Needham Community Education

Prepare to step onto the hardwood with confidence. This RefReps™ program will teach you the fundamentals of officiating basketball by anchoring them to core concepts in the rulebook. The course addresses the most important definitions, rules, and mechanics you will need in order to take the first step into becoming a basketball official.

What you will learn:

• How to differentiate between the different types of fouls and the penalties associated with each.
• The responsibilities of an official prior to the opening tip-off.
• The conditions under which a goal is scored and points are awarded.
• The process used by officials to start a game (jump ball), subsequent quarters in regulation, and extra periods.
• How to determine when players and the ball are in-bounds and out-of-bounds.
• How to locate the correct spot for the officials depending on the game situation including pre-game, timeouts, jump ball, throw-in administration, and movement of the live ball.

Upon completion of the course, you will be tested in order to obtain referee certification. Note: The Needham High School Athletics Department is seeking referees. Program graduates will be made aware of these paid opportunities, and will earn back their class fee after officiating two games. Limited to 10.