(NOTE: words in “quotation marks” and italics are themselves located in this glossary):
Action Area: Location of "Competitive Matchups", primary areas. May be adjusted based on where the action areas are located. (e.g. "Center (C)" may adjust above the FT line if the action area is higher).
Active Feet: Being ready to "Position Adjust" quickly and as needed. Having weight on the balls of your feet and quick to move rather than being on your heels resulting in a slow reaction to move.
Ball Side: The side of the court (when divided in the middle of the key from baseline to the half-court line) on which the ball is located.
Ball Watch: Watching the match up wherever the ball goes. This is a trait that is unacceptable. Officials must be diligent to referee the players in their "Primary Coverage Area". "Fans watch the ball; officials do not."
Best First Look: The official in the crew who has primary defender responsibility AND the best angle AND has seen "Start, Develop, Finish" on any given play.
Body Language: Opening shoulders to indicate acceptance of the play; stepping toward a matchup to indicate coverage.
Bigs: Post players.
Block: The larger rectangle along the side of the key lane closest to the end line.
Call: A foul or violation decision made by an official.
Call Selection: Level of consistency between officials for the game regarding how plays are called and how they are judging physical play versus rough play.
Center Official: In three-person officiating crews, the official positioned near the sideline at the free throw line extended on the side opposite the Trail and Lead officials.
Checklist: Small patterns or lists of items officials regularly follow to ensure consistent and proper applications of rules and procedures.
Checkoff Point: When transitioning from on-ball to off-ball coverage, spots to look to identify the the most probably off-ball "Competitive Matchups". "Elbow" and "Block" court locations are typical checkoff points.
Close Down: A position taken by the Lead official off the endline and two steps outside the key.
Competitive Matchup: Occurs when a defender is actively guarding an opponent and requires the attention of the primary official.
Correct Call (CC): A foul or violation called by an official which is correct by rule.
Crew Call: A call, which an official makes outside his/her "Primary Coverage Area" which is needed to ensure crew integrity.
Cues for Rotation: In three-person officiating crews, reasons for the Lead official to move to other side of the key. These include a "Competitive Matchup" on the Center's side of the floor necessitating a 5-second count, a post-up on Center's side of the floor or a majority of players on Center's side of the floor.
Double Whistle: Occurs when two officials blow their whistles at the same time for the same foul or violation.
Elbow: Intersection of the free throw line and either key-side line.
Engaged: Being keenly and actively aware of partners, "Primary Coverage Areas", "Competitive Matchups", game and clock situations. Ready to assist on obvious plays outside of "Primary Coverage Area" that need whistles. Constantly working for angles and not getting "Straight-lined" on plays.
Endline: The out of bounds line parallel and closest to the backboard. "Baseline" is old terminology.
Fifty-fifty Call: A violation or foul which is close and could go either way. Depending on the game, a "No Call" may be preferred to a Fifty-fifty Call.
Flow: How a game moves up and down the floor during live play. Our "Game Management" and "Whistle Tempo" can affect the pulse or tempo of the game.
Game Management: Techniques used to control the game (without manipulating it), including communication with bench personnel and enforcement of timing regulations to encourage a "Flow" to exists in a game.
Incidental Contact: "Legal contact" between opponents, often during "Physical Play", in which neither opponent's "Rhythm, Speed, Balance or Quickness (RSBQ)" if negatively affected or has no negative effect on the play.
Inside-Out: Position of an official when he/she is on the "inside" (closer to center of court than sideline) of a matchup and facing "out" (towards the sideline). Not a desirable position. "Outside-In" position preferred whenever possible.
Lead (L) Official: Official positioned just off the "Endline".
Legal Contact: Contact between opponents which does not violate any rules.
Live Ball Communication: Verbal or non-verbal communication between officials while the ball is live.
Next Play Forward: Officiate in a position & with mental awareness that allows you to "Position Adjust" beforehand & get mentally ready to effectively officiate an upcoming play in your "Primary Coverage Area (PCA)".
No Call: Foul or violation which is not called by the officials for one of several reasons.
No Call Incorrect: A foul or violation call which is not made and is an error by the crew.
Open Angle: Position by an official which allows the official to see the space between offensive and defensive players and allows the official to accurately judge contact, fouls and/or violations.
Opposite Side: The side of the court (when divided in the middle of the key from the baseline to the half court line) opposite and official's position.
Outside-In: Position of an official when he/she is on the "outside" (closer to sideline than center of court) of a matchup and facing "in" (towards the center of the court). This is preferred position whenever possible.
Physical Play: A level of play between opponents which is of high tempo and assertive and during which "Legal Contact" and/or "Incidental Contact" occurs because players are making legal attempts to play the ball.
Pinch the Paint: A position taken by the Lead official which is just off the endline and one step into the key extended. Used on drives from the opposite side when the Lead official is trying to get a better angle on the play.
Play Calling: How officials judge each play and apply rules from the start, through development and finish of the play.
Position Adjust: Movement by an official to improve, obtain and/or improve an open look or "Open Angle" between players so the play may be properly adjudicated.
Possession Consequence: A possible foul or violation which causes a change of possession of the ball.
Postgame: Discussion among the crew regarding the game, how it was managed, pertinent plays and how to improve for the next game.
Pregame: Discussion among the crew (all officials) regarding the overall management and crew philosophies for the upcoming game: Crew communication, rules, mechanics, special situations, etc.
Primary Coverage Areas: Areas of the floor where each official has coverage responsibility.
Primary Defender: The defensive player guarding a ball handler/dribbler.
Primary Matchup: The most "Competitive Matchup" in your "Primary Coverage Area".
Primary Whistle: A whistle blown by an official on his/her "Primary matchup" to signal a foul or violation after seeing the play "Start, Develop, and Finish".
Referee Strong Going Away: "Position Adjust” and maintain an "Open Angle" as dribbler is going away from official and into partner's primary area, until play is picked up (covered) by partner.
Rotation: In three-person officiating crews, crew movement, dictated by the ball/post play, which moves the crew to better angles to officiate the play. Lead moves across the key; Trail becomes center; Center becomes Trail. You should NEVER LEAVE AN "OPEN LOOK / OPEN ANGLE" during a rotation. (refer to "Cues For Rotations").
Rough Play: Illegal contact between opponents which exceeds "Physical Play" and "Incidental Contact", not an attempt to play the ball, or directly "aimed" at one's opponent.
Rhythm, Speed, Balance, Quickness (RSBQ): During play, judge each of these items to determine if a player was placed at a disadvantage by an opponent.
Secondary Defender: A defender, who is not an official's primary responsibility, but may enter the play from another official's primary coverage area. The official covering the area from which the defender came is responsible for him/her.
Secondary Whistle: A whistle blown by a crew member to signal a foul or violation AFTER the primary official has seen the entire play (Start-Develop-Finish) AND recognized that the primary official is unable to make the call (due to lack of information, poor angle, having players obstructing view, etc.).
Slow To Show: Officials should always be slow to give preliminary signals, ensuring eye contact and communication with their partners. Be especially “slow-to-show” your preliminary signals during a double whistle, as this could lead to officials simultaneously indicating different fouls or violations.
Straight-Lined/Stacked: A poor position, in which an official cannot see space between players, caused when the official is out of position and does not have an "Open Look" and the official cannot referee the play.
Strong Side: In three-person officiating crews, the side of the court (when divided in the middle of the key from the baseline to the half-court line) on which both the Trail and Lead are located. This is usually the ball side.
Switch: Two officials change positions, usually caused by a foul being called.
Table Side: The side of the court (when divided in the middle of the key from the baseline to the half-court line) where the table (timekeeper, scorekeeper) is located.
Ten, One & One: (2-person Crew): An attempt by an official to keep all ten players, his/her partner and the table (or clock) within his/her peripheral vision at all times.
Ten, Two & One: (3-person crew): An attempt by an official to keep all ten players, his/her two partners and the table (or clock) within his/her peripheral vision at all times.
To and Through: When a competitor makes contact with an opponent directly in the chest or torso and running him/her over. Often used to describe a block/charge.
Trail (T): In three-person officiating crews, the official positioned between the sideline and closest lane-line extended, near the 28-foot mark, opposite the "Center" and on the same side as the "Lead". In two-person officiating crews, the official positioned between the sideline and closest lane-line extended, near the 28-foot mark, and diagonally from the "Lead".
Triple Whistle: In three-person officiating crews, occurs when all officials on a 3-person crew blow their whistles to stop play. Usually happens on an area of intersection of "Primary Coverage Areas (PCA's)" such as high in the key.
Weak Side: In three-person officiating crews, the side of the court (when divided in the middle of the key from the baseline to the half-court line) on which the Center is located. Usually, the side opposite where the play will finish.
Wide Eyes: Being in a place to see all players and partners during off-ball or non-"Competitive Matchup" situations, and allowing yourself the ability to be ready for the next play.
Wide out/angle: Position of the "Lead" official just off the endline and 2-3 steps inside the point where the 3-point arc intersects the endline.