Sports Officiating

​is the supervision of sports competitions in accordance with established rules. The quality of sports officiating depends on the official’s knowledge of the rules of the sport, on his ability to apply the rules while observing the requirements of sportsmanship, including unbiased judgment and accuracy, and on his experience as an official.

​The officials of the game and their functions.

The Referee

• Inspects and approves all equipment, including court, baskets, ball, and backboards.

• Inspect timer’s and scorer’s signals.

• Designates the official timepiece and its operator

• Designates the official scorebook and the official scorer

• Responsible for notifying each captain three minutes before each half is begin

• Decides whether or not a goal shall count if officials disagree

• Has the power to make decisions on any points specifically covered by the rules

• Determines if ground rules are necessary.

The Timekeeper

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• Consults officials as to signals used to indicate a time-out and resumption of time.

• Keeps eyes on the officials throughout the game

• Checks on the duration of time-outs, substitutions, etc.

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• When ball is legally tapped on all jump balls.

• When ball is touched in bounds, if resumption of play is by a throw-in after clock has been stopped

• When ball is legally touched after a missed free throw and ball is to remain alive.

When to stop clock

• When time expires at the end of a period

• When an official signals a foul

• When an official signals a jump ball

• When a violation occurs

• When an official orders a time-out

The Scorer

• Obtains names and numbers of all players who may participate in the game at least ten 10 minutes before the start of the game. At least three minutes before scheduled starting time, have each team designates its first five players. Reports any failure to comply to referees.

• Records field goals made, free throws made and missed, running summary of points scored, personal and technical fouls on each player, team personal.

• Fouls per half and time-outs.

REFEREE’S HAND SIGNALS in officiating BASKETBALL game.