Game Officials Licensing

FIBA GAME OFFICIALS LICENSING SYSTEM ENTERS ITS FIFTH CYCLE FOR THE PERIOD 2025-27.

The system has been successfully implemented for four periods already: 2017-2019, 2019-2021, 2021-2023, and 2023-25, and has yielded around 800 international referees and 300 commissioners in each cycle.

The FIBA Game Officials Licensing has been aimed at:

Encouraging long-term planning and referee development programs
Engaging more National Federations in the planning, management and training of game officials
Enhancing the recruitment and training of female referees
Promoting potential and hard-working referees
Offering top quality services and operations for games

According to the FIBA Regulations, FIBA Game Officials' Licenses are granted every two years. The Referee Licenses are of 3 different categories: Black, Green and White, which entitle referees to officiate international games for women, men and juniors on global, continental, regional and sub-regional levels.

Aiming to build on the positive outcomes of the latest two cycles, for the Licensed Period 2025-2027, FIBA remains dedicated to the recruitment and promotion of female referees, as part of the FIBA’s Women in Basketball strategic objective.

As such, in addition to the other criteria, FIBA has maintained dedicated License allocations for female referees to each eligible national federation.

FIBA keeps the same principles of for registration, testing and approval. National Federations are required to register their best qualified candidates via the FIBA Management and Administration system (MAP).

Registration will be open from 15 October 2024 to March 31, 2025. The process will be divided into 3 phases: candidates’ registration, testing and the final verification. After the final phase, FIBA will publish the list of licensed Game Officials by June 15, 2025. The new Licensed Period 2025-2027 will commence on September 1, 2025.

For further information, please consult the questions and answers section and the tabs below. Should you have any questions subsequent to doing so, please contact GOL@fiba.basketball.

GOL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS