As a game, basketball is progressing in skill and speed every day. It is a natural environmental development process that takes place unconditionally and is called evolution. The game and, more so, refereeing have completely changed from 10 years ago. Presently, top-level refereeing is improving at least at the same speed as the game itself and higher performance standards are expected every year. The pace of change has necessitated the adoption of a motto: “What was considered exceptionally good yesterday is considered standard quality today and below average quality tomorrow”. This manual complements other FIBA technical manuals for officiating. The Individual Officiating Techniques (IOT) Manual provides the foundation of successful basketball refereeing, namely, to referee one play situation at a time. The content in this IOT Manual should be considered a basic standard of mechanical and technical procedures executed individually on the court, and every referee at FIBA level should have detailed know-how.

Updates
Version 2.5 (December 2024)
1.3 Diagram updated
2.7 Making a call – text and diagram updated
3.2 Referees’ Signals  updated

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. GENERAL
1.1 Basketball officiating
1.2 Image of an elite basketball referee
1.3 Processing the play – Quality Decision

2. INDIVIDUAL OFFICIATING TECHNIQUES (IOT)
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Distance & stationary
2.3 Refereeing the defence
2.4 Stay with the play
2.5 Positioning, open angle (45°) and adjustments
2.6 Pre-game conference and use of FIBA iRef PG App
2.7 Making a call, decision making and communication
2.8 Signals & reporting
2.9 Jump ball / active referee (tossing the ball)
2.10 Jump ball / non-active referee(s)
2.11 Covering a shot (protect the shooter)
2.12 Throw-in administration (general & frontcourt endline)
2.13 Fake a foul
2.14 Control of the game and shot clock

3. SIGNALS & TERMINOLOGY
3.1 Basic basketball officiating terminology
3.2 Official referees’ signals