REFEREES

How To Join

Basketball officiating can provide you with some great personal rewards. As a referee or umpire (yes, there is one of each, however their duties are almost identical) you must make instantaneous decisions, resolve conflicts and deal with stress and pressure.

You are in a position to be a positive role model around children and young adults. It’s a great way to develop skills that apply in other areas of your life.

Being a Referee is Fun!

Most of all, being a referee is great fun. You will improve your fitness and knowledge of the rules as well as work with some of the most enthusiastic people in basketball.

And it's not just for those dreaming of national league or Olympic and Paralympic success. Most referees are at local associations each week, renewing friendships, working on their fitness, involved in a fantastic game and being paid to do it!

Developing Your Skills

Most referees start at the domestic level, from refereeing juniors right through to senior competitions. As you improve your skills and gain confidence you can ascend the ladder and referee junior representative games, this normally results in referees traveling around to other basketball stadiums to referee.

From there, referees can be selected to attend development tours/camps or even be selected to referee at Australian Junior Championships, by this stage of a referee’s career other opportunities will come your way and you should start to officiate senior representative competitions, such as Youth League or State Basketball League competitions.

Growing Positive Characteristics

Referees who are successful at this level, generally demonstrate the ability to bring control to chaos; understand fairness; promote safety and encourage good sportsmanship. A basketball referee develops the positive characteristics of a police officer, lawyer, judge, accountant, reporter, athlete and diplomat.

A referee is also someone who can be put in a position of authority and handle the responsibility without being overbearing. As a referee, you’re in charge, but it’s the players who the fans have come to watch, not you.

Australia has some of the best officials in the world and for those that progress to our national league competitions or represent Australia at a World Championship, Paralympic or Olympic Games, is a much deserved honour.

Stay Fit, Get Paid and Do Something You Love!

Basketball is a great sport and refereeing allows you to enjoy the sport, stay fit and get paid for doing something that you love. If you are serious about becoming a referee, you should consider the following;

Are you reasonably fit (or willing to work on your fitness)?

Are you willing to work on your skills dealing with people?

Do you have the time to commit to become a qualified and competent referee?

Do you like interacting with other people who have a common interest (basketball!)

If you answered yes to the above, then we want to hear from you!

Contact the Seahawks office on (07) 5573 1796 or email lachy.power@seahawksbasketball.com.au for more information.