Officials, Referees and the Spirit of the Game
Respect the people who help make basketball possible.
Respecting Referees and Officials
Referees are part of the game. They help manage play, apply the rules and support a fair and safe contest. Some officials are young and still developing their skills. They deserve the same patience and respect we want adults to show our children.
Officials will make decisions that different people interpret differently. Disagreeing with a call is not permission to abuse, intimidate, threaten or follow an official. The same standard applies to coaches, players, opposition families and other spectators.
What Respectful Support Looks Like
Respect Their Decisions
Accept that the referee is responsible for making decisions during the game.
Avoid Abusive Behaviour
Do not shout instructions at officials, mock them, swear at them or encourage others to do so.
Move On from Calls
Do not turn one call into a running commentary throughout the game.
Raise Concerns Properly
If you have a legitimate concern about safety or conduct, raise it through the appropriate competition or club process—not through confrontation from the sideline.
Show Appreciation
Thank officials where appropriate. A simple, respectful acknowledgement can make a difference.
Why It Matters
When children see adults abusing referees, they can learn that anger is an acceptable response to a decision they dislike. When they see adults stay composed, they learn that respect and self-control matter even when the outcome feels unfair.
The Belmont Standard
We can be passionate about our team without being hostile to anyone else. Let the referees referee, let the coaches coach, and let the players play.
