With the focus on the NBA, and the sports world as a whole prepared to cast their collective gaze on the Big Easy for Sunday’s All-Star showdown, allow us to take a momentary departure from the glitz and glamour to look at a vital cogs in the game — the referees. Central to the continuity and organization of such high-stakes games, an NBA referee is a pressure-cooker of a job where you are constantly get berated by fans, players and coaches alike. So how does one become an NBA referee? Let’s find out.

Working Your Way to the Top Like most professions, you have to pay your dues. The customary path to becoming a professional sports official finds you working your way through the ranks from referreeing at various youth leagues to high school and college games, and ultimately, to the big time — the professional leagues.

The Physical Demands To be seriously considered as a referee, one has to be physically fit. The level of fitness increases with every rung you climb, eventually peaking at the professional level where you have to keep up with world-class athletes.

Certify Me As you work your way up, it will be necessary to contact the league or local office at each level to ascertain what certifications are required at each level. You must be recertified each year, as the rules of the game are constantly evolving.

Ready for the Big Leagues? Once you’ve worked your way up the ladder, and feel you have the tools to be considered at the professional level, contact one of the respective professional offices below to apply for one of the coveted referee positions. The first step is to write a letter expressing your interest in becoming an official. After the league office receives your letter they will send you an official application. Once you send back the application detailing your work experience, you will be placed in a series of summer camps and evaluation forums to judge your potential for making it in the big leagues. From there, it’s up to you. Just remember what you’ve learned along the way, and let the chips fall where they may. Best of luck.

National Basketball Development League
645 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 407-8000 Fax: (212) 407-8277
www.nba.com/nbdl


National Basketball Association (NBA)
Olympic Tower
645 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10022
(212) 407-8000
www.nba.com


Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Olympic Tower
645 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10022
(212) 688-9622
www.wnba.com

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