Preparing for High School Basketball Season: A Veteran Referee’s Guide for One Month Out

As high school basketball season approaches, you might find yourself wondering how to prepare for the challenges ahead. Whether you’re a first-time official or a seasoned referee, the month leading up to the season is crucial for setting yourself up for success on the court. After 28 years of officiating, I’ve learned many valuable lessons that can help you navigate this period. In this guide, I’ll share insights on what you can do to fine-tune your skills, prepare mentally and physically, and ensure you’re ready to deliver top-notch performance when the games begin.

1. Review Rule Changes and Points of Emphasis

Every year, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) releases updates to the rules and points of emphasis for the upcoming season. One of the most important things you can do a month before the season starts is thoroughly reviewing these updates. This season, for example, flopping will now be penalized with a team warning on the first occurrence and a technical foul on subsequent infractions. Rule changes like this will impact the way you officiate, so you need to be crystal clear on what’s expected.

It’s easy to get comfortable with the rules you’ve been applying for years, but rule changes can be subtle and have a big impact on game management. Make sure you don’t just skim through the updates. Take time to understand the reasoning behind the changes and how they’ll affect your responsibilities on the court.

Pro tip: I always keep a laminated summary of the year’s rule changes in my referee bag during the first few weeks of the season. That way, I can quickly reference them if needed during downtime between games.

2. Brush Up on Mechanics and Signals

Knowing the rules is only half the battle. How you apply them is equally important. In the month before the season begins, I recommend revisiting the mechanics and signals for both two-person and three-person officiating crews, depending on what’s used in your games. Even if you’ve been reffing for years, it’s easy to develop bad habits or forget small details that can impact how efficiently you manage the game.

Key areas to focus on:

- Positioning and Court Coverage: Make sure you’re familiar with where you need to be based on the location of the ball and your role (Lead, Trail, Center). Proper positioning ensures you’re in the best spot to see fouls, violations, and other key plays.

- Rotations: Practice your rotations for different scenarios, especially during fast breaks and transitions. Miscommunication or hesitation during rotations can leave parts of the court uncovered and result in missed calls.

- Non-verbal Communication: Mastery of signals is crucial. Whether you’re signaling a violation, foul, or team warning, your signals must be clear and confident. Practice using proper hand signals for technical fouls, team warnings, and other key calls like the new flopping violation.

Pro tip: Use a mirror or record yourself practicing signals. You’ll be surprised how different they can look from what you think you’re doing. Make sure they’re sharp, visible, and easily understood from any angle in the gym.

3. Physical Conditioning and Injury Prevention

A month out from the season is the perfect time to get your body ready for the physical demands of officiating. Refereeing high school basketball games requires stamina, agility, and quick reactions. If you’re not in shape, it will show — not only in how well you can keep up with the players, but also in the accuracy of your calls, especially in fast-paced situations.

Here’s what you should focus on:

- Cardiovascular Fitness: Begin a regimen of light jogging, cycling, or swimming to build endurance. You don’t need to train like an athlete, but you should be able to keep up with the pace of play for the full duration of a game.

- Agility Drills: Work on your footwork with ladder drills, lateral shuffles, and short sprints. These exercises help you improve your ability to change direction quickly and move efficiently on the court.

- Injury Prevention: As a veteran, I can tell you, the older you get, the more important it becomes to focus on flexibility and joint health. Incorporate stretching and strengthening exercises for your knees, ankles, and hips. Trust me, the last thing you want is an injury to derail your season.

Pro tip: One of the best investments I made was getting a good pair of basketball shoes designed for refereeing. They provide better support for all the sudden stops and starts compared to regular athletic shoes.

4. Mental Preparation: The Power of Confidence and Focus

Mental preparation is often overlooked by newer referees, but after nearly three decades in the game, I can assure you it’s one of the most important aspects of officiating. Games can get chaotic, and as a referee, you need to remain calm, focused, and confident in your decisions.

Here’s how to mentally prepare:

- Visualization: Spend time visualizing different game situations — from making a tough call in a high-pressure situation to handling a coach who’s pushing the boundaries of bench decorum. Visualization techniques help you feel more prepared when these moments happen in real life.

- Conflict Management: Referees are often in the line of fire when games get heated. Develop a mental checklist for handling tough situations with coaches and players. For example, if a coach questions a call, remember to remain composed, acknowledge their concern, and respond calmly. If you need to, use the NFHS warning system to manage escalating behavior.

- Post-game Review: Develop the habit of conducting a mental post-game review. After each game, reflect on what you did well and what could be improved. This reflection is key to long-term growth as an official.

Pro tip: Early in my career, I started keeping a small notebook where I jot down notes after every game. Things like specific calls I found difficult or how I handled tense situations with coaches. It’s been an invaluable tool for improving over time.

5. Study Game Film

Watching game film isn’t just for players and coaches — it’s an essential tool for referees, too. Many high school games are now recorded, and even if you don’t have access to your own film, there are plenty of resources online where you can find footage to analyze.

What to look for when watching film:

- Positioning: Observe how other referees position themselves in different game situations. Compare this with where you typically stand and see if there are any adjustments you could make to improve your coverage.

- Calls and Non-Calls: Focus on moments where referees make — or don’t make — a call. Analyze their decision-making process and consider whether you agree with their judgment. Would you have called it differently? Why or why not?

- Handling Game Flow: Study how experienced officials handle the flow of the game, especially in high-pressure moments like the last few minutes of a close game.

Pro tip: I’ve found that watching film with a mentor or another referee helps me gain a new perspective. You can compare notes and discuss key moments in the game where things could have been handled differently.

6. Get Your Equipment in Order

Don’t wait until the last minute to make sure your gear is in top shape. One month out is the perfect time to inspect everything from your uniform to your whistle.

Checklist:

- Uniform: Make sure your uniform is clean, fits well, and meets the NFHS guidelines for high school referees. Replace any worn-out items.

- Shoes: As I mentioned earlier, invest in high-quality basketball referee shoes if you haven’t already.

- Whistle and Lanyard: Double-check your whistle. A malfunctioning whistle can be a major issue during a game. Always carry a backup whistle just in case.

- Scorebook and Journal: Have your scorebook and any other necessary cards ready and organized in your bag for easy access.

Pro tip: One small piece of advice from experience — always carry an extra whistle, socks, and shoe laces in your bag. You never know when something might break or wear out unexpectedly.

Conclusion

In the 28 years I’ve been officiating high school basketball, I’ve learned that preparation is the key to success. The month leading up to the season is your chance to sharpen your skills, get your body in shape, and prepare mentally for the challenges ahead. By focusing on the areas I’ve outlined — from understanding new rule changes to fine-tuning your physical conditioning — you’ll set yourself up for a smooth and successful season.

The game will keep evolving, but with the right preparation, you’ll always be ready to officiate at your best. Good luck this season, and remember — every call you make is a chance to contribute to the integrity and fairness of the game we all love.