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?
The SCBOA utilizes a rating system that provides guidance to the SCHSL for game assignments for varsity games around the state and playoffs. The rating score (maximum rating score of 100) includes the following factors:
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.
- There are typically no Sunday games, but there are occasionally games played on Saturday.
Important dates to remember
- Weekly Rules/Mechanics Meetings and Clinics which usually start around Labor Day (determined by local districts)
- Register by October 15
- SCBOA Rules Clinic: via SCHSL Central Hub on ArbiterSports
- Business Meeting & Exam: Date varies each year, but typically scheduled for the end of October/start of November.
How do I join?
- New member dues are $75 and payable by October 15 unless transferring into SCBOA. Dues are reduced if you have officiated another sport/sports (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 night training meetings/clinics from August through November (dates determined by local districts)
- To officiate games offered November - February
- Officials are not expected to work every night (and can block unavailable dates on Arbiter)
- Can be expected to travel to the areas outside your immediate metro area (as necessary)
How do you progress in the SCBOA?
The SCBOA utilizes a rating system that provides guidance to the SCHSL for game assignments for varsity games around the state and playoffs. The rating score (maximum rating score of 100) includes the following factors:
- Written Examination (25 Points)
- SCBOA Experience (25 Points)
- Officials Peer Rating (25 Points)
- Attendance at Classroom Sessions, Clinics, Examination, and Trainings (20 Points)
- Cooperation with Local District (5 Points)
What are the costs involved?
- $75 for SCBOA registration, payable before October 15. For a detailed breakdown of that, please see the listed line-items below:
- $23 to SCBOA
- $14 Rulebook/Casebook/Officials Manual
- $17 Official's Insurance
- $11 Arbiter Fee
- $5 Hall-of-Fame
- $5 Background Check
- Local dues vary by district.
- Approximately $100 for equipment. Mandatory is an SCBOA shirt, basketball officials pants, and a whistle with a lanyard.
- Officials are considered independent contractors for tax purposes, so many of your expenses are deductible from your earned 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 |
* most likely utilizes two-person crews, however Junior Varsity, where applicable, may use 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?
There are two main forms of payment, and schools may choose which they prefer. Schools may pay by check, mailed to your home (more likely) or given on site, or they may use ArbiterPay in which payments are automatically processed and sent by online transfer which can they be transferred to a personal bank account. To learn more about ArbiterPay, please CLICK HERE.
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. Local districts, 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?
There are two main forms of payment, and schools may choose which they prefer. Schools may pay by check, mailed to your home (more likely) or given on site, or they may use ArbiterPay in which payments are automatically processed and sent by online transfer which can they be transferred to a personal bank account. To learn more about ArbiterPay, please CLICK HERE.
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. Local districts, 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.