This document was developed by the Pacific Northwest Basketball Officials Association (PNBOA) in 2008. This is a working document, which changes each year as information and methods are updated. THE PNBOA assigns MEN'S/BOYS' and WOMEN'S /GIRLS' basketball games. The association has its own Executive Board, Constitution, Bylaws and Board Policies, as well as Varsity and Sub-Varsity ranking lists. There are specific requirements for members in the governing documents. Please make sure you take the time to read and understand the requirements applicable to you as an Apprentice Official.
The Pacific Northwest Basketball Officials' Association is the premiere officiating organization in the State of Washington. With 350+ members, our officials cover over 20,000 games annually, which exceeds 50,000 school/recreation games assignments each year.
We provide qualified referees for school and recreational basketball games. We provide ongoing referee training, scholarships and advanced opportunities for our members. We are members of the Washington Officials' Association (WOA), sanctioned by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA).
We work diligently to provide the highest quality basketball officials to schools and recreation leagues in and around King County. Many of our current members also officiate at the Community College and NCAA Division I, II and III levels.
The PNBOA recognizes the importance of diversity not only in our membership but with the customers we service as well. We are proud of the diversity in our active membership, from our newest members to our most veteran officials. Our goal is to continually strive to have people from different backgrounds and experiences in our leadership and organizational support roles.
Upon completion of the apprentice training program and provided you are offered a contract, there are various requirements to establishing and maintaining your membership. These include apprentice and general membership meeting attendance requirements. You must also complete the annual WIAA/WOA rules test, clinic, and concussion training.
Association dues are waived by the PNBOA for your first year. WOA dues for your first year are delayed until your second season (2025-26). Before the 2025-26 season, if you are a member of the PNBOA your PNBOA dues will be deducted for your second season and your WOA dues will be deducted for both your first and second seasons.
The WIAA plans and administers interscholastic activities (athletics, performing arts, and other activities) as approved by school districts and their directors.
The purpose of the WOA is to provide quality officials for WIAA-sanctioned events. Each individual local association (e.g. PNBOA) is governed by the WOA for all school games. WOA had no authority over the non-WIAA-sanctioned recreational leagues serviced by each association. In addition to WIAA-sanctioned games, each association also assigns non-WIAA-sanctioned games including Recreation, Traveling Leagues, and Select teams. These teams play year-round, whereas WIAA-sanctioned games are played only during designated sports seasons. The WOA includes officials from all sports, while associations are sports-specific
The PNBOA is governed by a Constitution, Bylaws and Board Policies. The elected Board of Directors serve the membership on a volunteer basis. Committee members are selected by Board Members and approved by the Board to serve on their respective committees. Detailed information can be found online on the PNBOA website or on this website . You should take time to learn about our Association and the volunteers who help make it successful, and learn about our policies and procedures which you will be expected to abide by.
The Apprentice program is designed as a two-year program in which Apprentices work with veteran officials to study and learn the basics of basketball officiating. Here are the basic requirements for all Apprentices. NOTE: Acceptance in the Apprentice training program DOES NOT guarantee the offer of a contract until all requirements are met.
Complete RefReps rules training
Attend ALL on-court training sessions as outlined on the Home page of this website and explained by training staff
Demonstrate a desire to learn how to be the best official you can be, understand the expectations and scope of responsibility as a representative of the PNBOA, and possess the basic abilities and skills to officiate basketball
Once an Apprentice has been offered a contract
Set up an Arbiter account (as directed by the training staff and assigner)
Complete a Membership Services Agreement (MSA)
Approve a Washington State Patrol (WSP) background check
Provide SSN to our accountant for pay purposes
Provide availability (via the Arbiter website) for games
Meet Apprentice meeting requirements (see Board Policies)
NOTE: The PNBOA has a process in place which allows you to waive your second year of apprenticeship. This requires you to work at least 60 games, of which at least 20 must be school games, in your first year.
Apprentices should direct specific questions to the Apprentice Chairperson.
Training Staff: Michael Saito
PNBOA Apprentice Chair
(206) 280-1651
2024-25 Instructors:
Stacy Brodzik, Steve Madsen, Lezley Smith, Jeff Shelton, Macey Madsen, Manuel Fernandez, Mike Salyer
All game Assignments are made via ArbiterSports.com and are based, in part, on your geographical, date and time availabilities. You must provide availability each month in order to be assigned. Once training is completed and you are offered a contract, you will be issued logins for: a) access to Arbiter for submitting availability and b) access to the Associations's website so you can read blogs, access training materials, learn about the Association, etc. The PNBOA's Assigning Secretary for boys' school games is John Lindsey and for girls' school and recreational games is Salima Kanji.
For the PNBOA, yearly dues are $100 ($60 to the WOA for mandated dues for training, insurance, etc and $40 PNBOA dues used to offset operating costs). Dues are paid each year at the beginning of the season and are automatically deducted from current year earnings. Additionally, the PNBOA charges a 7% assessment fee on total earnings to each member, used to offset operating expenses. Association dues are waived for an official's first year.
During the time you are classified as an Apprentice, you will not be formally evaluated or ranked. While many people will help you, provide feedback and even give you written evaluations, you will not be eligible for numerical rankings until you have been promoted to the Registered (PNBOA) list. A willingness to accept constructive input from Veterans is one of the main factors in helping to elevate your officiating career.
Game fees are posted on the PNBOA/Arbiter webpage:
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Purchase of uniforms and equipment is the responsibility of each member, and will be necessary prior to the first scheduled scrimmage. A professional appearance as an official is essential - how you look when you first present yourself at a contest is your only opportunity to give a great first impression, and part of being a good official is looking good! Make your first impression a good one!
At minimum, expect to purchase the following:
black pants (not sweat pants; recommend belt-less)
black and white striped V-neck shirt - school games require sublimated patch
black tennis/running/cross-training shoes (THIS IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF GEAR)
black socks
black Fox 40 whistle and lanyard (you will get one at the start of Apprentice training)
black shorts (worn in non-school games only)