Level 3 Referee

This course is aimed at referees who want to progress from local or junior national league to senior National League games. The course gives you practical knowledge of game administration and refereeing in games of a higher standard. To be considered for the Level 3 Award, you must meet the prerequisites and requirements below.

Duration

September 2025 to May 2026

Cost

The cost to enrol on the course is £115.

Prerequisites

You must have been a Level 2 referee for at least two years, and have refereed during that time.
Your regional referee coordinator (details can be found at the bottom of this page) must verify your application. They may consult with senior referees or other local referee coordinators to inform this decision.
You must be 18 years of age to take part in the course.
You must hold a full referee licence for the 2025/26 season.
You must attend a Pre-Season Regional Officiating Conference

Learner Requirements

Sign up and pay for the course by completing the sign up form
Complete 14 game evaluations (2 per month) including a self evaluation form and producing video clips from October to April and add these to your portfolio
Organise and attend a 1:1 meeting with your personal Referee Coach each month from October to April
Attend 3 x education sessions (virtual sessions)
Attend monthly virtual meetings with your Coaching Group
Complete and pass the online theory examinations
Attend 1 x 6-hour practical learning session (at various locations around the country)
Referee a number of practice games to prepare for your assessment games. Seek feedback from more senior referees
Have the ability to record, clip footage and add commentary to footage

You will be placed in a coaching group and be assigned a Referee Coach who is available to support your learning and development.

Your portfolio will be in an online platform where you will have access to additional resources.

The learner will need access to a laptop or computer to complete the online work required.

Education Sessions

You are required to attend a number of education sessions during the course which will be delivered online. These sessions will cover topics outlined in the course syllabus. The learner will need access to a laptop, computer or smart device to complete the online sessions.

Sessions normally last between 1.5-2 hours and will usually take place on Monday evenings (subject to change). The session dates are:

Monday 29 September
Monday 17 November
Monday 12 January

Please note these are subject to change.

You will also be placed in a coaching group, where you will have a Referee Coach available to support you, whilst working with peers.

Theory Examination

There will be a theory examination which will consist of:

25 Rules Test Questions (Yes/No) - 80% pass mark
8 Video Test Questions (Multiple Choice) - 75% pass mark
5 Mechanics Questions (Multiple Choice) - 80% pass mark

Practical Learning Session

You are required to take part in a 6-hour practical learning session organised by Basketball England. This session will be led by a BE approved Referee Tutor. There will be several sessions organised around the country and depending on your location you may be required to travel to this session.

For the session, you will be on-court working through the different game scenarios relating to mechanics and play calling, fouls and violations.

When attending the practical learning session you will need to bring with you:

A whistle
Sportswear and training shoes
Food and refreshments

Dates and locations will be confirmed early in the program, but are currently scheduled to take place in December.

Games & Events

Should you be accepted on to the Level 3 Referee award, you will be expected to be available to referee in the senior national leagues upon appointment from Basketball England. You will be assigned to games as a Group C referee.

Referee Coaches will be assigned to a number of your games and provide feedback on your performance. These assessments will form a large part of whether you are deemed competent to achieve this award.

Dependent on performance and the number of referees on the award, we may invite you to a number of events including and not limited to:

Dynamik National Schools Finals - March 2026
AoC National Championship Finals - April 2026
Dynamik National Schools Finals - May 2026

Candidates are encouraged to supplement their learning by attending one of Basketball England's endorsed development camps, details of which can be found here. Camp costs are not included in the level 3 award fee.

Outcome

At the end of the assessment period, the Delivery Manager - Officiating will communicate with your Referee Coach, and anyone else deemed necessary and make one of the following recommendations:

Award you the Level 3 qualification
Extend your assessment period
Not competent, able to reapply when the course next opens

Should you wish to appeal this recommendation, you may do this within 10 business days of notification stating your reason(s). Your appeal will be reviewed by the Delivery Manager with any of the program lead(s).

Applications for the Level 3 Referee Award 25/26 are now open! More information about the course can be found below.