Hi everyone,
We’re looking forward to kicking off another great season this weekend!
There are a few important updates you need to know:
Updated Mercy Rule
To help keep games positive and enjoyable for all teams, we’ve updated the Mercy Rule this season:
- Once a 20-point margin has been established, the leading team must retreat behind their own 3-point line after every successful basket and may not engage the offense until they have entered the front court.
- The leading team must not attempt to steal the ball from the ball carrier at any time.
- Pass interceptions and blocked shots are still permitted.
- If a steal occurs, the whistle will be blown, and the trailing team will receive an inbound play. Referees should also ensure that the inbound pass is not immediately intercepted.
Please make sure you’re familiar with these changes and apply them consistently.
Saturday Morning Referees – 3×3 Games
Saturday morning referees will also be required to cover 3×3 games as part of their rostered duties.
Key things you need to know about 3×3 games:
- Half-court game with one basket.
- Scoring:
- Shots inside the arc = 1 point
- Shots beyond the arc = 2 points
- Game length: First team to 21 points or 15 minutes of running clock, whichever comes first.
- Team fouls only (no personal fouls recorded):
- 7 team fouls = opponents receive 2 free throws
- 10 team fouls = opponents receive 2 free throws and possession
- Substitutions:
- Can occur at any dead ball without needing to be called on by the referee.
- Timeouts:
- One timeout per team per game.
- Restart after a whistle:
- Check ball at the top of the key before resuming play.
- After a successful basket:
- Play continues immediately (no inbound).
- Defense cannot defend inside the no-charge circle after a made basket (to allow space for clearing).
- Clearing the ball:
- After a defensive rebound or steal, the ball must be cleared behind the 3-point line before a scoring attempt.
How it will work:
- We expect to have four teams running each Saturday at 9:00am.
- All games will be on Court 1 (Court 2 will continue to host U10s).
- There will be two games running simultaneously across the two half-courts.
- At the end of the first game, one team from each half-court will rotate, and a second round of games will be played.
- Two referees will be assigned per half-court (4 referees total for the 3×3 session).
- Referees will be paid their normal game rate for completing the 3×3 session (approximately 30 minutes total), which aligns with a standard full-court game (36 minutes).
Please review these rules before your Saturday shifts begin.
If you have any questions or would like a run-through, please reach out before your first game!
I’ll also run a short induction with the players each morning to cover the rules again.
Referee Development Survey
We’re committed to supporting your growth as referees and tailoring development opportunities to suit each individual.
Please take a few minutes to complete our short Referee Survey.
If you dont want to complete it here, click this link to open it in a new window.
Your feedback will help us build the best possible referee program — we really appreciate you taking the time!
Save the Date – Referee Meeting
We will be holding a Referee Meeting on Friday 16th May from 5:30–7:30pm.
There will be no games that afternoon as the stadium is being used for the Ultra Trail run.
At this stage, we plan to meet at Katoomba RSL (just confirming the booking) and we’ll order some pizzas from the bistro for dinner.
This session will cover:
- Introducing the updated Referee Handbook
- Launching Basketball Connect as our new rostering and payment system (with a demo and setup support)
- Sharing our new Referee Development Philosophy
- Discussing survey results
- Setting clear expectations and hearing from you about what support you need
While the meeting isn’t mandatory, it’s highly recommended you attend — we’d love to see everyone there!
Complete this RSVP so we have an idea of numbers
Thanks again for being part of the team. We’re excited for a big season ahead — your role is critical in making it a fun, fair, and positive experience for everyone on court.
If you have any questions before the season starts — whether about the Mercy Rule, 3×3 refereeing, or anything else — please don’t hesitate to reach out early.
See you on the court!
Bridget and Brendan
Thanks for putting this website together