PE and health
Basketball referee cue cards
Practise a pupil referee’s rule, signal, spoken call and agreed restart using basketball cue cards. Two pupil pages provide 14 printed prompts and two blank local-rule templates. The companion explains conditions and exceptions; agree the school’s rules and officiating arrangements before using the cards in play.
Learn the cue with its meaning and restart. These are simplified school cues; follow the full rules.
Read the complete materialRead the material
Practise a pupil referee’s rule, signal, spoken call and agreed restart using basketball cue cards. Two pupil pages provide 14 printed prompts and two blank local-rule templates. The companion explains conditions and exceptions; agree the school’s rules and officiating arrangements before using the cards in play.
Pupil worksheet. Use the preview for diagrams and layout.
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LEARNING GOAL I can make a clear, fair call as a pupil referee. SUCCESS CRITERIA I can name the rule that was broken. I can show the matching signal. I can say how play restarts. PE AGES 11 TO 14 BASKETBALL OFFICIATING BASKETBALL REFEREE CUE CARDS School rules version: check FIBA or your league for full rules. 1 Travelling V VIOLATION Holding the ball, you may pivot on one foot, but you cannot walk or run with it without dribbling. REF Whistle, then rolls fists around each other. RESTART Other team: throw-in from the side or end line nearest the spot. 2 Double dribble V VIOLATION Dribble with one hand at a time. Once you stop and hold the ball, you cannot dribble again. REF Whistle, then a patting motion with both palms. RESTART Other team: throw-in from the side or end line nearest the spot. 3 Three seconds V VIOLATION 3 REF Whistle, then holds one arm out showing three fingers. RESTART Other team: throw-in from the line nearest the spot. 4 Out of bounds V VIOLATION The lines are out. The ball is out if it touches a line, the floor beyond it, or a player who is touching either. REF Whistle, then points the way the team getting the ball will attack. RESTART Team that did not touch it last: throw-in where it went out. 5 Personal foul F FOUL No illegal contact: pushing, holding, tripping, charging into or hitting an opponent is a foul. REF Whistle, clenched fist up, then reports the player's number to the table. RESTART Fouled team: throw-in, or free throws if fouled while shooting. 6 Jump ball and arrow G GAME A jump ball in the centre circle starts the game. After that, held balls use the alternating possession arrow. REF Held ball: whistle, both thumbs up, then points the way the arrow shows. RESTART That team throws in; then the arrow is switched. 7 Shot clock V VIOLATION RESTART Other team: throw-in from the line nearest the spot. 8 Scoring G GAME Points: free throw 1. Inside the three-point line, or a foot on it: 2. Behind the line: 3. REF One or two fingers. Threes: three fingers up for the shot, both arms up if it goes in. RESTART Other team: throw-in from behind that end line. Three seconds applies with a live ball, team control in the frontcourt and the game clock running. Allowances include trying to leave, shooting, or dribbling in to shoot after less than3 seconds. FIBA shot: release before the signal; the ball must then touch the ring or enter the basket. A shot in flight can meet the rule after the signal. School clock rules must be agreed. REF Wait for an in-flight shot outcome before deciding a shot-clock violation. Pupil activity | Page 1 of 2
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EVERY CALL, FOUR STEPS 1 Whistle one sharp blast 2 Signal show the call 3 Say it rule and team 4 Restart point, hand over AFTER YOU REFEREE, TICK: One clear whistle The right signal Said the call aloud Correct restart BASKETBALL CUE CARDS CARDS 9 TO 16 FAIR PLAY AND REFEREE TIPS School rules version: check FIBA or your league for full rules. 9 Shake hands S FAIR PLAY SOUNDS LIKE "Good game." "Thanks, ref." 10 Respect the call S FAIR PLAY The referee's decision stands, even when you disagree. Accept it and keep playing. LOOKS LIKE Hand the ball straight to the referee; jog back into position. SOUNDS LIKE "OK, ref." Questions wait for a break. 11 Look after everyone S FAIR PLAY Play hard, play safe and include every teammate. People matter more than points. LOOKS LIKE Helping a fallen player up; passing to someone who has not had the ball. SOUNDS LIKE "Are you OK?" "Nice pass!" 12 Whistle, signal, say it R REF TIP One sharp whistle and stand still. Then show the signal and say the call out loud. DO Say the rule and who gets the ball: "Travelling, blue ball." AVOID Signalling while running, or a weak whistle. 13 Stay wide, see the gaps R REF TIP With two referees, one stays ahead of play near the end line and one stays behind play. L T DO Stay off the court. Keep players between you and your partner. AVOID Watching only the ball. Look at the space between players. 14 Calm, fair, the same R REF TIP Call it the same way for both teams, from the first minute to the last. DO Unsure? Check with your partner. Got one wrong? Own it, move on. AVOID Changing a call because people shout. 15 Our rule: + OUR RULE DRAW THE SIGNAL RULE REF RESTART 16 Our rule: + OUR RULE DRAW THE SIGNAL RULE REF RESTART Respectful greeting; touch and eye contact optional. Respectful greeting; touch and eye contact optional. Pupil activity | Page 2 of 2
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Teacher companion Basketball referee cue cards Exact rules and scope This is a school discussion version, not the full FIBA rule book. Agree local clock, court, competition and officiating arrangements. Three seconds requires live-ball team control in the frontcourt with game clock running; allowances include leaving, shooting and a qualifying drive to shoot. Shot-clock compliance requires release before the signal followed by ring contact or a basket; wait for an in-flight shot outcome. Other conditions to discuss Double-dribble has exceptions after loss of control from an opponent’s touch, a shot or another player touching a pass/fumble. Foul restarts also depend on team-foul penalties, whether shooting, and other rule conditions. Referee positioning follows the approved local mechanics; “stay wide” is not a complete officiating method. Do not treat every listed restart as universal. Fair play and task Use respectful communication; handshakes, high-fives and eye contact are optional. Cards1–14 are printed prompts;15–16 are blank local-rule templates. Learners name the situation, choose a signal, explain the decision and state the agreed restart. No claim of16distinct official rules is made. Primary sources FIBA Official Basketball Rules2024, articles24,26,29,34,41 and appendixA; Official Interpretations article29/50. https://assets.fiba.basketball/image/upload/documents-corporate-fiba-official-rules-2024-v10a.pdf Teacher companion | Page 1 of 1
A teaching sequence
Pupils should describe a situation, identify the relevant agreed rule, demonstrate or explain a signal and state how play restarts. They should communicate respectfully and recognise when a rule condition or uncertainty requires checking with the teacher or partner.
Learn the cue with its meaning and restart. These are simplified school cues; follow the full rules.
Read the complete materialIdentify the call and condition
Choose a printed scenario and identify whether it concerns a violation, foul, game situation or fair-play prompt. Ask which agreed rule condition matters before making the call.
Which agreed rule condition applies to this scenario?
Rehearse the call and restart
Rehearse whistle, signal, spoken rule and team, then restart. Use a calm stationary demonstration and check the restart against the companion and local arrangements.
Can the listener identify the rule, team and restart from your calm demonstration?
Check timed-rule qualifications
Discuss the three-second and shot-clock qualifications. For a shot in flight, explain why the outcome must be considered rather than calling a violation solely when the signal sounds.
Was the shot released before the signal, and what happened next?
Review and agree local rules
Use the checklist to review a short rehearsal, then complete a blank local-rule card with teacher agreement. Discuss respectful communication and check uncertainty without treating optional greetings as requirements.
Which uncertainty should you check with the teacher before play resumes?
Before you teach
Look for the thinking behind an answer, choose the support your class needs and leave room for an independent response.
What to look for
A useful rehearsal names the rule, communicates the team and gives the agreed restart. A shot released before the signal can satisfy the shot-clock condition if it then touches the ring or enters the basket. If a pupil calls every signal a violation, return to that complete condition and replay the described situation.
Give a little support
Practise one cue at a time using the four-step sequence. Let pupils explain a signal or point to the card before demonstrating it, and agree an accessible communication method. Use a partner to check the spoken call and restart before introducing faster or ambiguous situations.
Take the idea further
Compare two otherwise similar shot-clock situations with different release or ring-contact outcomes. Explain which condition changes the decision, then draft a local-rule card showing the agreed interpretation. Check it with the teacher and identify any condition the short card cannot cover.
Things to keep in mind
This is a discussion aid, not the full FIBA rules. Handshakes, high-fives and eye contact are optional; local restart and officiating conditions matter.
Keep the idea. Make it yours.
Bring your topic, learning goal and class context to PLAI™, then review what you create.
Ideas to try with your class
Sample teaching perspectives on what to try, what to adapt and what to watch for.
Meet The Creators
Meet a creator whose teaching interests connect with this template.
Kind Check-In
These two-page basketball referee cards ask pupils aged 11 to 14 to describe a situation, identify a rule, show its signal and state how play restarts. The sheet labels its version as school rules and directs users to check FIBA or league rules for the full rules.
Book and Biscuit
The travelling card explains pivoting and the no-walking-without-dribbling condition, then pairs the call with a referee signal. The format supports practice in linking a rule to communication and restart.
Spare Pencil
Rehearse calls with a teacher or partner, use respectful language and check the current local rule when a situation is uncertain. Let pupils practise the signal before officiating live play.
Open Book Pause
The cards identify a school-rules version and are not a complete or current competition rulebook. Confirm the applicable league rules and teacher guidance before using them in a match.