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The referees maintain orderly and fair play on the court and
administer the rules of the game to ensure that neither team has an
unfair advantage. To make appropriate calls, referees must be
observant and have exceptional knowledge of rules and playing styles.
Referees must position themselves during play to afford a clear view
of the action without interfering. A referee will cite rules
infractions and stop play by blowing a whistle. After play has
stopped, referees signal what violation has occurred by using hand
signals and a verbal call. Most referees' decisions must be made very
quickly. During the game a referee can run several miles supervising
the activity, so exceptional physical fitness is important. Between
games and during the off-season, referees engage in a continuing study
of all possible game situations. |