I would agree the referees in Div 1 are doing a great job, their communication is good and they are keeping a fairly tight lid on the game without disrupting the flow of the game.

I would like to see less repeated warnings to players however...
"Get your hands off!!" over and over again gets a bit frustrating especially in the same possession. warn once if it continues blow the whistle.

But I will reinforce again I think they are doing a good job.

Saw on the FIBA site third one down "Official Physical Fitness Test for Referees".

Out of curiosity do refs actually do this? for those without time to download it, it is basically a version of the 20 m shuttle run or "beep test". what do refs have to achieve, some look like they would have a good aerobic capacity others... (not bagging just a comment).

Do have to agree with glenn though we let a lot of hand checking go (and your other comment div1 are doing a good job mostly, but i didn't say it ;))

So what you are you saying there. That they all have to be of age and have sex for 11 mins. There goes my 3mins out the window!

I've heard of one state, where you had to do the beep test (shuttle run), then had to do a "Power Run": Full Court - Back - Half Court - Back, the first time in 20, then 19 then 18 seconds... but you only had 30 seconds break between each run. You would have 5 minute between the end of the Shuttle Run and the Power Run.

Glen, the way we are coached regarding hand checking and other contact is to talk to the players b4 there is contact.

So If we can prevent the defender pushing the ball handeler then we can avoid having to disrupt the flow of the game.

Of course if the defender keeps the arm on and disadvantages the offence then a foul should be called.

Two hands on is a automatic foul

Good one BC! I guess 11 minutes (or three minutes if thats all that can be handled) of your "fitness regime" ;-) would be a lot more fun than running up and down the court.
I reckon if the players did that as their warm up for before the game, the men would be better behaved because of less testosterone levels.

I feel there is a large difference in the standard between the top umpires and the up and comers..... the problem is most of the umps who have been around for a while are doing mainly mens games.

So I feel the girls miss out on quality as a result.

Just a theory - maybe they need to pay the same to the umpires for mens games and womans......

I think the umpiring has improved because there are some good ex nbl umpires coaching them like butler and a ex nbl umpire from queensland.

Cant remember his name

BC, if you go twice as fast for 1m.30sec, does that still count?

Pickles housemate, if I went twice as fast. I get friction burn. I keep forgetting to use the cream!

Can you two and your cream get a room?

BC's not my type.
I don't have a type.
Can I have someone else's type?
I can type though.

PS - i like sugar, not cream.

(This was your fault Isaac!)

so does anyone know exactly what score for the beep test the refs have to get? i got 13.2 at school.

VC fan if you got 13.2 this would give you an estimated VO2 max of about 57.6 ml/kg/min. Which i would suggest is more than the cut off (dont know what that is) and probably more than "most" of the refs. You were probably the last one running in your class too given the current obesity trend.

So if you are trying to be a ref, work on your knowledge and calling of the game as you are a few hundred doughnuts off the average ref.

I know at least one ref in Aba who has achieved 13 in my time. many others get to 11.3 or sometimes 12.

The minimum is 10.3 for most of the men and 11.3 for the top pannel.

girls only have to achieve around 8.5 i think

they also have to past a theory test.