Basketball · Official Basketball Rules

Law 46: Referees, Table Officials and Commissioner

2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts · updated 22 October 2026 · markdown

Who officiates a game, the four table officials, the commissioner's seat and duty, neutrality and the uniform.

46.461Who Officiates

The crew, the table officials and the commissioner.

The on-court officials are a crew chief and 1 or 2 umpires.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.1 · recall
The table officials are a scorer, an assistant scorer, a timer and a shot clock operator.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.2 · recall
The assistant scorer is one of the four table officials.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.2 · recall
The crew chief and umpires are assisted by the table officials and by a commissioner, if present.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.1 · recall
The crew is a crew chief and 1 or 2 umpires, so two officials on the court is allowed.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.1 · applied
The shot clock operator is a table official; the crew chief and umpires are on-court officials and the commissioner is optional.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.2 · applied
The rules speak of a commissioner 'if present', so not every game has one.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.1, 46.3 · recall
Court officials first, then the table, then any commissioner.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.1-46.3 · recall
Scorer and assistant first, then the two clock operators.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.2 · recall
The commissioner oversees the table; the other three work at it.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.2-46.3 · applied

Where the commissioner sits, independence, no rule changes, the dress code.

The commissioner, if present, sits between the scorer and the timer.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.3 · recall
The commissioner supervises the table officials and assists the crew chief and umpires in the smooth running of the game.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.3 · recall
The officials of a game should not be connected in any way with either team on the court.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.4 · applied
The officials conduct the game under the rules and have no authority to change them.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.5 · applied
The uniform is a referees' shirt, long black trousers, black socks and black basketball shoes.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.6 · recall
Socks and shoes are black, like the trousers.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.6 · recall
Both the on-court officials and the table officials shall be uniformly dressed.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.7 · recall
From the shirt down, everything below it is black.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.6 · recall
The commissioner sits between the scorer and the timer.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.3 · applied
Only A has every part right: black trousers, socks and shoes.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 46.6 · applied

FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 46 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)