Referees are essential to every game — they help create a safe, fair, and enjoyable experience for all players. But beyond the whistle, refereeing builds valuable life skills like confidence, leadership, decision-making, and communication.
Refereeing is a great fit for players, students, parents, and community members of all ages (12+), and we’ll support you every step of the way.
We welcome:
– New referees (starting from age 12)
– Players looking to deepen their game knowledge
– Parents and community members supporting local sport
– Accredited officials wanting to stay involved or progress further
You won’t be thrown in the deep end — we’re here to help you succeed. Our referee program includes:
– On-court mentoring and shadowing opportunities
– Regular training and workshops
– Access to referee pathways through Basketball NSW
– Guidance to progress through your Levels and beyond
We also have a dedicated Referee Coordinator to support you every step of the way.
Referees are paid per game, with rates increasing based on your level of accreditation and experience.
You’ll be scheduled based on your availability and development needs — with flexibility around school, work, and other commitments.
We take referee standards seriously. All referees are expected to:
– Be punctual, professional, and respectful
– Wear correct uniform and be match-ready
– Know and apply the rules consistently
– Follow our Referee Code of Conduct and Expectations Document
We’ll provide everything you need to know up front so you can step on court with confidence.
Getting started as a referee at Blue Mountains Basketball is easy — you don’t need to complete a course before giving refereeing a try.
If you’re interested in becoming a referee, you can begin by joining us as a Shadow Referee during our junior competitions. You’ll work alongside experienced referees and receive on-court support and coaching while you learn the basics in a real game environment.
Getting Started
✅ No previous refereeing experience required
✅ No course required before you start
✅ Learn on court with support from experienced referees
📅 Minimum age: 12 years
BMBA is also developing a free Referee Induction Program for new referees. This will cover many of the fundamentals previously included in the Community Referee Course and will help new officials build their knowledge and confidence alongside their practical on-court training.
Once you have gained some experience and are ready to progress, we will support you through the official Basketball NSW Community Referee (C1) pathway.
The C1 qualification is the next step for referees progressing towards their green shirt and becoming qualified community referees.
👉 Learn more about the Basketball NSW referee pathway:
https://www.bnsw.com.au/officials/become-a-referee/
