TRIANGLE BASKETBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION

CODE OF ETHICS

The TBOA has specific guidelines relative to our association’s expectations regarding conduct, game day protocol, and officiating performance.  

1. Be professional at all times. Every member of the officiating profession carries a responsibility to act in a manner becoming of a professional person. Our conduct as officials influences the attitudes of the student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors, school administrators, partners and fans toward the profession in general as well as toward the official in particular. 
2. We should master both the rules of the game and mechanics and shall exercise authority in an impartial, firm, and controlled manner. 
3. We shall display and execute superior communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal. This skill is essential in communicating with coaches and partners. 
4. TBOA officials shall adhere to the Mechanics and Code of Ethics adopted by the NFHS and the NCHSAA. 
5. All officiating scheduling and payment will be conducted via the ArbiterSports website. Please keep all information current, as it relates to closed dates, addresses, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and your profile photograph. Officials are expected to check this website daily during the season for any updates on games or new assignments. 
6. Any conflict of interest regarding an assignment should be reported to the Regional Supervisor as soon as realized. Conflicts include, but are not limited to employment at a school, children who attend an assigned school, close friends and relatives who coach at assigned schools, etc. 
7. Punctuality is essential to attain any level of success in officiating. Work hard to be on time for all meetings, clinics, and most importantly, game assignments. Varsity Officials: Arrive at the game site 45-60 minutes prior to the scheduled start of your contest, dressed in business casual. No athletic wear (shorts, sweat suits, sneakers, jeans, sneakers, or sandals). Middle school and JV officials should arrive 30-45 minute prior to the start of their contests. Tardiness reflects poorly on the crew and association.  Being late to a game, especially without communicating such to the crew, school, and Regional Supervisor could result in disciplinary action that might result in loss of assignments.
8. Tardiness Protocol: Any official who cannot arrive at the gym at the prescribed time limits should call their partners, and the school, to make them aware of your arrival time. If there is a chance that the official will not be there prior to the start of the game, a call should be placed to the Regional Supervisor. 
9. Game officials will not entertain any media inquiries concerning situations that occur in your contest and observe our Social Media policy at all times.
10. Our game attire: gray high school pinstriped officiating shirt (with or without side panels, as long as all officials match), black beltless pants (properly tailored), Fox-40 (Classic) whistles shall be used in games at all levels, black officiating shoes, black socks, and lanyard. 
11. Respect the dressing room area and strive to leave it as clean or cleaner than it was upon arrival. The dressing room is restricted to the crew working the game, any assigned game observer, and the Regional Supervisor. JV Officials may be present to sit in on the Varsity pre-game. At the end of the games, officials will leave the court immediately. If conditions are not conducive to exiting in this manner, exit as safely possible. All officials should leave the building at the same time, escorting each other to their cars. Should there be an unsafe environment, please request a security escort from game management.
12. There should never be a reason to hold a conversation with a fan/spectator/team follower. Once we enter the floor, we are “on the job”, observing teams, counting players, identifying potential unsafe conditions, addressing uniform compliance issues, coaches box locations, and observing player tendencies. 
13. If a fan warrants ejection (use of excessive profanity, communicates a verbal threat toward you, or comes onto the playing floor), this should be handled through game management. Please identify who your game managers are prior to the start of your contest so they can assist in these situations. Should anyone be ejected during the contest (player, coach, or spectator), please call the Regional Supervisor on your way home and, if necessary, file an ejection report with the NCHSAA. 
14. The Referee shall be responsible for contacting each crew member (via phone, e-mail, or text message) at least 48 hours prior to each assignment to confirm the location, date and start time of the games. If this communication does not take place by that time, the umpires should initiate contact with the crew.
15. Pre-game conferences are mandatory. The Referee shall be responsible for facilitating the pre-game conference to include the entire crew. This discussion should be commensurate with the skill level of the crew and relevant to that evening’s contests. 
16. Pre-game captain’s meeting should be pleasant, brief, and professional. This is not a time for a rules clinic, but do not avoid responding to relevant questions from the team captains. 
17. Prior to the 10-minute mark (if feasible), the Referee should check the book, verify the legality of the numbers, the number of players in the book in relation to the number of players warming up, legality of the players (t-shirts, jewelry, etc.). The entire crew should always introduce themselves to table personnel as they are part of our officiating team. Ensure all crew members names are legibly added to the scorebooks. 
18. Approximately three minutes before tipoff, officials should meet with visiting coach first, then the home coach. Brief introductions are always the best, convey hope that they have a great game and end the conversation. Be cognizant of the amount of time you give each coach during this introduction. Be assured that they will remember. 
19. During the playing of the National Anthem, it is expected that our officials will stand adjacent to one another with hand over heart, behind your back, or at your sides. If your values and or beliefs prevent you from doing this, contact the Regional Supervisor to discuss a discreet alternative. 
20. In 3-person crews, if only two (2) show up, those two shall start the game after notifying the Regional Supervisor. In some cases, a JV official may stand in to start the varsity game. In 2-person crews, we will never use just 1 official. Notify the Regional Supervisor immediately and a replacement official will be assigned. 
21. Officials should not post information (schools/teams, coach/player names, comments, etc.) about any game on any social media website, (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat). This could result in suspensions by the state office.  Please see our Social Media policy here.