Curriculum

Eight modules. One complete official.

FIBA 2026 rules-based, NOCP-informed. All content is validated by qualified instructors before certification use.

Module 1 · 3 hours

Role, Responsibilities & Ethics of an Official

Ethics, safety, professionalism and pre-game readiness

Professional conductImpartial decisions, respectful communication, confidentiality and consistency.
Before tip-offArrive early, inspect the court, verify equipment, check roster and coordinate with the table.
During the gameUse clear signals, active movement, preventive communication and appropriate intervention.
After the gameConfirm scoresheet completion, document incidents factually and review performance.
Safety & emergenciesInjuries, the blood rule and the venue's emergency plan.
Ethics & conflicts of interestImpartiality, gifts, confidentiality and social media.
Safe sport & youthRule of Two, safeguarding minors and reporting abuse or discrimination.
Mental preparationPre-game mindset, next-play focus and handling criticism.

Module 2 · 3 hours

Clock, score, possession, substitutions and restart procedures

Game structureFour 10-minute quarters, overtime and playing intervals; check competition modifications.
Live and dead ballRecognize the triggers that start and stop the game and shot clocks.
Substitutions and time-outsIdentify request windows and coordinate with table officials.
Jump ball & alternating possessionOpening jump, held balls and the possession arrow.
Scoring & shot clock24- and 14-second resets, clock stoppages and scoring signals.
Throw-ins & restartsThrow-in spots, the 5-second count and the late-game frontcourt option.

Module 3 · 3 hours

Legal-versus-illegal movement and timing judgments

FootworkDetermine ball control, pivot foot, gather and permitted steps.
DribbleIdentify the beginning and ending of a dribble and illegal restart.
Court statusRecognize out-of-bounds, backcourt and return-to-frontcourt situations.
Time violations3, 5, 8 and 24-second rules with visible counts.
Goaltending & interferenceShots on the way down, the ring and the right result.
Signal sequence drillsStop, signal, direction — practise until it's automatic.

Module 4 · 3 hours

Legal guarding, cylinder principle and 2026 foul classifications

Contact principlesEvaluate legal position, responsibility, displacement and advantage.
Personal foulsIdentify holding, pushing, blocking, charging and illegal screening.
2026 changesTeach disruptive and flagrant foul categories instead of legacy unsportsmanlike classification.
Shooting fouls & free throwsAct of shooting, free-throw count and lane line-ups.
Screens & post playLegal screens, displacement and off-ball contact.
Technical, double & team foulsPenalties, the team-foul penalty and disqualification.

Module 5 · 4 hours

Positioning, angles, coverage, transitions and rotations

Two-person systemLead and Trail: primary coverage, movement and switching responsibilities.
Three-person systemLead, Centre and Trail: angles, coverage, rotations and help principles.
Off-ball observationFind open angles between bodies; avoid watching only the ball.
Transition & fast breaksSwapping Lead and Trail and staying ahead of the play.
Free throw & throw-in positionsEach official's job during dead-ball restarts.
End-of-period situationsLast-second shots, the 0.3-second rule and buzzer procedure.

Module 6 · 3 hours

Conflict prevention, professional dialogue and bench management

PresenceUse calm, confident signals and consistent standards.
CommunicationExplain decisions briefly without debating every call.
Bench managementAddress repeated dissent or conduct according to current FIBA criteria.
De-escalationSpot conflict early, calm words and separating players safely.
Fighting & leaving the benchFight procedure, bench rule and reporting.
Crew teamworkSupporting partners, crew signals and private disagreement.

Module 7 · 3 hours

Clip analysis, decision cues and evidence-based feedback

Video protocolWatch once in real time, identify the call, then replay to isolate key facts.
Footwork analysisMark control, gather, pivot, release and foot contact.
Contact analysisEvaluate initial position, contact point, responsibility and consequence.
Advantage & disadvantageWhen contact matters and when it's incidental.
Self-reviewA structured template for reviewing your own games.
Common judgment errorsBlock/charge, verticality and not guessing.

Module 8 · 2 hours

Platform workflow, evaluations, continuing education and advancement

Assignment readinessComplete required education and practical evaluations before independent assignments.
Check-inFollow the league-specific arrival and check-in policy; distinguish platform policy from FIBA rules.
Incident reportsRecord date, time, participants, observed facts and actions without speculation.
Fitness & readinessConditioning, warm-up, movement, agility, recovery and injury prevention for officials.
Platform workflowAvailability, accepting assignments and managing changes.
Evaluations & mentoringUsing feedback and working with a mentor.
Advancement & continuing educationAcademy levels, renewing credentials and lifelong learning.