Are you one of those sports fans that constantly have arguments with the referee? If so, understand that those guys go through extensive training and knowledge of the rules and fundamentals of the game. In order for a person to become a sports referee they must know the game from beginning to end and be able to learn the rules from A to Z. Referees have one of the hardest jobs on the field or court. They have to deal with the attitudes of the players and coaches on the decisions they make and also deal with the fans that constantly criticize the decisions they make. One of the hardest jobs in the sports world is being the referee of any sports events.
When considering becoming a referee you must gain experience in officiating any sporting such as football, basketball, boxing or any other sport. Majority of referees jump started their careers by volunteering in community sports such as Pop Warner Football, community basketball leagues and other community sports after gaining proper education of the sport they are officiating. It can take up to 15 years to reach the professional level, but once you have progressed in skill and knowledge the road to the professional level will be in arms reach. After years of officiating for community games you can work your way up the ladder to grade school level coaching such as junior high and high school sports.
There are many workshops, clinics and classes that are available to those interested in becoming a referee. Some of these classes are free of charge and some may require registration fee. The referee clinics that require fees are national conventions with referees from everywhere that have great benefits when attending them. Once you have gained experience and the proper training as a referee there are opportunities at the college level. Once certified at become a NCAA level referee, there is a chance that you may be picked up to become a referee at the professional level after years on the collegiate level. If you can convince professional executives that you are a professional referee, then you are on the way to becoming a professional referee.
Referee salaries vary in numbers. Of course as a professional when starting out, the pay is normal based on performance. So just starting out, don’t expect to receive a whole lot of income. But if you’ve scaled to the ranks of NBA, WNBA or even European leagues – so does your salary!
How do you become a basketball referree?