Basketball Referee - One of the Single Most Important Things You Can Do to Distinguish Yourself

Want to know one of basketball single-most important things that you can do to distinguish yourself as a referee?

This is a skill that ALL great referees have in common.

Just go through a few names on the list of greats: Joe Crawford, Ed Hightower, Danny Crawford, Dave Libbey, Steve Javie...just to name a few.

What do all of these officials have in common?

They are all excellent at dealing with conflict on the court.

They are all great communicators.

In fact, some of the best deal so well with conflict that you can hardly tell that there ever was any.

As is said in my course...

I think first and foremost you must be consistent with your personality. Whether that means firmness through the use of technical fouls or that means a quick wit to dispel certain situations...whoever you are must consistently be brought out. My background has always been to meet strength with strength. That's a fine balance, because that doesn't basketball that you go around meeting every situation with strength.

If players or coaches are coming to you in a way that is respectful and we're all talking as men; for you to meet that with this hard core strength is not fair to the participants; because they're already coming to you from a point of respect. If you abuse that sense of power that a referee has, no one ultimately will trust that abuse of power. That being said, if you're met with strength, you must meet it with strength in my opinion. That doesn't mean a technical foul always; a quick wit is a very firm point of strength. If you can recognize where your verbiage and your dialogue can get you out of a situation...that is a point of strength. Asking for something, regardless of how you do it is not a point of strength. You've been entrusted to run the game as a referee. Run the game with your personality.

Also, remember to be "consistent over a long period of time."

That is real solid advice.

So, take that advice with you on the court and we'll see you next time!

Ed T. Rush, Former NBA Director of Officials spent 40 years in professional basketball and is a veteran of 33 NBA Finals Games and 5 NBA All-Star Games.

If you have ever pictured yourself refereeing in the NBA Finals or the Final Four, Mr. Rush can teach you how to get to your goals faster and easier with his extensive e-mail course on becoming a top-level referee.

This free course is designed to help teach you the many requirements to reach the game's highest levels. You may be surprised at how a few small changes in your approach can make a world of difference in whether you succeed or fail to reach your officiating dreams.

You can sign up for this free officiating course online at http://www.probasketballreferee.com