Basketball Referee courses follow the Basketball Australia accreditation program and curriculum.  This assists in maintaining a uniform and consistent approach to the development of all referees across Australia.  Some associations may have internal accreditation levels and these can be used as prior learning towards assessment for the National program accreditation.

There are four levels of accreditation.  Each level consists of a theory and on-court component where the referee is required to pass rules knowledge and on-court competencies for that level.

Special Note - Level 0 and Level 1C courses are available at local Association level.

Level 0 - Association Beginner Referee

Association Beginner Referee - entry level – the theory component of this level takes approximately 4 hours and covers topics such as – what is required of a referee before, during and after the game, game administration, basic signals and mechanics, general understanding of standard violations and fouls, basic rule knowledge and touches on player/coach management.  The on-court component is designed to allow working with a senior mentor official (shadow) who will guide and educate the new referee in the basic on-court movement and calling of the game.  This course can be completed within a few weeks.  Referees must be assessed as competent in basic 2 person mechanics, recognising and calling most violations and fouls. Referees must be capable of controlling a game at Domestic / Social level.

Level 1C - Association Intermediate Referee

Association Intermediate Referee - This course has a theory component of about 6 hours.  The on-court component consists of a list of competencies each required to be signed off by a referee coach on 2 separate occasions.  The time frame for this level generally takes one season to complete.

Special Note - Level 1B and above courses available in Adelaide metro only (some on-court available in country regions subject to certain conditions.)  These courses are run at the annual referee development camp in October each year.

Level 1B - Association Advanced Referee

Association Advanced Referee -  we now add more rule knowledge and further understanding of violations and fouls with addition of 24 second clock operation and game/player management.  A new set of on-court competencies is required to be signed off demonstrating the higher level of understanding of the game.  It generally takes about 12 months to complete this level.

Level 1A -  Association Representative Referee

Association Representative Referee – this level is designed to educate the referee in the top end of rule knowledge and introduces higher understanding of advantage/disadvantage within the game.  By completing this level a referee id suitable to officiate at finals level across a number of junior and senior competitions.  Competencies for this level must be signed off each 3 times and by 2 or more referee coaches. It generally takes about 12 months to complete this level.

Level 2 - State Representative Referee

State Representative Referee - To advance through to Level 2, referees are generally now on an elite pathway and involved in a development squad or a similar program. Referees need to complete the more advanced Level 2 Course taking 10 hours. Referees must complete the National Referee Exam and be assessed on court as meeting the competencies outlined by Basketball Australia. Level 2 referees should expect to be refereeing at high junior representative or senior State League level. As a Level 2 referee you may be considered for selection to a National Junior Championship.  This course generally takes about 2 years.

Level 3 - National Referee

National Referee - The highest level of State Accreditation is Level 3, referees at this level will be regularly officiating at State League or National League level. The referee would have completed not only many hours of accreditation training but been involved with and completed a number of years in a State or National referee development squad.