Interested in Becoming a High School Basketball Official?
What does it mean to be a member of the South Carolina Basketball Officials Association?
I'm interested in officiating basketball. How do I join?
Typically, meetings start in late August or early September and they continue until November and you can come there to join. Contact your District's leadership to find out when and where meetings are held. You can also join by registering via ArbiterSports.com and applying. You must also have a physical exam completed by your physician.
Do I need prior experience as a basketball official?
Prior experience playing and officiating is great but is not required. Each District conducts a classroom training program for new officials at no cost. It is often possible to get on-court experience at the recreational level prior to joining.
What time commitment must I make to officiate?
Districts conduct preseason training meetings and regular membership meetings (1-2 per week during the preseason). Generally speaking, the schedule is outlined below for different levels we officiate:
Important dates to remember
How do I join?
What kind of training and preparation am I given?
What can I expect for the upcoming season?
How do you progress in the SCBOA?
Via a rating system. Earn up to 100 points for:
What are the costs involved?
What does it pay?
The Executive Committee of the SCHSL has approved the officials fees games set forth by the SCBOA. For the most part, officials work two games at a time (girls followed by boys regardless of level). Occasionally there is only one game. These game fees will be updated every three years and there is an automatic 7.5% increase built in triennially. The last time game fees were most recently increased was in 2022-23 season.
- To experience camaraderie with other officials
- To learn high school basketball rules
- To be positive role models to the community
- To officiate basketball games at public and private middle schools and high schools in your community
I'm interested in officiating basketball. How do I join?
Typically, meetings start in late August or early September and they continue until November and you can come there to join. Contact your District's leadership to find out when and where meetings are held. You can also join by registering via ArbiterSports.com and applying. You must also have a physical exam completed by your physician.
Do I need prior experience as a basketball official?
Prior experience playing and officiating is great but is not required. Each District conducts a classroom training program for new officials at no cost. It is often possible to get on-court experience at the recreational level prior to joining.
What time commitment must I make to officiate?
Districts conduct preseason training meetings and regular membership meetings (1-2 per week during the preseason). Generally speaking, the schedule is outlined below for different levels we officiate:
- Middle school games are typically weekdays starting between 4-5:45pm
- Junior Varsity (JV) games are typically weekdays starting between 5-6pm
- Varsity games are typically Tuesday and Friday (although other days aren't uncommon) starting at 6-7pm
- all are subject to change and during the non-region season (November and December), there are no Sunday games
Important dates to remember
- Weekly Rules/Mechanics Meetings and Clinics. Usually start at Labor Day, but check with your local district.
- Register by October 15
- SCBOA Rules Clinic: via SCHSL Central Hub on ArbiterSports
- Business Meeting & Exam: Saturday, November 10 at Spring Valley HS in Columbia at 10:00am
How do I join?
- New member dues are $75..Payable by October 15 unless transferring into SCBOA. Dues are $58 if you have officiated another sport (thus paid NFOA insurance fees) this academic year (July - June)
- Complete SCBOA Application…due at meetings for new officials by above deadline
- Become a District Member and local dues ($25 - $100, depending on District) for are also due at the same time.
- Attend/view SCBOA-sponsored rules clinic typically held in October.
- Have your MD or DO complete a Physical Form and submit prior to first scrimmage assignment in November.
What kind of training and preparation am I given?
- A combination of classroom and on-court experiences
- Work with seasoned officials on the court in assignments
- Mentor program for new and young officials
What can I expect for the upcoming season?
- A lot of FUN…as much work as you want and your rating score allows.
- To attend Monday night training meetings/clinics from August through November
- To officiate games offered November - February
- Officials are not expected to work every night
- Are expected to work at least once a week on the sub-varsity schedule
- Are expected to travel to the areas outside your immediate metro area
How do you progress in the SCBOA?
Via a rating system. Earn up to 100 points for:
- Rules & Mechanics Exam score (25 pts). Statewide exam held in Columbia on the second Saturday in November.
- Officials Peer Rating score (25 pts). Ratings submitted on a 1 - 10 scale (then multiplied by 2.5). Grades < 7 are required to have qualitative feedback.
- District meeting attendance--must attend minimum to receive all points. (15 pts)
- SCBOA experience credit (25 pts). 5 points earned for first 5 years. Experience from other states must be documented by former state's high school athletic governing body.
- Cooperation with District Director (10 pts). Including:
- Camp attendance--members will be graded on a 1-5 scale
- Turn backs and declined assignments including scrimmages and jamborees
- Helping the District whenever possible
What are the costs involved?
- $75 for state dues… payable before October 15. Local dues are variable.
- Approximately $100 for equipment. Mandatory is an SCBOA shirt, jacket, pleated pants, whistle, etc.
- Officials are considered independent contractors for tax purposes, so many of your expenses are deductible from your income. See a tax professional to get explicit details.
What does it pay?
The Executive Committee of the SCHSL has approved the officials fees games set forth by the SCBOA. For the most part, officials work two games at a time (girls followed by boys regardless of level). Occasionally there is only one game. These game fees will be updated every three years and there is an automatic 7.5% increase built in triennially. The last time game fees were most recently increased was in 2022-23 season.
Game Fees |
Middle School* |
Junior Varsity* |
Varsity** |
Single Game |
$40 |
$40 |
$63 |
Double Header |
$80 |
$80 |
$105 |
Playoff |
|
|
$71 |
* utilizes two-person crews, however Junior Varsity, where applicable, uses three-person crews
** all varsity contests are three-person crews
The South Carolina Basketball Officials Association, via the local district will book junior varsity and middle school games. Travel allowance for each official will be $0.55/mile with a minimum of $11.00. The South Carolina High School League office books all regular season and playoff varsity assignments.
How do I get paid?
At each game site you will be required to complete a document to submit to the administrator at that site. Each school district processes those sheets and has a check made out to you or mails a check directly to you. Some schools have a check prepared for you upon arrival and (most) others process your payment via the County/District normal payroll processing system (bi-weekly). Officials should also choose to sign up for ArbiterPay during the registration process in the event school systems in his/her area pay with it.
Is my officiating income taxable?
As an independent contractor, each official is responsible for the reporting of the income, typically on a Schedule C of their IRS tax return. Most all of your expenses are also reportable/deductible and they will reduce the amount of actual income taxable by IRS. Please see a tax professional for details.
How do I receive assignments?
Prior to the beginning of the regular season there are typically pre-season scrimmages to which you are assigned. This is a great opportunity to hone officiating skills before the real games begin. Your district, the SCHSL and SCBOA use ArbiterSports.com (a scheduling website) as its scheduling mechanism for all sub-varsity, varsity and middle school games. ALL OFFICIALS must mark off any dates they will not be available receive a list of available games and be permitted to sign up for any of those that are available.
** all varsity contests are three-person crews
The South Carolina Basketball Officials Association, via the local district will book junior varsity and middle school games. Travel allowance for each official will be $0.55/mile with a minimum of $11.00. The South Carolina High School League office books all regular season and playoff varsity assignments.
How do I get paid?
At each game site you will be required to complete a document to submit to the administrator at that site. Each school district processes those sheets and has a check made out to you or mails a check directly to you. Some schools have a check prepared for you upon arrival and (most) others process your payment via the County/District normal payroll processing system (bi-weekly). Officials should also choose to sign up for ArbiterPay during the registration process in the event school systems in his/her area pay with it.
Is my officiating income taxable?
As an independent contractor, each official is responsible for the reporting of the income, typically on a Schedule C of their IRS tax return. Most all of your expenses are also reportable/deductible and they will reduce the amount of actual income taxable by IRS. Please see a tax professional for details.
How do I receive assignments?
Prior to the beginning of the regular season there are typically pre-season scrimmages to which you are assigned. This is a great opportunity to hone officiating skills before the real games begin. Your district, the SCHSL and SCBOA use ArbiterSports.com (a scheduling website) as its scheduling mechanism for all sub-varsity, varsity and middle school games. ALL OFFICIALS must mark off any dates they will not be available receive a list of available games and be permitted to sign up for any of those that are available.