees discuss next tactical and strategic tasks and purposes of teams, as they

will play, what forms of offense and defense will be used. If this occurs in the

end of the game, then tactical fouls may be used. Your forecast is a form of

additional concentration and self assist. In the time out all discussions must be

only in the positive direction. All critics and analysis must come after the game.

It is important here and now to make correct decisions. Remember that in the

end of the game the referees do not have right to mistakes. But positive

conversation will only help the team of referees concentrate on the team work

and success at the end of the game. The place for time out for the referees must

be on the playing court, on the opposite side from the table officials and the

teams’ benches. Referees are obligated to control the teams’ benches area. Crew

chief also must be ready to react to the signals from table officials or

commissioner or to any questions of game (game time, 24 seconds device,

team’s fouls, remaining time outs for teams, etc). Visual communication must

be constant.

Ten seconds prior to the end of the time out, two referees nearest to the

teams’ benches invite the teams onto the court and after confidence that all are

ready game continues.

Three points shoot attempt

Mostly 3 point shoots attempts in the mechanics two referees on the court

control - Center and Trail referees. Depending on from which side of area the

shoot is done, one determines the price of shoot (the 2 or 3 points attempt), and

contacts between offender and defender. Sometimes offensive player provokes

referees to foul, seeing that the ball has missed the basket. He extends his feet

widely and provokes defender to the contact. You must control the situation

and, if it is necessary, fix this foul of blocking to the shooting player. This is the

team foul, given to the team, which did not control the ball. It is not offensive

foul.

Another referee from the opposite side determines has basket been hit or

not, and the violations connected with a shoot. The clear communication

between the referees is necessary. It is important for each referee to be ready to

help, to assist partner. It concerns even the Lead referee who stands on base

line, if his partner is completely closed by players and an attempt is being made

at the long distance, say, from the angle of court. Assist is always significant,

especially for making a correct decision.

Three points shoot attempt is to be shown by the hand raised upward with


27

the extended three fingers. The raised hand must be the nearest one to table

officials for the clearer checking of situation by scorer and commissioner. With

hand distant from the table the scorer and commissioner won’t be able to see

your clear sign. It is because the raised hand may be hidden by the body of

referee, his head or whatever. With the successful three points shoot attempt the

referee must not turn his head and body to table officials. It is necessary to

continue to control the whole game and to be in visual contact with partners.

Free throws

During free throws it is necessary to be confident that free throws are

made by the player who was fouled. The teamwork of referees is a must for

getting this done. With the entrance into the 3 seconds area to administrate free

throws and give ball to shooter, the Lead referee must look at the table officials.

Still there is a possibility for the substitutions or the time out for both teams. If

there are no such requests, and commissioner or scorer has shown that

everything is under control, then make a gesture about the quantity of free

throws and pass the ball by rebound from the floor to shooter. It is necessary to

control five second violation for free throws.

With the last or single free throw Lead referee controls the output of

players from places where they fought for rebounds and does it earlier than the

ball descends from the hands of the shooter on the distant side of the court.

Center is responsible for the line of free throws, for the entry of ball and for the

control of the output of players from places where they fought for rebounds, and

he does it earlier than the ball descends from the hands of the shooter. Trail

referee controls players beyond 3 points line so that they would not enter the 2

points area earlier than ball touches the ring, and he also helps center referee

with the entry of ball and rebounds.

Team bench area (behavior of followers, coaches, substitutions of

players, the accompanying persons)

One of problematic areas of control by referees is team benches area.

Referees often forget about this after concentrating attention directly on playing

court with players, table officials and score board. Many problematic situations

in the game occur near the benches of teams - incorrect substitutions, extra

people on the team bench, unsportsmanlike behavior, the constantly standing

players and accompanying people, the spilled water, leaving team bench area

without the permission, the late required time out from coach or substitutions

from players and others. All these situations referees must control from the very


28

beginning of game. Substitutions, coaches and accompanying persons must feel

and know that they are always under control and are obligated to follow the

rules.

During time out referees must control the teams’ benches. Players cannot

come in on the playing court earlier than the time out finished or cannot delay

game by later output. For referees it is necessary to use the appropriate gestures

and signals for time out procedure. Coaches, assistant, teams accompanying

persons have the right to go onto the playing court only after the permission of

referee. Substitutions do not have the right to stand or warm up during the game.

Sometimes coach leaves the team bench area in order to make observation

to his player or to appeal to the table officials, commissioner, referees, to protest

against the solutions of referees. This cannot be disregarded. After small pause it is

necessary to focus attention of coaches by making a correct warning. Immediately

to enter into the conflict there is no sense. But referee’s word or phrase must be the

last one. After your observation or warning the dialogue must be finished.

The principle of verticality

During officiating of the contacts of players especially near the basket, under

the basket, referee must apply the principle of verticality. Remember that the

contacts cannot be avoided but those which give undeservedly any advantage it is

necessary to fix. During the game each player has the right to occupy any position

on the playing court, not yet occupied by opponent, within the limits of his

cylinder. It is necessary to remember that the player who protects himself must not

be punished for the vertical jump and for the raised hands above his head within

the limits of his cylinder; and that offensive must not cause contact with the

defender, who occupies correct position, by using hands, by pushing player or by

extending legs widely - or hands in the process of shooting. With the principle of

verticality there is no need for fixing the first contact immediately. If it did not

influence the game and did not give the undeserved advantage, continue the game

without the whistle. Feel game and select which is correct for the game and which

is not.

Post players game (rebounds’ situations)

Very often the center players raise hands and show referees that there is no

contact between them. It is necessary to look at the process of fighting to control

the space between the center players, assessing them from the top to the bottom.

The raised hands - this does not mean yet that players are playing by feet

according to the rules. Often the defender locates one foot between the feet of the

given offender thus preventing him from moving freely. This must be fixed and if


29

contact is obvious you must make a decision. The good positions of referees and

mechanics applied give a key to the correct and objective solution/ decision.

In general, for the game of center players Lead and Center referees are

responsible. The game of post players occurs often in the three seconds area and

it is important to be ready to the quick change of situations.

The clear and good cooperation of team of referees, especially for the Center

referee, is very important. He is a key in this game situation. The game without the

ball occurs before him. The well selected position of Center referee gives the

possibility to estimate the permissible contacts, to look for space between the

players who fight for the place and for receiving the ball. If there is no space,

which means that contact occurs, then referees are to estimate the degree of the

influence of contacts on the game. Referees team must be ready to make a correct

decision.

The same situation occurs with the fight for the rebound of ball. It is

important not to leave one Lead referee for making all decisions, not to be

removed from the fight under the basket. Of equal importance that the Trail and

Center referees have already come closer to the central line and await there

during the shot, so to meet attack in the opposite direction. Assist and help

under the basket are necessary for the Lead referee. It is a must during the shot

to take 1-2 steps towards the basket in order to reduce “the triangle” of control

between the referees to make a correct decision. You must fix the first action of

players, but not the reaction of opponents to the action. Action, not reaction!

Last five minutes of game. Extra-time

The last five minutes of game are often key and decisive. Right to

mistakes has no one of the referees. It is possible to officiate 39 minutes and 55

seconds excellently and on last seconds to make the incorrect decision which

will cross all your work. You must remember about the possible provocations

from the side of players, coaches and accompanying persons and also:

- About unsportsmanlike fouls, with the ball not thrown in from out of bounds;

- About tactical and quick fouls;

- About a quantity of teams fouls;

- About the remained time outs;

- About the visual communication with the commissioner and table officials;

- About control of 24 second and game clocks;

- About the additional signal or the actions of commissioner or operator of time

in the case of nonoperational siren or horn;

- About the direction of the arrow of alternative possession;


30

- About the security service and where it is located;

- About the exit from the playing court.

All these must be controlled at the end of the game. In the additional

period teams attack under the same baskets, and teams fouls remain as in the

fourth period, each team has only one time out. Situation with unsportsmanlike

foul during the throw in/ out of bounds in the last two minutes of game: here it

is possible to preventively avoid strong punishment after warning the defensive

team of the protecting players through the captain.

The end of the game, signing of score-sheet and leaving

the game court

It is important to remember that for referees the end of game occurs after

the procedure of signing the official scoresheet. The crew chief who is obligated

to verify the correctness of calculation puts signature onto the paper. To verify

also the correctness of filling time outs, teams fouls, the name of winner and

other info and to confirm the result of the game by the signature.

Sometimes once the hard game is over it happens that just after the signal

near the table officials all coaches and leaders of teams stay. There is no need

for approaching them. Better to leave playing court, verify and confirm the

scoresheet in the locker room. It is important to remember that you must leave

the locker room before the game and playing court after the game together. You

are one team of referees from the beginning to the end. This is connected also

with the safety of referees. This must not be forgotten.

Conversation after the game and analysis of officiating

In the referees room after game it is necessary to be relaxed. All

conversations about the game must be only positive. Negative comments must be

rejected. Difficult game situations cannot be analyzed without video; therefore,

make a general selection of game. Detailed analysis occurs only after work with the

video recording.


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48

Game management manual

for the beginners in

basketball officiating

(Part II)

Special attention


49

Special attention

1) Level of the teams (motivation, problematic coaches, players, position).

2) Hall, fans, table officials, the game sound signals, basketball court and floor,

entrance and exit to/from the gym and dressing room.

3) Criteria of violations and fouls (1 &2 halves; double games).

4) First roughness (hand-checking, holding, pushing), appeal.

5) Game without the ball - basic job of referees.

6) Post play (rebounds, pushes, screens). Active CENTER referee.

7) Difficult situations with out of bounds violations (HELP). Visual contact.

8) During the throw – in from out of bounds control of the game clock and 24

seconds team control (trail referee).

9) Control of the signals: 24 seconds, the game clock, the game sound signals,

the lighting.

10) Control of 24 seconds clock in front court (stoppage, reset 14 seconds).

11) Gestures – official language (use only official gesticulation).

12) Cooperation with the commissioner and the table officials (gestures, verbal

and visual signals).

13) Control of substitutions and time out (quantity of players on the court).

14) Must know after pauses or time out, who will be throwing-in and from

where or number of the shooting player.

15) Time out request and substitution (latest possibility, special cases).

16) During time outs: purpose - the positive dynamics of officiating. To know

from what place and how to continue the game; gesture and time clock control;

last shot and the end of game or 24 seconds signals.

17) Team followers (coach, assistant, substitutions, personnel and others).

18) Criteria TF; UF (constancy).

19) Video equipment.

20) Travelling, carrying the ball, double dribbling (criteria).

21) Three - point attempt shooting (ALWAYS CONTROL and ASSIST).

22) Free throws: early enter in restricted area and shooting from three point

field goal area.

23) Counting of eighth second’s control of the ball in backcourt (the end of

counting).

24) If you have doubts: YES or NOT in the game with the situations: 3; 5; 8

seconds or travel – BETTER DECISION - THERE ARE NO violations; if you

have doubts - player in act of shooting, interference or goal tending, basket

counted or not - BETTER DECISION - player in act of shooting; interference

or goal tending; basket counted.


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25) After foul during the shot - control of the flight of ball. Responsible center

and trail referees.

All your solutions must be understandable for all!

Your solutions must be intelligible to majority!

Level of the teams

(motivation, problematic coaches, players, position)

Investigating the basic conditions of pregame discussion of referees, you

must pay special attention to the level of the meeting teams, their motivation.

This will help them build strategy and tactics of the officiating in the given

game. In no way the game of the lowest leagues will always be easier. The level

of game, performance and craftsmanship are lower than in highest leagues but

sometimes it is more difficult for officiating.

Difficult, conflict situations, fights in such games there is a lot of, but

rarely the same may be said of basketball quality. All of these push the team of

referees to be maximally concentrated, ready to the development of game in any

direction, ready to immediately stop roughness, dirty game, to fix everything

that interferes with game from the first minutes and to the final sound signal.

The quality of basketball in such games is not high but the level of fight is at

maximum. It is impossible to let this fight be developed into roughness or

provocations. The principle “advantage - disadvantage” is not applicable here.

Referees should fix all the negative things that occur on the court for total

control of the game. Usually when one is constant and objective in applying

one’s solutions, players of both teams adjust to decisions of referees and assume

their line of officiating if it is obviously objective for both teams and for both

sides.

When we are fixing pedantically all violations and fouls it does not mean

we feel the game, we can handle it. Sometimes one team is profitable (for

special reason) to play with fouls, making some fouls on purpose. By these

fouls they bring down the rate, the speed of game of faster team, leaving them

(this team) only at positioning offense and not giving them a chance to make a

fast break and quick (fast attack) offense. Referees must expect this in such

situations and select the criteria of evaluation of violations and fouls which

would not place one of the teams in disadvantage position. It is important to

recognize the concept of tactics of the team whilst game is going onward. If line

is selected correctly, game passes under referees’ control and it does not

frequently require operational interference. “Sometimes there is no need to


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wake up the game by the whistles”. For this it is necessary to consider

everything - the level of the teams, players, their age, positions, the previous

games between the teams, the results of last games, playing of leaders of teams,

the behavior of coaches, leaders, players and informal leaders, court, floor etc.

Everything must be analyzed before the game.

Hall, fans, table officials, the game sound signals, basketball court

and floor, entrance and exit to/from the gym and dressing room

In advance it is necessary to get to know all nuances of the article

“equipment”, basketball court, floor, color of boundary lines on the court,

substitution benches, checking the game sound signals and video equipment (on

the requirement of the regulations of competition). It is also necessary to know

the place of the entrance and exit to/from the cloakroom (dressing room) of

referees. Before each game give several minutes for these procedures and come

more than one hour before the official beginning of the game. During this time

we can meet participants of the game and in unofficial conversation with several

phrases establish friendly contact before the game. It is necessary to examine

more widely the whole process of the game. It is like a large measure, concert,

which is prepared previously and spectacle is culmination. All seems routine but

good finished job shows the quality of conducting concert. Same thing happens

in the basketball game. Preparation part, collection of information, checking

over the situation, installation and preliminary planning of performing work – it

is the basis of the referee job. The well carried out preliminary operation - is the

guarantee of further successful conducting of game.

Criteria of violations and fouls

(1 &2 halves of the game; the double games)

Selection of the strategy and tactics of the forthcoming game in many respects

depends on technical preparations and psychological state of participants. The

criteria of officiating must be constant from the first minute and to the final

sound signal. Referees cannot express differently the identical playing episodes

and actions of players during the game. Constancy - fundamental characteristic

of the craftsmanship of team of referees. If you are not constant and your

criteria change during the game it means you have not enough craftsmanship,

knowledge, experience. It is necessary to understand during the officiating of

difficult, heavy games that if your actions and solutions on the court are


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inconsistent and not intelligible, you will have problems to the end of the game.

If you hold the identical valid line of officiating during the whole game then

team, players, coaches, spectators will accept your work, your decisions. The

main thing - your solutions would be intelligible to majority and would be

objective. Players will play and you just have to hold the selected criteria. Every

team needs from the referees stability and constancy of the whole game and the

same in the case of the double games.

First roughness (hand-checking, holding, pushing), appeal

One of the important elements in the qualified conducting of game is

determination and reaction to first roughness or excessive appeal from the teams

or players. By timely appropriate whistles, gestures, words, phrases, eyes,

actions, body languages referee shows that everything is under his control. This

gives confidence that the player understands referees even without the whistle.

You gave team a chance for the continuation of game but not more roughness.

Otherwise your inconsistency in the solutions or mistakes can lead to the

negative reactions of participants in the game and as a result to the warnings,

technical, unsportsmanlike, disqualifying fouls from referee’s side, pauses in the

game and problems inside, outside and after the game.

Game without the ball - basic job of referees

All game in the basketball occurs near the ball but almost whole work for

referees is far from ball (off the ball). In order to do the work of quality it is

necessary to understand why referee must pay attention to the game without the

ball, within which many incorrect contacts of players happen, that influence the

motion of game situations and perhaps the game as a whole. This aspect of

game is characterized as the basic understanding of game itself through the

prism of rules and estimation of the permissible and not permissible contacts.

Post play (rebounds, pushes, screens, movement).

Active CENTER referee

During the game under the basket offenders and defenders have same

rights to take any position without the violation of the rules. Player has the right

to occupy any place on the court when the opponent did not occupy it earlier.

Random contacts between tall players can occur but the use of the widely

arranged arms and legs for the ejection, the blocking of the motion of opponent


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is not permitted. Protecting himself, player cannot use arms and legs in order to

prevent the free movement of opponent. After protecting himself, defender

player occupies correct position, and offensive player does not have a right to

repulse him for obtaining an advantage position - obtaining ball or for the

shoots. The offensive player does not have a right to clench, hold defender

aiming at obtaining of ball or dribbling to the basket.

It is necessary to remember that the situations when contacts become

excessive or rough are not permitted. Rough game under the basket occurs in

the following situations:

- Offensive player repulses defender, who stands at the correct position, for

taking an advantage position under the basket;

- Offensive player with the aim of obtaining of ball repulses defender;

- Shooter does not have a right by hand or by elbow to repulse or “to remove”

the hands of defender.

For referees it is necessary to feel those situations which can lead to

roughness and also imitation of fouls (flopping) made by both offensive and

defensive players. The movements of center players with the ball in his hands in the

beginning of dribbling or the stoppages have a specific technology. Now and then

insufficient coordination leads to the disturbance of movement. The preliminary

monitoring of the game of post players will help you officiate qualitatively.

Act of shooting

The act of shooting begins when ball is located in hand or hands of player

who makes a shot and player begins continuous motion with the subsequent

motion and leaving (passing) of ball. An attempt of the shot concludes (finishes)

when new motion is made. If foul is accomplished on the player during the shot

motion and he finishes his action by the pass to partner, the process of shooting

concludes (finishes) and no free throws can be given as for the foul during the shot.

Difficult situations with out of bounds violations (HELP).

Visual contact

Out of bounds violation is looking likes easy violation but how many

problematic moments occur in the game when referees fix incorrectly out of

bounds violations. Team work, constant visual contact here is very significant.

It is important to continue to control situation on the court even when the

referees have doubts about out of bounds - who was the last to touch ball. In this

case the clear gesture for the stopping of game clock, visual cooperation with


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the nearest referee about the professional help will contribute to making

decision, and if referees doubt - jump ball must be fixed. Main thing is complete

cooperation with the partners. Help and assist of associates must be visual as

well as the gesture, affirmed in the pregame conversation.

During the throw – in from out of bounds control of the game

clock and 24 seconds team control (trail referee)

With each stoppage of game and either its renewal after the drawing of

initial shot or its renewal after throwing in or unsuccessful free throws and also

after ball having touched the ring, one of the referees has the possibility to

transfer eyes and to control the correctness of starting or stoppage of game

clock and device of 24 seconds. Together with other methods of officiating

referees must create the automatic habits for specific control of each game.

Managing information about “the start, stop, restart”, you have the capability to

correct the mistakes of timekeeper or 24 seconds operator.

Control of the signals: 24 seconds, the game clock, the game

sound signals, the lighting

Usually it concerns trail and center referees. If there is a need for assist to

partners, the lead referee who is located on base line can assist but only in such

case if he is confident and this help is necessary for partners and for the game.

There is not anything more important than the game! Mechanics is secondary,

the main task - correct and valid solution, decision for the game.

Control 24 seconds clock in front court (stoppage, reset 14 seconds)

It is extremely necessary to control during throwing –in the 24 seconds

clock in front court, especially if remaining time for team control is less than 14

seconds and foul or violations happened and new 14 second must be granted. 24

seconds operator must reset time to new 14 seconds. It should be under responsible

referee’s control (usually trail and center, but lead should control situations also).

Gestures – official language of game (use official gesticulation)

Gestures are the language of referee. They help to clearly report the

solution of referee to everyone and to communicate with the table officials

during the game. Gestures (signals) must correspond to the description which is

given in the official rules. They must be intelligible to table officials, to players,


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to coaches, to spectators. Correct signals and gestures create an idea that a

referee knows well his work. It is necessary to remember that a good possession

of official gesticulation is one of many parts of professional referee. Correct

gestures to fix contacts improve the image of referee, his authority on the court.

Referees cannot allow the use of incorrect gestures. The professionalism of

referees is characterized by the calm manner of officiating, by the confident

determination of game situations, through the prism of the rules. The gestures

given in the rules are official gestures. It must be used by all referees in all

games.

Cooperation with the commissioner and the table officials

(gestures, verbal and visual signals)

Before the game referees must determine with the commissioner how

cooperation will occur with him and referee, with table officials during the

game. It is obvious for all that all referees are obligated to use official gestures

according to rules but it is possible to transfer some information with the help of

the way you look, with words and phrases. The algorithm of cooperation must

be built as follows: the eyes of referee, who will restart game, must obtain

information about the readiness of table officials – the relevant gestures the

scorer and partners must give.

Control of substitutions and time out (quantity of players)

The referee nearest to the table officials is responsible for the assignment

of substitutions and time out after the appropriate signal of scorer. During the

substitution the referee who is responsible for this procedure must control that

the player would leave court and he becomes substitution player and

substitution comes onto the court and he becomes player. All procedure is

regulated temporarily and by corresponding gestures. It is necessary to

remember that namely the coach of team or his assistant requests time out, but

for the substitution directly substitution player himself asks by occupying in this

case the appropriate place. Time out is also controlled by referees and after a

lapse of 50 seconds the nearest referee invites the teams to begin game with

signal and corresponding gesture. Referees must be assured that 10 players are

found on the court, substitutions players are situated in the team bench area and

sit there, and table officials with commissioner are ready to continue game.

Pauses and unnecessary stoppages or delay in the game must be minimal.


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Must know after pauses or time out who and from where will be

throwing-in or number of shooting player.

In the pauses or during time out it is necessary to know how and which of the

teams will restart game and in this case who amongst the referees will grant ball.

Time out request and substitution (latest possibility, special cases)

Referees on the court must control situation and during last five minutes they

must be completely concentrated. This means that everything must be under

their control. They must feel and handle the game. The situation when coach in

last seconds of game makes observations to players and practically misses the

possibility to take time out or to send substitute player for the substitution

sometimes occurs. Referee must be sure and ready that if this possibility

remains and ball is not yet transmitted to player to throw it in or still it is dead,

thus it can be made possible for the coach of the team to take time out or make

substitution by his right. This will be correct for the game and correct with

respect to the coaches and team which will surely notice the understanding of

the spirit of the game from the referee’s side.

During time outs: purpose - the positive dynamics of officiating.

To know about where and how will game be continued;

gesture and time clock control; last shot and the end of game

or 24 seconds signals

Team followers (coach, assistant, substitutions, personnel, doctor and others)

One of the weakest points on the court to control for the referee is the team bench

area. Many problematic, conflict moments are initiated by substitution players, the

accompanying personnel and assistants of coach. Substitutions stand during the

game, warm up behind the team bench, they may spill water, wave by towels, and

the assistant of coach may stand together with the coach and make observations to

referees or provoke head coach to conflict with referees.

Criteria TF; UF (constancy).TECHNICAL FOUL

At present technical foul is considered usual, normal, “light” violation.

We do not speak about cases, when aggression, amoral behaviors and

provocation are obvious. We try examining the reactions of players,

disagreements with the decisions made by referees, the disturbances of coaches


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and other participants.

The task, which is put before us - not to reject a technical foul as such but

try to look widely, that is, to find possibilities besides technical foul - short and

clear conversation, warning, conversation (discussion) with the coaches,

players, with the captain, sometimes strict look at the player. Each referee who

gave technical foul is right in his solution, as he tried to save his decision by the

rules. But if we have in our arsenal some other, nonstandard psychological

methods and approaches to find a solution, then we must try, bearing in mind

what we know about players, their characters, how they behaved earlier in such

situations etc. Technical foul is always a conflict. But inside any conflict there

is never a one side only. Put yourself into the players’ shoes; you can imagine

how you would react to a technical foul. Would you agree with this solution?

Would you respect referee for a strict solution - technical foul? Hatred, spite,

anger, fear - only negative qualities are present on the court at such times. Role

of the referee is not to give to these negative emotions a channel to go further

out. It is necessary to use all possible positive methods and only use technical

and disqualifying fouls as last chance. The main thing is referee must give

chance to all participants to correct their behavior. Game is always a dialogue.

There are contacts between all participants. The referee has more rights and

authority in the game than others. There is a force of referee - to use

responsibilities and rights. But sometimes it is useful just to ask yourself: “Are

you always correct giving a technical foul?” Analyzing many game situations

with technical fouls, sometimes it is possible to say that many fouls could be not

fixed or could be avoided. Neither coaches nor players usually seem to be

aggressive or nervous or telling something against referees before the game, so

they do not want to receive a technical foul. They friendly meet each other

before the games, and wish to referees a good job. However, what does occur,

when referees give to player a strong punishment? Is such foul always correctly

fixed? Are really only players and coaches guilty? American specialists of

officiating calculated that about 70% of disagreements with decisions of

referees go back to the erroneous decisions made by referees. This is our main

problem during the games.

For example: ball goes out of bounds from the given player and referee

erroneously gives the ball to the same player who last touched it and even didn’t

look for partners to assist. Opposite team would always disagree with referee’s

decision, but due to the disturbance, referee punishes nervous, emotional player

by technical foul. When some player disagrees with the decision and expresses

his disagreement, usually technical foul follows and all accept this. This is the


58

referee’s right by the Rulebook. Everyone knows the Rules. Yes, this is an

action, which cannot be disregarded, but still it is possible to find different

versions of any decision. To call technical foul is the simplest solution

(decision). But here we also have warning, short and strict conversation with the

coach or the player etc. – all may be seen as means of solving the problem in

our games. It is very important for the referee to control actions and correctly

use authority and rights (duties). This gives chance for the dialogue,

understanding of game situations, feeling of game, respect of players, coaches.

You therefore can obtain not anger and hate, but respect regarding you and your

decisions. Give a chance to any player or coach to correct their behavior by

themselves during the games. This will always be appreciated by coaches also

players. We have a lot of examples. The reaction of player, team or coach is

always emotional and often aggressive. Everything, of course, is subjective, and

each participant has a right to make an error. We are all humans, everyone

makes mistakes.

Each violation, serious conflict must be analyzed by referee

At present the following recommendation is given to all referees - for

each unquotable statement (bad words) to punish without the warning by

technical foul. This must be taken into consideration, but let us attempt to

analyze our today's life, living conditions, situations, in which live all players,

coaches, referees. Bad words, unmoral behaviors - became the standard of life.

It is present everywhere: at home, during the training, in the street, in the

school, at Universities, etc. It cannot be avoided. To be insulated only at games

from the entire world - this is clearly impossible. To punish by technical foul -

this is within the rules. But will such resolution also resolve the very problem

we face? Will the punishment as itself be sufficient or not?

This question we must put before any referee. Tactically, for the short

time interval the answer is yes. You may intimidate player or coach by

sanctions, but strategically the answer is no! And hardly will any player

understand something deeply and honestly thanks only to punishment or

penalties. It is necessary to bring up, to teach, to explain, and not only to judge,

for you do not judge one time only. In a lot of such games situations there must

be deep approach to the problem. It is easier just to give a foul, for it is always

possible to cover yourself by the Rulebook and by its articles. But to be a

participant in the game, to be intelligible and objective, by creating positive

atmosphere, too – it is a mission of referee! To use all methods: conversational


59

monologues, official and friendly warnings and finally, if only needed, to give a

FOUL! Clever player will understand that he was not right, that you gave him a

chance to correct himself, which he did not use. This will be obvious for

everybody. Referee must understand why at all he gives a technical foul – it is

not a way to earn authority, experience, class status, professionalism. “Do not

judge - and you won’t be judged, too”! After giving a chance to player and

coach to correct their behavior, without giving penalties, you can receive more

than respect as referee and personality. Tough remark, thrown behind your

back, but left without your attention and punishment, does tell much, yet not

about your weakness, but about your WISDOM! Find more range (kinds) of

solutions (decisions) – it will give you more (ways) versions of dealing with

difficult situations. You must be a diplomat. Diplomat, during the conflict,

never works by emotions. He regulates everything by his mind, intellect and

knowledge. There are many examples in the history, when large conflicts were

solved by diplomatic channel, without the excess of emotions and aggression.

This way must be used by referees. Do not wait, do not search for violations -

just officiate the game! Experience and confidence come with years!

Video equipment

Crew chief before the beginning of the game must confirm video

equipment. He must know where video cameras are located and who is

responsible of it and where video screen is located to make video control of

quality and to inform coaches about the presence of the video equipment. All

this procedure must be carried out in the appropriate time.

Travelling, carrying the ball, double dribbling (criteria)

More often travelling is fixed by trail and center referees. From the point

of view of FIBA, the travelling means obtaining advantage of an offensive

player over the defender due to the violation in the movement of player with the

ball. With obtaining of ball by that offender the eyes of the nearest referee must

act according to diagram “ball - the feet of offender – the feet of defender”.

When referee looks only at the ball he does not control the whole situation. The

following diagram will help with the beginning of dribbling from the place

concerned when one is determined to correct the displacement: “left pivot foot -

move to the right or right pivot foot - move to the left”. In 90% of cases occurs

the travelling.


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Three point attempt shot (ALWAYS CONTROL and ASSIST)

The trail and center referees are responsible for the long distant shots.

They must clearly define the price of shot and control all process of shooting:

did the contact happen or not and who was responsible for this contact. It is

important to determine the position of the shooter – when he received the ball

and the moment when and from where he began this act of shooting. The

nearest referee to the shooter is responsible for this by the mechanics. But any

assist and help is extremely necessary from the partners. Even the lead referee

from the base line can help in the cases of fast break or when trail referee is

closed with players and shot is being carried out from the corner of the court.

Referees cannot have a chance to make mistake in such moments. Team work is

extremely important.

Free throws: early enter into restricted area and from three point

field goal area

Very often referees do not pay special attention to the early enter of

players to the restricted area during the free throws and from three point field

goal area.

The entrance to restricted area is permitted after the ball has left the hand

of the shooter, who made the last or only one free throw, and after the ball has

touched the rim, having been thrown from the three point field goal area.

Sometimes players obtain the obvious advantage by early entering the restricted

area without the attention of referees. This must be controlled, even verbally, to

prevent it or to show it by gesture on the line of restricted area or three point

line. Smart player will understand you and others will complete (make)

violations.

Counting eight seconds control the ball in backcourt (the end of counting)

Responsible for counting eight seconds is trail referee. One should

remember that the counting concludes either when ball passed into the front

court - it touched partner, opponent, court, referee in the front court - or player

with the ball passed into the front court with two feet and ball. Sometimes the

long pass from the back court on the 7th

second of possession remains without

the attention of referees but the control of eight seconds continues until ball

does touch the front court. Whilst ball is in the air - the control of eight seconds

continues.


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If you have doubts: YES or NOT in the game, then with the

situations: 3; 5; 8 seconds or travel – BETTER DECISION -

THERE ARE NO violations; if you have doubts - player in act of

shooting, interference or goal tending, basket counted or not -

BETTER DECISION - player in act of shooting; interference or

goal tending; basket counted

The purpose (task) of referee is to determine if these actions influence the

correctness and objectivity of conducting the game. Professionalism, experience,

craftsmanship of referee is manifested in such moments. Referee on the motion of

game makes about 800 solutions. It is obvious that only the small part of these

solutions is fixed by whistle. The remaining solutions are mostly about visual

monitoring and quite rapid for the analyst of situations. Such solutions start

through the conversations, the gestures, the signals, the mimicry, the phrases, the

words, etc. Sometimes better solution in the game - the silence of the referee (no

whistle, no call) but sometimes whistle is simply necessary. Therefore with the

situations when referee doubts about violations: 3; 5; 8 seconds and travelling -

the better solution is not to fix violations at all. If player is in act of shooting;

interference or goal tending; basket counted or not - the better solution is: player

is in act of shooting; interference or goal tending; basket counted.

After foul during the shot - the control of the flight of ball

Responsibility of center and trail referees

Many fouls on the shots near the basket are fixed by the lead referee. Team

work on the control of the flight of ball after shooting and fixed foul continues.

Trail and center referees are responsible for this. They must determine the price

of the shot and control the situation with interference or goal tending.

Your solutions must be intelligible to majority!

TYPICAL MISTAKES AND ACTIONS OF BEGINNING RFEREES

Below we show some often-happen mistakes of referees and the practical

advices which will help to create the professional habits for the referees. It is

necessary these requirements be used in the practical officiating.

1. The lead referee - do not show a quantity of free throws whilst staying on the

base line.

2. The lead referee - do not meet offence, whilst running forward by your back.


62

3. For the good feeling of the sizes of court and sport hall, floor (sizes, benches,

table of officials, scoreboard) just walk around it, around boundary lines,

looking at the court at different angles.

4. Always - control the throwing - in of ball to the game from out of bounds,

standing a little behind and by the side of the thrower - his feet, ball, and also

the players, who may obtain ball or prevent obtaining ball.

5. For the gestures – during calling a foul it is necessary to make it clear to

which player it is given, by using a palm but not finger.

6. The areas of your responsibility - this is the boundary post which to you is

fixed by mechanics of officiating. At the same time when it is necessary to

protect justice of the game and you are assured in this by 100%, your solution

must be sound without the dogmatic standards of mechanics. You will help

game and partners!

7. The lead referee does not stand right under the basket. The motions of feet

must help eyes to improve the viewing angles of the changing game situations.

8. When the ball goes out of bounds, especially for the base line, do not turn

your head from the game and after the whistle continue to control the situation

on the court.

9. Good (right) position for the referee who is responsible for the throwing – in,

if ball is thrown in from out of bounds and if attack is carried out in the front

court; or if game goes on from back court to front court.

10. With fast break or the rapid (fast) offense you must try to occupy position

on the base line early, try not to assess the game from the side and from behind.

11. The gestures of communication with table officials must not be shown

whilst you are moving – the following scheme is acceptable: rapid (quick) exit

for the connection with the secretary - stoppage – demonstration procedure - the

rapid change of position with partners (if necessary).

12. Control of substitutions procedure (by whistle, by gesture) until the players

become substitutions and substitutions become players.

13. Referees must remember (limit time periods): substitution - as fast as

possible; injury - 15 seconds; 5th foul - 30 seconds.

14. There is no need - when the successful three point shot is made – to show it

directly to the scorer and turn your body away from the game.

15. Checking of bracelets, rings, long nails, large pins during warm up of the

teams.

16. Algorithm of decision with fouls: FOUL - NUMBER of PLAYER

(“WHO?”) - NATURE of FOUL (“WHAT?") - (“WHERE?”) - PLACE AND

BALL - PUNISHMENT.


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17. The lead referee does not show the basket counted to the scorer.

18. It is very important to fix by whistle the first incorrect action of player but

not reaction to this action. (ACTION, NOT REACTION!)

19. The force of whistle varies, and depends on the behavior of player,

violation, fouls, substitution, etc.

20. Requirement for the gestures – must be clear, with the large amplitude,

visual, official, usually in the static position.

21. Algorithm during the fixation of travelling – BALL - THE FEET OF

OFFENDER WITH THE BALL – POSITION AND FEET OF DEFENDER.

22. Three seconds violation is not fixed with gestures – fingers counting each

second.

23. Game finished with the signing of score-sheet.

24. Lead referee does not look at the flight of ball during the shot.

25. Lead referee does not locate close to the base line.

26. Nervous motions and gestures.

27. Control the team bench areas.

28. Fear to fix technical or unsportsmanlike fouls if it necessary.


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Psychology in basketball

officiating


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Communication.

2. Technical foul.

3. Psychoemotional professional burning out in the basketball. Stresses.

4. Body language (language of gesticulation and mimicry). Game language.

5. First victories over yourself. Your first success.

6. Learn how to thank.

7. Out of bounds violation.

8. Emotions.

9. False self-rating.

COMMUNICATION

People at present time can not communicate, even simply, easily, usually

communicate, as this was 20-30 years ago. This concerns especially young

people. In 21 century, era of many modern technologies, cell phones, internet,

computers, young people have difficulties in personal contacts, i.e. in direct

contacts face to face.

There are reasons of many conflicts, problematic situations and others.

Young man cannot express his thoughts, and sometimes to explain something,

to decide dispute, even to apologize for something he finds extremely difficult.

The skill to communicate - this is one of the basic qualities of

communication, communicative person. Sometimes young people, they know

computer very well, are actively in contact with all things technical, but once it

comes to usual, normal contact (communications), many problems and

complexes appear. First of all, there is a problem with their selves.


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Psychologists always pay much attention to the skill of communications. One

who knows how to speak, knows how to express his/her thoughts, to answer

opponents, knows how to listen to opponents, without interrupting them, how to

explain, to solve problem, such person is always useful, as specialist and as

professional.

Nowadays without the skill to communicate it is impossible to reach

one’s goal, to move forward, to make results. Sometimes you ask yourself:

“How earlier people did communicate, kept connected, they did discuss their

work, built plans, without modern devices of communication?” The answer is

simple. Then people were more open, ready for contact, communicable and

went on to have a dialogue, to contact more freely, more easily. They talked, if

not on the phone, but during meetings, looking to each other and into the eyes,

attentively listening to. Now this is rarity. Young people “sit” in the Internet,

internet cafes, Skype, Face-book, twitter, etc. Sometimes we can see that even

sitting in a hall (lobby) of some hotel people send massages to each other,

sitting practically in front of each other, and no one of them interferes to speak.

Habit, so it is more convenient for them.

But to live only with these new modes of communication - this is clearly

not a solution. There is no sincerity in feelings, truth in the eyes, honesty. You

cannot transmit your feelings and thoughts through devises to express them by

words, by views, by signals, by imitating a direct look into each other’s eyes. In

this situation you can not be fully fair or, at least, it will be quite evident that

you are closed, in a way. They themselves feel it. It can be visible for

everybody.

The skill to communicate “face to face, person to person” is a very

important quality, which young generation either loses or does not give proper

value to, or thinks about as unnecessary. Young people lose a feeling of

sincerity, reality. Many are afraid to tell about it. They can accept their errors,

but in no way recognize that they do not know how to communicate or that they

are much afraid of social contacts as themselves. Sometimes because no one

they have to tell about this (they don’t have a teacher).

We have a lot of examples of such a closed nature, of feeling fear, having no

desire to communicate with people. It is not only young persons’ fault, but also

of educational system itself, teachers and instructors including, who do not

teach young persons how to develop simple skills to talk.

We always can hear that one should be harder in his/her solutions, to

defend his/her point of view, not to listen to, but to make tough decisions, like

on the court, because “the referee is always right”. But in this situation, simple


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advice, short phrases, apology, sign of attention, and kind look could solve all

problems. To young referee sometimes it is difficult to find same one to

acknowledge that he has problem in contacts and in behavior, even in simple

situations. Such situations happen not only at games, our entire life consists of

them.

Young man/woman may know all computer programs perfectly, use all

devises of information, know foreign languages, but simple communication

remains mystery for her/him, because he/she fears to communicate or

sometimes has no ability or desire to, and ultimately finds it shameful for

himself/herself.

In these situations, if we speak about the basketball referees, it is

necessary to help young person, to show him ways of how to contact correctly,

to teach him at the very beginning how to tell simple things, how to easily

communicate. We must try to support them during their initial games, not to

break them psychologically. It is one of the basic purposes and tasks of all

instructors, moderators, commissioners. Thus, indeed they prepare not only

referees, but normal, usual, adapted young people, ready for real life, in the first

place, and for the basketball, in particular.

Basketball and usual life are tightly connected. If you cannot normally

communicate, you constantly will have problems in real life, at your workplace,

and then you will have them also in basketball. It is necessary therefore to know

how to communicate efficiently, how to speak directly, “eyes to eyes”.

Then you will not have large problems not only in your life, but also in

basketball. In this computer or other devices can help you, but they will not

protect you or solve all of the life’s problems of communication. Good luck!

TECHNICAL FOUL

At present technical foul is considered usual, normal, “light” violation.

We do not speak about cases, when aggression, amoral behaviors and

provocation are obvious. We try examining the reactions of players,

disagreements with the decisions made by referees, the disturbances of coaches

and other participants.

The task, which is put before us - not to reject a technical foul as such but

try to look widely, that is, to find possibilities besides technical foul - short and

clear conversation, warning, conversation (discussion) with the coaches,

players, with the captain, sometimes strict look on the player.


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Each referee who gave technical foul is right in his solution, as he tried to

save your decision by the rules. But if we have in our arsenal some other,

nonstandard psychological methods and approaches to find a solution, then we

must try, bearing in mind what we know about players, their characters, how

they behaved earlier in such situations etc.

Technical foul is always a conflict. But inside any conflict there is never a

one side only. Put yourself on the place of players; you can imagine how you

would react to technical foul. Would you agree with this solution? Would you

respect referee for a strict solution - technical foul? Hatred, spite, anger, fears -

only negative qualities are present on the court at these times.

Role of the referee is not to give to these negative emotions a channel to

go further out. It is necessary to use all possible positive methods and only use

technical and disqualifying fouls as last chance. The main thing is referee must

give chance to all participants to correct their behavior.

Game is always a dialogue. There are contacts between all participants.

The referee has more rights and authority in the game than others. There is a

force of any referee - to use responsibilities and rights. But sometimes it is

useful just to ask: “Are you always correct giving a technical foul?”

Analyzing many game situations with technical fouls, sometimes it is

possible to say that many fouls could be not fixed or could be avoided. Neither

coaches nor players usually seem to be aggressive or nervous or telling

something against referees before the game, so they do not want to receive a

technical foul. They friendly meet each other before the games, and wish to

referees a good job. However, what does occur, when referees give to player a

strong punishment? Is such foul always correctly fixed? Are really only players

and coaches guilty?

American specialists of officiating calculated that about 70% of

disagreements with decisions of referees go back to the erroneous solutions

(decisions) made by referees. This is our main problem during the games.

For example: ball goes out of bounds from the given player and referee

erroneously gives the ball to the same player who last touched it and even didn’t

look for partners to assist. Opposite team would always disagree with referee’s

decision, but due to the disturbance, referee punishes nervous, emotional player

by technical foul. When some player disagrees with the decision and expresses

his disagreement, usually technical foul follows and all accept this. This is the

referee’s right by the Rulebook. Everyone knows the Rules.

Yes, this is an action, which cannot be disregarded, but still it is possible

to find different versions of any decision. To call technical foul is the simplest


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solution (decision). But here we also have warning, short and strict conversation

with the coach or the player etc. – all may be seen as means of solving the

problem in our games.

It is very important for the referee to control actions and correctly use

authority and rights (duties). This gives chance for the dialogue, understanding

of game situations, feeling of game, respect of players, coaches. You therefore

can obtain not anger and hate, but respect regarding you and your decisions.

Give a chance to any player or coach to correct their behavior by themselves

during the games. This will always be appreciated by coaches also players. We

have a lot of examples. The reaction of player, team or coach is always

emotional and often aggressive. Everything, of course, is subjective, and each

participant has a right to make an error. All people, everyone makes mistakes.

Each violation, serious conflict

must be analyzed by referee

At present the following recommendation is given to all referees - for

each unquotable statement (bad words) to punish without the warning by

technical foul. This must be taken into consideration, but let us attempt to

analyze our today's life, living conditions, situations, in which live all players,

coaches, referees. Bad words, unmoral behaviors - became the standard of life.

It is present everywhere: at home, during the training, in the street, in the

school, in Universities, etc. It cannot be avoided. To be insulated only at games

from the entire world - this is clearly impossible. To punish by technical foul -

this is within the rules. But will such resolution also resolve the very problem

we face? Will the punishment as itself be sufficient or not?

This question we must put before any referee. Tactically, for the short

time interval the answer is yes. You may intimidate player or coach by

sanctions, but strategically the answer is no! And hardly will any player

understand something deeply and honestly thanks only to punishment or

penalties. It is necessary to bring up, to teach, to explain, and not only to judge,

for you do not judge one time only. In many such game situations there must be

deep approach to the problem. It is easier just to give a foul, for it is always

possible to cover yourself by the Rulebook and by its articles.

But to be a participant in the game, to be intelligible and objective, by

creating positive atmosphere, too – it is a mission of referee! To use all

methods: conversational monologues, official and friendly warnings and finally,

if only needed, to give a FOUL! Clever player will understand that he was not

right, that you gave him a chance to correct himself, which he did not use. This


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will be obvious for everybody. Referee must understand why at all he gives a

technical foul – it is not a way to earn authority, experience, class status,

professionalism. “Do not judge - and you won’t be judged, too”!

After giving a chance to player and coach to correct their behavior,

without giving penalties, you can receive more than respect as referee and

personality. Tough remark, thrown behind your back, but left without your

attention and punishment, does tell much, yet not about your weakness, but

about your WISDOM!

Find more range (kinds) of solutions (decisions) – it will give you more

(ways) versions of dealing with difficult situations. You must be diplomats.

Diplomat, during the conflict, never works by emotions. He regulates

everything by his mind, intellect and knowledge. There are many examples in

the history, when large conflicts were solved by diplomatic channel, without the

excess of emotions and aggression. This way must be used by referees. Do not

wait, do not search for violations - just officiate the game! Experience and

confidence come with years! Good luck!

PSYCHOEMOTIONAL PROFESSIONAL BURNING OUT IN THE

BASKETBALL. STRESSES

Basketball is a game, the part of our life, packed in time and space! There

are created special conditions for all participants in the process during the

games. In the professional activity many people live the new experience of

relations with themselves and others. During the game we receive a lot of

theoretical knowledge, practical skills and habits, which will be used by others,

too, and used in their own practice. In the process of systematic work

professionally and personally grow all participants, and those, who learn, and

those, who teach.

In our case, we examine professional job of basketball referee, study his

career growth, his progress and problematic moments in the process of

preparation, how he improves his performance to succeed further.

What aims we must set before ourselves? To create conditions, under which any

referee can understand his job from within, working with players, coaches and

other people during the games, i.e. under stressful conditions, in conflict

situations, at problematic moments, and also learn skills, methods of

psychological relaxation, once game is over.

It is important to note that, without advance thinking about stresses and as

years go by, any referee may face so-called psychoemotional burning out, i.e.,

the exhaustion of nervous system may occur, the loss of forces, poor sleep or its


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disturbances, injuries, headaches, fears before future work, and even small

mental disorders.

For normal control of emotions and in order to avoid such boundary states and

situations it is necessary:

- to manage the signs of psychoemotional professional burning out;

- to know a reason of these signs;

- to know how to use methods and approaches of aid for himself and for

colleagues in such situations;

- to know what to do, when this process of burning out has already developed;

- to know how to help young colleagues in the situations of professional stress,

conflict.

For the productive work and good result it is necessary to know

psychological states and difficulties, which appear when referees do their job.

One of the basic problems concerns the fact that the young or inexperienced

referee usually absorbs more stressful and negative information from

participants of the game, uses it, and passes it further and assumes it very

closely to himself.

Finally we collect negative moments in the memory and this leads to

fears, wrong decisions, feeling of guilt – and referee begins to push himself

down. Occurs “the phenomenon of psychological infection”, i.e., our referee

absorbs negative emotions in the game, and thus, he infects himself “by

[emotional] infection”. So the relevant “pills” for unblocking it are in need.

The aid of colleagues and commissioners is extremely necessary.

But aid does not mean just analyzing facts and moments over and over

again, but it primarily means to show that we together will do with it! It is

necessary to push referee from such situations and to prepare him for further

work, but only by means of positive thinking, to help him solve stressful

problems.

Analyzing the work of psychologists in sport we can say that conflicts

and stress situations are not something to fear, it is only necessary to know how

to handle them constantly. Early psychoemotional burning out during referees’

work, professional activity, is a price for the nonprofessional preparations.

Referees mustn’t be given chances to spend emotions for nothing. This leads

referees to stress, and to negative emotions and even to the loss of job, of all

positive emotions, of connection with his self and with others. Referee mustn’t

overload himself by overworking, by absorbing stresses and conflicts and

incorrectly analyzing them after game. In order for him to save himself and to


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reduce negative factors to minimum it is necessary to constantly analyze

officiating with experienced referees and commissioners and psychologists.

Some aspects of this psychological work:

1) To learn how to remove stress, to use relaxations procedures, to learn how to

enjoy your job.

2) Constant exchange of experiences with commissioners and instructors.

3) Creation of strategic purposes and tasks for reaching the result through the

positive approach.

4) Professional contact with the partners, exchange of experiences.

5) To increase confidence in the professional activity, to learn how to believe in

himself. To be confident!

6) To study the style of the work of all participants in the game, their behavior.

7) To know how to recognize the first signs of psychological burning out in his

activity. These are: stress, nervousness and uncertainty in the actions. The desire

not to be separated, to be behind the back of partners in difficult moments of

game, the difficulty in acknowledging his own errors, the closed nature, the

desire to be alone –such features are also undoubtedly telling.

8) To confirm correctness in the selection of profession (job).

9) Feedback from participants in the process of education and improvements.

One must clearly understand just how important not to stress oneself or

highlight conflict situations in the game, but to study its consequences

afterwards instead!

Stress situations in the game cannot be avoided, but to learn how to

correctly handle them is in our hands! Stress certainly includes all whistles,

each solution of referee! Someone always finds it wrong! Stress is a reaction of

man to the emotional, excessive, and aggressive actions. Doctors say that stress

is a reason almost for all illnesses.

There are three stages of stresses, conflict situations: the beginning of

conflict, conflict as itself and its decoupling - effect on the total solution. For the

referee perhaps the most important is the third stage - decision making and

reaction to it. If referee is confident in his solution, albeit under pressure it has

been made, then everything goes within normalcy, and referee manages

(handles) the stress. But sometimes it may happen that even experienced referee

could not manage the conflict. And, due to many reasons, in the last phase of

conflict situation stress does occur. But still it is important here not to collect

stress effects!


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It is very important to understand that the problem here not with the

work, but with you! It is necessary to return, and as fast as possible, satisfaction

from your own job, actions and behavior on the court, feeling of confidence,

and desire to work!

And try to move further in the right professional way, clearly realizing

strong points as well as errors, and only through positive thinking! Good luck!

BODY LANGUAGE

(LANGUAGE OF GESTICULATION AND MIMICRY)

GAME LANGUAGE

Body language is language of movements, voice, signals and the language

of gesticulation and mimicry. Human contact (communication) occurs at different

levels. Words compose only 7% of the communications, and the remaining 93%

body language composes. People don’t pay to this any special attention.

In the sport body language is also very important. Players between

themselves, coaches with the players, and also with referees always

communicate using body language.

Referees, in the view of their profession, cannot communicate verbally,

but knowing the language of mimicry and gestures it gives you chances to

transmit, send messages, express thoughts, and send information to partners,

players and coaches. This is a necessary mean of communication, especially at

present time, which should be learnt.

Experienced referee can express his thoughts, transmit reaction to what

proceeds, take decisions or make remarks about actions of players and partners

without saying a word. It is possible to say one phrase and express your

thoughts by mimicry, gestures and the way you look. This is the professional

language of contact, communication. It is built on the base of general

knowledge of communications and transmission of information.

Speaking about body language, we imply: the height of voice, the rate of

speech, the way we walk, the methods, by which we present ourselves to others,

as we establish visual contact, position of eyes, our motions (hands, legs, etc),

position of back, arms, of chest, position of hands, brushes, our signals, etc.

BODY LANGUAGE - method of your communication with other people

Imagine you are in one room, and you feel very nervous. Each, who is

also there, will understand that you are nervous just by looking at you, your

actions, speed of movements, gestures, and by hearing your voice. You yourself

can feel it. For example, remember your actions, when you passed examinations


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and you were not completely ready to answer. You survived, but you were

disturbed, looked lost, your hands moist, your motions fussy, nervous, your eyes

running, etc.

You can understand and feel when someone is sad, happy, stressed. We

can obtain (receive) many information about people just by studying their body

language. Approximately the same occurs with us during the games. If we are

not ready or lost “game language”, we begin to be nervous, to be disturbed, our

motions, our mimicry and gestures reveal what we feel. When we are assured in

ourselves, prepared to work, we control the situation and we cooperate with the

partners, use body language, and it confirms our confidence and professionalism

on the court and outside the court.

In practice we can speak with anyone by means of our eyes, by mimicry,

by using our body, torso, arms, by looking at people differently, and all can

understand us, all our “body words” are expressive, clear and accessible. When

we use this language, we can show for everybody our fairness in the game,

strictness, apologies, doubts, humor and happiness - and many other

feelings/emotions. Player and coaches will understand you without verbal

communication.

One of the men’s games of FIBA Cup in Athens was indeed much

stressful. In Greece there is no such thing as simple game, though.

Professionalism is earned at such games. The head coach of Greek team during

a second-half of the game psychologically attacked the referees. He made

remarks about referees’ behavior, told what he wished from referees and so on,

albeit in the correct form. Game approached the end, and coach understood that

he could really lose the important game. So he went into a conflict with the

referees in order to receive attention and to try to break the game’s course.

Surely referees did not give him a chance to succeed in doing this.

After one foul, coach began to attempt to provoke referees. Crew referee

went directly to the coach. He looked quite militant, his shoulders and hands

were rigid, his torso advanced forward, with eyes penetrating the coach and

eyebrows moving. When only some meters remained between the coach and the

referee, Greek coach grasped the situation quickly and went back, and he left

the team bench area. Referee’s body language said what he thought about the

coach’s behavior. Referee didn’t say even one word. Only gestures, mimicry,

movement were telling. Body language as itself!

Then coach himself apologized for his behavior. But it was possible for

referee to say much more verbally. And, for sure, verbal way of explanation will


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not be the best one in this situation. This is an example; how it is possible to

handle the game, knowing how to manage it using body language correctly.

We can learn much more about people by observing how they walk, sit,

speak, and we can notice something really interesting in their motions and in

everything that makes people who they are, even without saying anything.

Most repeated errors in the conversation:

- We say too rapidly;

- We say too much;

- Sometimes we do not know, about what to speak further;

- We ask too many questions;

- Incorrect body language: hands are crossed, and feet are located too closely to

each other, etc;

- In the conversation with the stranger we feel ourselves not comfortably;

- We forget what we wanted to say.

This must be done in the correct version:

- To take hands out of pockets;

- To stand firmly;

- During walking hands must not freely dangle;

- Not to look onto the floor (downward view must be avoided) during walking;

- To occupy as much space as possible;

- Not to wear too much dark clothing;

- Always, when you sit, be slanted back. When you are slanted, people around

you begin to be inclined toward you, so that it is better to hear you;

- Touch the people, when you communicate with them, because you are

obligated to create contacts at all levels, not only on the verbal one. You first

must understand why and how people make decisions. Why you have an effect

of attracting attention to yourself, why and how it works, and the whole body

language - eyes, eyebrows, eyelashes, the position of arms, torso, the position of

legs and arms, head, the turning of neck.

The value of body language is very important, especially for referees. It

helps us to use different methods of the transmission and exchange of

information, and to widen the possibilities of communication. It is extremely

necessary to learn body language, if we want to be the best. We must

understand that we can successfully use that knowledge, obtained according to

the methods of communication, in our daily normal life. This is big advantage

in solving many vital, life questions and problems.


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GAME LANGUAGE

Referee use a lot of kinds of communications during the game. But young

referees sometimes use only words and only articles from the Rulebook. They

communicate during the game only by whistles. But officiating is not only

about whistles. There are gestures, mimicry, signals, conversations, discussions,

dialogs, monologs, communications and cooperation. Young referees must

know and especially understand that officiating is wider, more complex

perception of game, which cannot be reduced to whistling alone. There are

contacts, communication and control, thanks to which participants can obtain

objective information from the game. This is “game language”. It is necessary

to know how to speak in “game language”. Many referees know several foreign

languages, but they cannot select necessary words during the game, they are

lost, are disturbed. They do not know how to express their thoughts and desires.

One experienced referee spoke: “I don’t know foreign languages, but I

know one language - this “GAME LANGUAGE”! When I use it, I can explain,

express my thoughts and desires, I can stop and calm down players, stop the

unnecessary emotions, etc. This is my language of communication. I learned

and learn it constantly every time and everywhere. All participants respect me

for this knowledge”.

The knowledge of foreign languages is very necessary nowadays, it helps

referee during the game, in contacts, in private life, during trips, in studies and

businesses but it does not give you complete confidence, that you will find the

language of communication with all players before, during and after the game.

It is of vital importance to know and understand “game language”. Yet it is

difficult language. It is impossible to learn it according only to the Rulebook or

by looking videos, for it is necessary to live with it, to sleep and to arise with it,

constantly practicing it.

“Game language” must be constantly improved, with every change. Your

partners would understand you. For all must learn how to exchange the

knowledge of “game language” with others in the process of practicing it.

Knowing it, you will have a chance during the game to speak with partners in

one language, in one way, in one tone.

The greater advantages will come for those referees, who talk and

communicate by means of and professionally use “game language”. They can

adapt it for the game. If you do everything in the same way, your team will be

stronger on the court, more easily you will understand each other, communicate


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and improve step by step. You will know what you should correct in the future,

how to work to improve your “basic lexical game language”. Only when referee

understands “game language”, then it is possible to indicate that the referee can

communicate and be communicable not only for the game, but also outside the

court.

Basketball does not begin only in the sport hall. People, who work in

basketball, live with thoughts about the game everywhere and, therefore, they

try to learn to communicate in “basketball language”. Referees also must study

it, know it and –most important –understand it.

Many problems leave us, when during the game all participants

understand each other, right after hearing a half word, speaking the same “game

language”. It is equally significant when understanding other persons comes

naturally, not under pressure of authority or some outer force. Any solution

must be understandable for and accepted by all.

We don’t have ideal games, but we must select the standard of high

quality. Language, which is obligatory to referees, must also be understandable

for everybody. It must be approved and accepted by all participants during the

game on the court. You must constantly search for a good style, for some way

to improve “game language” for all.

There are more than 200 countries in the world, where people know

“game language”. Not all basketball players can communicate in foreign

language, but they all understand “game language”. Rules everywhere are the

same, only standards of knowledge and performance are different. Therefore in

order to increase the level of game and to be more understandable, everybody

should be taught and should improve this “game language”, “language of

basketball”! Good luck!

FIRST VICTORIES OVER YOURSELF. YOUR FIRST SUCCESS

Even a puny inconsiderable progress in your work of controlling feelings

and ability to be glad of inconsiderable success can be regarded as small

victory. It means that your abilities, wishes, plans, projects are coming into real

actions. Therefore you are on the right road to your goal. It is necessary to

continue moving in that direction.

Ability to control your fears, feelings, weaknesses, laziness, incertitude

and self-distrust is a prior problem in psychological preparatory process during

the phase of personality conformation of young referee. The faster referee sets


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himself on correct, positive, assertive guidelines of his work, the earlier he gets

a result. It is important to head young referee to the right direction from square

one. It is necessary not to tick over, to study with a cut-and-try method, but to

concorporate tutor’s practical knowledge with young referee’s wish.

With the help of analysis, video materials, self-work, self-perfection of

different preparation aspects: theoretical, practical, psychological, physical, and

lettered help of leading, experienced colleagues it is possible to set up high

goals and reach them. Supposing that small result doesn’t fix your goals and is

not observed by anyone, you can be misdirected. Those who care will be glad at

your victories and success even insignificant ones. Great result and success are

built out of them. Learn to rejoice at every positive result.

Not so long ago you can remember your affection, jittering in the

beginning of the game and your bother about forthcoming game situations. Now

you start the game patiently, control game process and everything else, and

representatively talk to coaches, team managers, players. You have stretched

well, have had a full pregame discussion and come into the game more sedately.

You see all the fouls and violations, you stay patiently and tranquilly, you have

good gestures, signals; cooperation gives you more confidence in game

management, you’re in control of all the playing patterns and behavior of

players and coaches. Maybe those moments are inconsiderable but a lot of

arguable moments are coming up in the game because of referees’

unpreparedness and carelessness. In the beginning of the game they are: wrong

playing direction, wrong amount of players, absence of time controller’s signal,

wrong ball possession etc.

Tutor’s task is to show in theory and then practically significance and

price of every moment of the ballgame from arrival to the court and carrying out

of pregame discussion with colleagues and commissioner. Every act has its

significance and price. If it works for good result and benefit, for making

game’s tasks resolved, and for the team spirit, then it will be positively reflected

on the game itself and on the climate inside the referees’ team. Settled

connections, stereotypes, motive coherences, theoretical and practical

acquirements will be formed in young referee’s mind, which, in turn, is going to

be shaped in game practice. It is very important for referee to feel the

correctness of chosen method, which surely fetches him to the future victories

and success.

Success in referee’s work comes very peacefully in comparison with

players’ and coaches’ one. It is so because supreme mark of referee’s job is

composure in the game and absence of protests on game result. This is a


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success, a supreme mark of quality, objectivity and professional level of

officiating. This is a victory of referee. Not referee, but team of referees. If one

of them officiated badly then the whole team did not manage the game, and if

he officiated well then the whole team has done everything for a success and

their own victory and contention.

Every victory and success comes only with realization that a colossal

labor, patience, self- and teamwork were exerted. Victories come to those who

believe in their strength. It’s like a catalyst of our inner activities. You can reach

a lot if you realize that you can do that. Believe in yourself. Your first victories

and success only confirm the correctness of a chosen way. You have got to

simply work and believe then everything will come off!

LEARN HOW TO THANK

Very often we don’t pay enough attention to the potty details. Sometimes

we don’t even think about that, even though there are no trifles in our life.

Sometimes we forget even to say some thank words for the things that were

made for us. Words like “thanks”, “sorry” are elementary on the first sight, but

we hear them very seldom today. Often we don’t pay attention to trifles, which

are made for us by our colleagues, teachers, and parents. But often it’s enough

to say “thanks” and they would be pleased because something that they made

for us has come available.

“Thanks” is a sign of attention, our gratitude for help. We don’t have to

specially wait or look for a motive to thank. Try to say that word more often.

Don’t forget about that. We have to thank our tutors only because they bring us

into basketball or officiating. They, more or less, have spotted our future

profession, our life.

Talking about thanks we have to remember one ecclesial proverb, where

Jesus Christ has met ten eyeless. He came to them and asked about their life

desire. Eyeless asked to bring back their eyesight. Jesus has put their prayer

through and they went off. And only one of them came back to say “thanks”.

Jesus asked:

-There were ten to cure. Where are other nine? Vade in peace. Your belief

saves you.

It is a simple and demonstrative example of people rejoicing at help but

forgetting to thank. They accept it as a tribute. It mostly depends on self-culture,

education, nurture and intellect level.


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Nothing will happen with you if you thank for a little things made for

you. It will show that you are not apathetic to the actions which are made to

you.

Say “thanks” and you will have an opportunity to be thanked for your

actions by other people. Say “thanks” with great emotions, joy, self-positive and

sincerity.

OUT OF BOUNDS VIOLATION

Throwing the ball out of bounds is a simple violation at first sight, while

everything simple should be simple at identification. Ball comes out of bounds;

official fixes the violation and brings the ball to the other team. Kind of simple

thing, there is. But very often a lot of difficulties are hidden in this moment of

the game. A lot of difficult and necessary decisions should be carried out so that

referee can fairly spot the violation and continue the game positively, being

understood by everybody.

Just remember how often ball comes out of bounds during the fighting for

the ball at the restricted line of the field. Referee has got to see there: who was

the last to touch the ball; if player stepped on the line or he was pushed before

that and referee didn’t see the illegal contact because of wrong position. Maybe

while a jump ball procedure two players came down and touched the line or one

of them touched it first. Maybe a player got the ball in the air out of bounds and

threw it to an opposite team player who was out of bounds, too. There are a lot

of situations which we can call “ball came out of bounds”. Every decision and

situation there has huge significance and price and, of course, brings much

confidence for referee. Very often referee’s authority and experience helps in

right decision making. But experience comes with years, skilled practice, self-

work and analysis.

Out of bounds violation is the simplest decision for an outside spectator.

It gives no huge emotions. It’s not like a made three-pointer or a dunk, not the

situation which leads to a fight, not a buzzer beater, turnover or blocked shot -

this is just a ball out of bounds. But it can be the most important moment for a

referee: to spot fairly that violation.

Official has to catch every moment of the ballgame and get some positive

feelings and respect from teams, earn some authority when he fairly spots the

violation.

On the other hand, out of bounds violation is pause which referee needs

sometimes. Just to catch a breath, switch over the attention after a nervous


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situation, fix the connection with a secretary’s table, commissioner and

colleagues on the floor. To cool off, stop the game with a minute pause,

sometimes raise the tempo of the game, silence players and warn them friendly,

not applying the official public warnings of a technical foul. And all of that is

done just in order to prevent chaos and nervousness in the game.

Just remember how many times our experienced colleagues told us to

“show everybody a good-looking, correct, official out of bounds gesture and

‘sell’ your gesture to the game!” Of course there is a deep meaning in this

phrase. We have to catch all the positive emotions in this moment because we

fairly made a decision there. That’s an ideal situation.

Choice of the right position pertaining to a player throwing the ball in is

referee’s work and attention which he should pay in the moment of the game.

Referee has to control everything during the throw in because he starts the

game. He has to see secretary’s table, commissioner, colleagues in their right

positions, and all the players on the field and the player who throws the ball in.

We give the ball to that player only when we see a gesture of readiness. It’s a

very important procedure. “The way you start the game is the way it goes”. The

way you give the ball is the way you start your work in our case.

How should referee give the ball to a player? It’s an individual procedure.

We can give the ball from hands to hands, off the floor or by pass. Everything

depends on definite situation. Another important moment is referee’s position

during the throw-in pertaining to the game and players. We have to stay behind

or at the side of inbounder, but never in front of him, because we close the

throw-in process and don’t see it, and we lose control of the game. Maybe it’s a

trifle, but there are no trifles in the game. Even some little mistakes accrue and

then create a big problem. It’s like a snow lump coming down the mountain.

Another situation happens after a difficult, arguable out of bounds violation. A

lot of ardency, relationship ascertainment, emotions and anger start to come up,

because one team is not glad at referee’s decision. Referee has to quickly and

fairly make his decision without talks and inappropriate discussions, after

looking at his partners if he needs some help, then quickly continue the game.

Conflicts and arguing often come up during inappropriate pauses, but during the

game time everybody does his best to win and there is no time for arguing.

That’s why quantity of pauses should be minimal. If arguable violation happens

and your partners can’t help you with your confusion, you always have a couple

of milliseconds to make a decision. Jump ball is the last but sometimes fair

decision in such situations. But you have some time yet, you control the game

and everything is under your control. Referee has to define who is going to have


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the possession by behavior, psychology, actions of players on the floor. Some of

those are: behavioral eye-movement, byplay, gestures, reaction to referee’s

decision, cues. Very often referee, who knows players’ psychology and who

learns who players are and their behavior and temper before the game, he can

fix and even feel who’s been the last to touch the ball. Referee is right in a lot of

situations, but it’s a huge risk. Only experience, authority, everyday analysis of

the game, referee’s concentration and referees’ teamwork give a chance to risk

in the game. A lot of moments of out-of-bounds violation are to be demounted.

It’s a simple violation at first sight, but often it’s a very difficult, crucial

moment which requires some overconcentration and certainty in your actions.

But there is nothing more important than a trifle! The whole life consists of

them. We can say it about the game either. Lost trifle gives start to the “snow

lump” of mistakes. We have to try to feel and pre-see all game moments but

never forget that even a trifle can affect your reaching huge strategic goal. “If

you can see little things then you can see huge either”. But to see, to control and

to call, to fix are not the same things! It’s better to control and to help each other

than to call every time, to stop the game and to argue.

Ball out of bounds is a simple, ordinary violation, trifle as we can say.

But it’s so important to spot that violation in referee’s work!

EMOTIONS

Accurate pass is one of the most basic tricks in basketball. Offensive

efficiency and even victory depends on right and lettered pass execution. Pass is

a basis and painstaking labor in the process of its digestion. Training,

development and perfection of this element require a lot of effort by coach and

players. Perfect ability to pass gives player chance to build teamplay and bring

self or team co-operation to the efficient conclusion.

Pass is a labor, shot is emotions. Everybody wants to take a shot;

everyone looks at finishing phase of offense, at the rim which attracts everyone.

But not many people understand that perfect pass is a guarantee of made shot.

Player, who takes a shot, doesn’t have to make the perfect pass up. If passer

does his job ideally, then shooter has to just catch the ball in ideal position and

take the shot from his standard spot. There is no need to fade away, change

control feet and loose balance for the shooter. The more actions player carries

out to prepare a shot, the less opportunities he has to make it.


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Pass is just like a transfer of information or information exchange thereby

the ball. Good coaches make admonitions for the missed shots very seldom, but

after an incorrect pass they are trying to show that bad pass is one of the reasons

of misses and narrowing down the necessary teamwork productivity. “Guilty

player is not the one who couldn’t receive a pass, but who has made that pass”,

that’s what coaches often say.

We can transfer it into officiating. There are a lot of actions which referee

has to take in order to make the right decision, like moving, watching,

controlling, etc. If preparing for the final decision is ideal then result of this

decision will be conformable. A lot of people think that there is nothing difficult

in making decision for referee, he only has to blow a whistle in time. Maybe

they don’t know how much preparative job referee has to make in order to make

the only right decision. How much labor and analysis have to be done, and how

many affections and nervous energy have to be spent for a qualified work.

Sometimes it’s enough just not to interrupt players with your decisions and

redundant stops. Not to disturb players, coaches, teams, spectators in showing

their best result is a huge work either. That’s why there is some draft-quality

work in every profession, which is very important and leads out to the maximal

result. This work is often not observed by everyone. But you can’t get a better

result and required emotions without it. Emotions run our life. Result can be

earned, having emotions by your side besides intension, abilities. Accumulating

those things together and adding emotional background with appropriate

atmosphere we can make our goals come true. We can save an inside desire for

the future work, recognizing some perspective and necessity in it.

Emotions are drive, rush, satisfaction, flight, euphoria, enjoyment,

tremble in your body, happiness and love. Each and every one of us remembers

some moments, which we want to repeat and feel one more time. Emotions

generate our movement, they are like a drug, which we always need and can’t

forget, having once tried it. It’s very important to spend your emotions in the

right way, not burning and devastating yourself. We have to give our emotions

the right direction and frugally spend them in order to feel ourselves

comfortably in life.

FALSE SELF-RATING

A lot of people think that they are better, more deserving, educated,

intelligent and stronger. Why are we giving ourselves and our abilities a higher

rate? The answer lies rather on surface. But actually everything is more


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complicated. Answers and reasons are deep inside us. They are in our brain,

consciousness, behavior, etc.

We have unlearned to correctly rate our abilities and strengths, that’s

where our misfortune and failure come from. Our abilities are inflated mostly

by us ourselves. Sometimes young person is not easy to come to because he

consists of pathos and omniscience aureole. He knows everything and asks not

to interrupt him, while completely consisting of complexes. He can’t behave

himself naturally, ordinarily because the chosen behavior style doesn’t let him

do this. He opens up and converse only with those who can give him additional

bonus, rate, which he depends on. Others are just looked down on. Not much

sincerity is there, so person can’t give himself a real rate. People who can

objectively rate, give an advice, teach but don’t have some strength and power

are not considered there. People from above know and understand more, they

have higher appointment, so they are more intelligent – that’s today’s

philosophy.

But very often reality is not the same. People who work hard and don’t

advertise themselves can give and prompt you a lot more. They see some things

in profile, deeply. They see the insincerity and work with those who really need

their advice. The price of their advice is high. They don’t only just tell the truth

but prompt some weapons and methods to make your work perfect and, of

course, give more attention to your positive moments. The most important thing

is that it would be truly and selflessly. The way to thank them is up to you.

Surprisingly, sometimes it’s enough to just thank them and show some respect.

Sometimes young people corner themselves just by reprobating

themselves for their mistakes. They think they have no dignity, abilities, etc.

Some idea-work should be done with that group of people. Firstly, you need to

inculcate strength and certainty in them. But to do that, young guy has to

believe in you and in his own self. Not once, making some mistakes in the

career and life, they come up with a total aloofness. Pedagogic abilities, tutor’s

desire and everyday training are needed to bring the young guy “back on track”

and give him self-certainty. Only constant, system work can open up the

“passive reserve of certainty” in young guy with a low self-rating. They can

reach high results then, but the right help and backing are needed.

It is very important to understand that up-to-the-minute result, which

youngsters are looking for, is often temporal. For sure, that would be hard to

repeat it. But result, born in labor, collective work, trainings with tutor, gives

assuredness and self-accomplishment feeling for the rightly chosen way and

profession. It brings the honor and estimation to your teachers because they are


85

primary for your success. Of course it means the tolerance, labor, sorrow and

work. Up-to-the-minute result is like a scoop in casino. You take it and lose

then. It comes off quickly. Then they can only say, that you WERE perspective

some time ago.

The biggest talent human has is a hard-working talent! Perspectives never

beat work, exertion and labor. It was proved a lot of times. That’s why only

labor gives you the way to success and result. Labor-rate will come itself.

Literature

1. Hartyani Zsolt. Basketball for Everyone. – FIBAEUROPE, 2004.–231 p.

2. Jungebrant С. Profile of the referee 2000. – Finland, 2000. – 45 p.

3. Official basketball rules 2012 including two- person mechanics, three person

mechanics, basketball equipment.–printed by FIBAEUROPE 2012.

4. Richardson A. Basketball referee camp. In conjunction with Millfield

Enterprises, 2002. – 85 p.


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Sites for the referees:

FIBA site

WWW.FIBA.COM

FIBA Europe site

WWW.FIBAEUROPE.COM

Russian Basketball Federation site

WWW.BASKET.RU

Moscow city basketball Federation site

WWW.MOSBASKET.RU

Russian Basketball Federation referee committee official site

WWW.REF.BASKET.RU

Moscow city basketball site

WWW.BASKET3000.RU

Russian basketball referee’s site

WWW.VKBS.SU

Moscow region basketball Federation site

WWW.MOSCOWBASKET.COM

Basketball referee’s information site

WWW.REFEREECLUB.COM

Basketball referee’s uniform and equipment store

WWW.TWOREFS.COM

Moscow region referee’s site

WWW.REFERY.PRO

VTB United League site

WWW.VTB-LEAGUE.COM

Student Basketball Association (ASB) site

WWW.PRO100BASKET.RU

Moscow basketball league site

WWW.MBL.SU

Republic of Belarus Amateur basketball league site

WWW.NBL.BY


https://docviewer.yandex.ru/r.xml?sk=yb7e70b62342873aa482d798dab40ee73&url=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.FIBA.COM

https://docviewer.yandex.ru/r.xml?sk=yb7e70b62342873aa482d798dab40ee73&url=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.FIBAEUROPE.COM

https://docviewer.yandex.ru/r.xml?sk=yb7e70b62342873aa482d798dab40ee73&url=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.BASKET.RU

https://docviewer.yandex.ru/r.xml?sk=yb7e70b62342873aa482d798dab40ee73&url=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.MOSBASKET.RU

https://docviewer.yandex.ru/r.xml?sk=yb7e70b62342873aa482d798dab40ee73&url=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.REF.BASKET.RU

https://docviewer.yandex.ru/r.xml?sk=yb7e70b62342873aa482d798dab40ee73&url=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.BASKET3000.RU

https://docviewer.yandex.ru/r.xml?sk=yb7e70b62342873aa482d798dab40ee73&url=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.VKBS.SU

https://docviewer.yandex.ru/r.xml?sk=yb7e70b62342873aa482d798dab40ee73&url=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.MOSCOWBASKET.COM

https://docviewer.yandex.ru/r.xml?sk=yb7e70b62342873aa482d798dab40ee73&url=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.REFEREECLUB.COM

https://docviewer.yandex.ru/r.xml?sk=yb7e70b62342873aa482d798dab40ee73&url=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.TWOREFS.COM

https://docviewer.yandex.ru/r.xml?sk=yb7e70b62342873aa482d798dab40ee73&url=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.REFERY.PRO

https://docviewer.yandex.ru/r.xml?sk=yb7e70b62342873aa482d798dab40ee73&url=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.VTB-LEAGUE.COM

https://docviewer.yandex.ru/r.xml?sk=yb7e70b62342873aa482d798dab40ee73&url=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.PRO100BASKET.RU

https://docviewer.yandex.ru/r.xml?sk=yb7e70b62342873aa482d798dab40ee73&url=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.MBL.SU

https://docviewer.yandex.ru/r.xml?sk=yb7e70b62342873aa482d798dab40ee73&url=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.NBL.BY

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Game management manual (part I)……………………………………………..3

Game management manual (part II)…………………………………………...48

Psychology in basketball officiating…………………………………………...64

Literature……………………………………………………………………….85

Sites for the referees…………………………………………………………...86


88

NOTES


89

Fedor Dmitriev

Mihail Grigorev

Ildar Latypov

GAME MANAGEMENT MANUAL

FOR THE BEGINNERS IN

BASKETBALL OFFICIATING

Handbook for basketball referees

Подписано в печать 05.05.2014. Формат 60х84 1/16. Бумага офсетная. Гарнитура Times New Roman. Печать RISO. Объем 5,5 печ. л.

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90

Fedor Dmitriev (born on June 16,

1971, in Minsk, Belarus). Began to be

occupied in basketball in 1980 in Minsk

city, Belarus, candidate to Master of sport,

played for junior national team of Belarus.

Finished the Belorussian State Academy of

Physical Culture and Sport (Minsk,

Belarus). Referee career began in 1984.

In 1989 became the referee of national

category, since 1997 referee of FIBA.

Officiated the championships of Europe

2003 (Sweden), 2007 (Italy), 2009 (Latvia),

a lot of FIBA tournaments, was Euroleague

ULEB referee during 2001 – 2004.


Documents

652.game management manual for the beginners in basketball officiating handbook for basketball referees