Interested in Becoming a High School Basketball Official?
Officiating Resources
Frequently Asked Questions. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact us.
What does it mean to be a member of District 11 Basketball Officials Association?
- To experience camaraderie with other officials
- To learn, know and apply high school basketball rules and officiating techniques
- To be positive role models to the community
- To officiate basketball games at public and private middle schools and high schools in your area
I'm interested in officiating basketball. How do I join?
Typically, meetings start in late August and they continue until November and you can come there to join. All meetings will be held at Coastal Carolina University in Williams-Brice Building, Room 118 (building #21 on the map). You can also join by registering via ArbiterSports.com and applying. You must also have a physical exam completed by your physician.
Typically, meetings start in late August and they continue until November and you can come there to join. All meetings will be held at Coastal Carolina University in Williams-Brice Building, Room 118 (building #21 on the map). 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 is helpful but is not needed. We conduct a pre-season classroom training program for new officials at no cost to you. It is often possible to get on-court experience at the recreational level prior to joining.
Prior experience is helpful but is not needed. We conduct a pre-season classroom training program for new officials at no cost to you. It is often possible to get on-court experience at the recreational level prior to joining.
What time commitment must I make to officiate?
District 11 hosts preseason training meetings and regular membership meetings (1 meeting per week at two locations during the preseason). Generally speaking, the schedule is outlined below for different levels we officiate:
District 11 hosts preseason training meetings and regular membership meetings (1 meeting per week at two locations during the preseason). Generally speaking, the schedule is outlined below for different levels we officiate:
- Middle school games are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday starting between 4-5:45pm
- Junior Varsity (JV) games are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday starting between 5-6pm
- Varsity games are Tuesday and Friday starting at 6-7pm
- all are subject to change and during the non-region season (November and December), all games are Monday - Saturday
Important dates to remember
- Preseason Rules/Mechanics Clinics:
- Monday at 5:30pm at Coastal Carolina University in Williams-Brice Room 118 (building #21 on the map).
- Sundays at 5:00pm at in Georgetown or Zoom calls
- SCBOA Rules Clinic: Online via ArbiterSports.com SCHSL Central Hub
- Business Meeting & Exam: Saturday, October 24th at Horry-Georgetown Technical College Address: 2050 US-501, Conway, SC 29526 Time TBD but will be before 10am. This will be updated when final and announced. To take the exam you will need your Arbiter login username and password.
How do I join?
- SCBOA SCHSL member dues are $75. Payable by October 15 unless transferring to District 11. Dues are $53 if you have officiated another sport in SC this year (because you've already paid your insurance and background check fees).
- 2026/2027 Registration & Testing Dates:
Registration Opens: August 01, 2026 - registration link has been sent but is also available on this website.
Late Fee Added ($30): October 16, 2026 - October 24th is the SCBOA Exam at Horry-Georgetown Technical College listed above Closed book exam. Arbiter username and password needed to take the exam. Oct 26th is the only make-up exam date and will be only at 3 satellite locations, HGTC is NOT one of those. You will have to travel.
- Registration Closes: November 30, 2026
- Testing Opens: September 01, 2026 - this is the mandatory online 50 question open book exam within Arbiter.
Testing Closes: November 01, 2026- this is the date to complete the online test which opened on September 1st - Complete SCBOA Application. Returning officials must submit by October 15. New officials must submit by November 15 to be considered for the upcoming season.
- Become a District 11 Member and local dues ($42) Because of paying online there is processing fee charged and thus $2 more than $40.
- Attend SCBOA-sponsored rules clinic typically held in online
- Have your MD/DO complete a Physical Form and submit prior to December 1st to Secretary Steve Anderson. Link of physical form is on Home Page
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 contact Eric Scheidemantel
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 training meetings/clinics from August through November
- To officiate weeknight games offered November - February. You:
- 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 more than 20 miles. There just aren't a great geographic concentration of schools in any one area.
How do you progress in the SCBOA and District 11?
Via a rating system. Earn up to 100 points for:
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 documented.
- 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 November 15. Local District 11 dues are $40 for most officials.
- Approximately $180-$200 for equipment. Mandatory is an SCBOA shirt, jacket, pleated pants, whistle, lanyard, black ref shoes, 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, but typical deductible expenses are uniforms, File a Schedule C
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 2025-26 season.
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 2025-26 season.
Game Fees |
Middle School* |
Junior Varsity* |
Varsity** |
Single Game |
$43 |
$43 |
$68 + travel fees |
Double Header |
$86 |
$86 |
$113 ($56.50/game) +travel fees |
Playoff |
n/a |
n/a |
$76 |
All games fees are augmented by a travel allowance of $0.55/mile with a minimum of $11.00 from your home.
* utilizes two-person crews with four (4) six-minute quarters
** 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. The South Carolina High School League office books all regular-season varsity assignments.
* utilizes two-person crews with four (4) six-minute quarters
** 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. The South Carolina High School League office books all regular-season varsity assignments.
How do I get paid?
At each game site you will be required to complete a voucher 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 or An alternate process gaining popularity is to use ArbiterPay, so during the SCHSL registration process, make sure to set up an account. 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).
At each game site you will be required to complete a voucher 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 or An alternate process gaining popularity is to use ArbiterPay, so during the SCHSL registration process, make sure to set up an account. 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).
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, but this article taken from Referee Magazine outlines it well.
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, but this article taken from Referee Magazine outlines it well.
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. District 11 and 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. You will also receive periodic emails advising new opportunities as they become available. You will not receive any assignments without paying and registering with SCHSL $75 and paying District 11 dues - $42 online link.
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. District 11 and 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. You will also receive periodic emails advising new opportunities as they become available. You will not receive any assignments without paying and registering with SCHSL $75 and paying District 11 dues - $42 online link.