A Basketball Referee's Rules

Basketball became an Olympic sport in 1936 and since has become one of the most popular sports in the world. A basketball referee is an official who enforces the rules and regulations of a game, while keeping order on the court.

  1. Pre-Game Rules

    • Before starting a game, referee officials are required to complete certain procedures such as inspecting the ball, checking the equipment and attending the pre-game warm up.

      All equipment must be checked before starting a basketball game. The court, baskets, backboards, timers and scoring equipment must all be secure and within correct working order. It is the referee's responsibility to determine that the basketball is inflated to the correct pressure. The NBA states that a basketball should be between 7 ½ to 8 ½ pounds per square inch pressure.

      Referees are required to attend the pre-game warm up that occurs 20 minutes before the start of the game.

    Traveling

    • Traveling occurs when a player holds onto the ball and illegally moves one or both feet without dribbling. It is the referee's job to watch players for traveling violations and report them to the scorekeepers.

    Fouls

    • Referees call three types of fouls --- technical, offensive and defensive. Technical fouls occur when an improper act occurs during a basketball game such as yelling at the referee or throwing the basketball into the crowd. An offensive foul occurs when a player who has possession of the ball makes excessive contact with the defender, whereas a defensive foul occurs when a defender makes excessive contact with the player in possession.

    Shot Clock

    • The shot clock acts as a timer that enforces the team with possession of the ball to shoot within a pre-determined period. If the team fails to take a shot within this time frame, the referee will give possession of the ball to the other side. The shot clock provides a faster game with more offensive possessions.

    Other Duties

    • Referees are required to inspect each basketball player to determine if it is safe for him to play. The National Basketball Association reports that basketball players are not to wear any jewelry during a game. Any player that is required to wear a cast or splint on their body is required to cover it with soft padding so that it does not injure other players.