What is a Game Commissioner?
A Game Commissioner is an experienced basketball official who helps oversee the safe, professional and orderly delivery of basketball games.
Similar roles are used across higher levels of Australian basketball, including Match Day Managers (MDMs) in the NBL and WNBL and Game Commissioners at NBL1 level.
The easiest way to understand the role is:
Referees manage the basketball game on the court. Game Commissioners help manage the environment around the game.
The Game Commissioner acts as a representative of the Bendigo Basketball Association and provides a central point of contact when operational, technical, safety or behavioural issues arise.
What does a Game Commissioner do?
Game Commissioners take a whole-of-game view and may assist with:
- Ensuring the court and game environment are ready and safe.
- Supporting the smooth operation of the scoretable and technical officials.
- Checking that competition procedures and requirements are being followed.
- Assisting with game timing, documentation and other operational matters.
- Monitoring spectator and participant behaviour.
- Working with venue staff or security when required.
- Supporting referees and other officials when operational issues arise.
- Helping manage unusual or unexpected situations.
- Recording and reporting significant incidents to competition management.
- Providing a clear point of contact for teams, officials and venue staff.
Their role is often not to personally solve every issue, but to make sure the right people are involved and the issue is appropriately managed.
Are Game Commissioners Referees?
Game Commissioners do not replace the authority of the referees and should not referee the game from the sideline.
Referees remain responsible for decisions made under the Official Basketball Rules. The Commissioner focuses on the wider game environment and assists with matters outside normal on-court officiating.
A simple way of separating the roles is:
Referees – Manage the basketball game.
Scoretable Officials – Administer the technical components of the game.
Referee Coaches – Observe and develop referee performance.
Venue Staff/Security – Manage the facility and physical security.
Game Commissioner – Oversees the overall game environment and coordinates the response when something requires attention.
Before, During and After the Game
Before the game – Prevent problems
The Commissioner checks that the game environment is ready and identifies issues that could affect the game before they become problems.
During the game – Manage problems
The Commissioner remains visible and available, monitors the wider game environment and helps coordinate responses to operational, technical, behavioural, safety or security issues.
After the game – Report and follow up
The Commissioner ensures significant incidents or issues are appropriately documented and referred to competition management where required.
Why do we have Game Commissioners?
Basketball games involve much more than the players and referees on the court. Teams, coaches, scoretable officials, spectators, referee coaches, venue staff and other officials all contribute to the game environment.
Having a Game Commissioner provides a clear and independent point of contact when something unusual occurs.
The aim is to allow referees and technical officials to concentrate on their responsibilities while ensuring someone is looking at the bigger picture surrounding the game.
Ultimately, the role of the Game Commissioner is to help ensure that games are conducted safely, fairly, professionally and in accordance with the requirements of the Bendigo Basketball Association.
