Official shortage and rule changes for Idaho high school basketball during the 2024-2025 season

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — With the start of the winter sports season beginning, keep note of some important things when attending these sporting events.

One thing to note is an officials’ shortage in Idaho for the 2024-2025 basketball season.

Many referees are new to the sport and getting adjusted to the game and rule book.

The best way to help them ease into the process as fans is simply to not harass them.

If they cannot perform their jobs, no one will be able to officiate the game.

“In every sport; volleyball, soccer, wrestling, baseball, softball, everybody’s short officials,” District IV Basketball Commissioner Randy Winn told KMVT. “Why sit in the stands and run referees off so your kids are not able to play high school sports? ‘This isn’t the NBA or Division I college basketball where people are in line to go officiate these events. We’re begging people to be there so please be good sports.”

Another thing to note is rule changes, two in particular coming to basketball.

“No. 1 if there is a shot clock, there is no five-second closely guarded dribbling violation anymore,” Winn said. “The other one is a flop warning, without contact trying to embellish themselves in creating a foul then that’s a warning.”

Please keep these in mind when attending events this winter.

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