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Finally, the long season is over for Justin. His first year as a basketball ref has come to a close, and he can now fully reflect on the experience.

Becoming a Ref: Stepping onto the Court

This is part of an ongoing series as our own Justin Meyer embarks on becoming a working basketball ref. It will cover his experience through the process of taking the certification classes, learning the nuances of the position, and eventually calling games.

For the first time, we went onto the court and I took my starting steps, literally, toward knowing what I’m doing.


We broke into three groups, each with about six to eight students and one instructor, and went over some of the most basic aspects of officiating. First, we stood in a circle and went around blowing our whistles. It’s important to do one, firm blast that doesn’t sound like a “tweety bird,” as my group’s instructor calls it, to project confidence and power. Giving off an aura of competence and certainty is one of the most important parts of being a successful ref, as I am learning.

The whistle isn’t the same simple whistle you grew up with. There’s rubber on the tip, and it makes a specific, strong noise. I’m still trying to get a hang for how to properly blow it, and will continue to practice at home (when no one else is here) to get it down. I already knew being a basketball ref would be difficult, but I’m now learning the small ways in which it is hard. I wouldn’t say my appreciation for officials is growing as I already appreciated them quite a bit, but my appreciation is becoming more focused. I now know some of the little things that make a good ref, a good ref.

We also worked on making some simple calls. We took turns starting on the baseline, pretending like we had a foul on the block on No. 24 on the red team, then going over to the scorer’s table to finish the call. The information has to be given in a certain order, you have to show the numbers backwards so they’re in the right order for someone looking directly at you, the movements have to crisp and powerful, you have to project your voice correctly, you need to give off the impression that you’re hustling to make the call, and this has to all be done while continuing to be aware of everything going on around you.

It’s a lot. I knew it would be a lot, but it’s a lot. The instructors keep saying that it’s a lot, and when you’re just starting out, you will be overwhelmed. But they’re also adamant that in time, it does come together, and keeping track of so many things at once becomes more natural.

Now that I’ve spent a little time in the gym with the class, I feel better about doing work on my own: blowing the whistle, practicing calls in the mirror and improving my opening toss when I’m at the gym already to ball. I’m excited to see myself transform from a new, inexperienced ref still confused about the order of operations to a seasoned vet who can confidently and strongly tell a kid to knock off the trash talk. With time, it will come. It’s just going to take work, repetition and a willingness to fail, and I’m capable of it all.

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