Living the life of a basketball referee

You attend a basketball game to cheer on your favorite team. You see the officials running up and down the court along with the players. But what you might not know is what it?s like to be a referee during a game.

Steve Klein, of Keota, is one of several referees from across the state of Iowa who officiate games at the high school level.

He says that during a game, there is one common goal: to do a good job and represent officials well and do a good job for the kids and coaches.

?It?s important to be credible and do a good job where it?s fair for everybody.?

At each game, there are always three referees on the court. But that hasn?t always been the case.

?Maybe 10 to 12 years ago, the state decided to have three officials instead of two because it became apparent that three sets of eyes could do a much better job instead of two,? Klein says.

?It was a natural transition to become a three-man team. It gives the crew a better sense of floor coverage and allows them to make calls that are more accurate and be on top of things more often.?

Usually all three referees are in agreement when it comes to making a call. ?Sometimes it happens where someone will miss something completely and will go to his partner asking for help.

?Typically, if we make a call if it?s in our territory unless someone tells us to change it, then we will. Usually with a three-man crew you won?t even see what the other guys see because you have your own area of floor coverage to watch.?

Klein has been a referee in some form for more than 30 years but has been part of his current crew for nine seasons. What has been the biggest change over the years?

?The athletes are bigger, stronger and faster. Many times, they are playing year-round and are developing their skills at a broader base making them quicker.

?I?m not able to get faster, but it does mean we have to do a good job and try to get what we need to get and be sharp and aware of what?s happening.?

Klein says since the athletes are becoming faster, he along with other referees can?t always run as fast as they?d like. That means younger officials are needed.

?We would love (putting much emphasis on love) to have younger athletic guys get into this art we call officiating. We need them in a big way that are willing to do it because the population of officials continues to get older. We want to transition to those who are younger and have a passion for the sport and carry the torch in years to come.

?Both state athletic associations are currently seeking younger officials and are reaching out to them. Plus, it?s a great way to make a few bucks on the side.

?For maybe the high school player who couldn?t play at the college level, or the college player who might be too old and can?t play at the pro level, it?s a good way to stay involved in the game.?

Becoming a referee isn?t a hard process. ?You would take an online test, attend rules meetings and paying a small registration fee to get started.

?That?s pretty much it. From then on, they would want to continue to work games to get experience.?

The timeline is fast. ?If someone really wanted to become a referee, it would only take a matter of days.

?You can pay your registration fee, get your rules book from the state, study the rules, take the test (which you can take more than once), then be ready to go.?

The only additional cost is the uniform, shoes and whistle, but they last a long time. ?I wear shirts and pants that I?ve had four or five years.?

Klein says needing to know a different set of rules whether officiating a girls? game or a boys? game isn?t needed. ?They are pretty much the same,? he says. ?The only differences come in when you go from a high school to a college level.?

One thing Klein says that gives him a challenge is attending a game as a fan. ?It?s part of what we do as officials. We watch things differently than maybe we did as just fans.

?Many times I know the officials that are working and I?m watching what they are doing and try and learn a thing or two or watch what they do and thinking I might have made a call differently.?

He plans to remain a referee as long as he can. ?As long as my body will hold up, I?m going to do it. I?d like to think at one level I have another 10 or 15 years left in me, even as I get older, even if I was confined to doing it at a junior high level.?