Basketball Officiating Rules

Pre-Game Inspection

• Prior to the start of each game, official are required to inspect several pieces of equipment, including the court itself, the baskets and backboards, and the timers' and scorer's equipment. They must verify that all the equipment is in a solid, working condition. The officials must also inspect the game ball, ensuring that it is properly inflated to between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds. It is also the officials' job to verify that players are not wearing any jewelry on any part of the their body.

During the Game

• Each NBA game has two referees and one crew chief, assisted by a scorekeeper and two timekeepers. One timekeeper operates the game clock, and the other the 24-second shot clock. Throughout the game, officials have the power to make decisions on anything not specifically covered by the official rules. A designated official tosses the ball at center to start the game with a jump ball. The trail official's primary duty is to determine whether a successful field goal attempt will count. If he is unsure, he will check will the other officials, and if they are unsure, the official timekeeper will have the final decision. Officials have the power to make decisions on rule infractions committed both on and off the court.

Fouls and Violations

• An official will blow his whistle when a personal foul or violation takes place, stopping play and notifying the time keeper to stop the game clock. Officials are required to indicate which foul took place, the number of the player who committed the foul, and which team will get possession of the ball. Fouls and violations include incorrect line-ups during jump balls, shot-clock violations, shooting fouls and rebounding fouls, unsportsmanlike like conduct, flagrant fouls, and many others.