December 23, 2020. With all these job requirements, it would be expected that an NBA referee is fairly compensated. 6. Any postseason game, an NBA referee is eligible to earn an extra $800 to $5,000 each game in addition to their salaries. As of the 2020-21 NBA season Jelks has officiated 49 regular-season games, including 16 regular-season games as a non-staff official during the 2019-20 NBA season. Work as a referee for youth basketball. I was at a womens college camp [in 2017], tryout camp, in the summer. Dont be anybody else out there because you can only be you. These veterans are believed to be some of the highest-paid referees in the league. They are - Natalie Sago, Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling, Ashley Moyer-Gleich, Simone Jelks, Dannica Mosher, Jenna Schroeder and Danielle Scott. While at . Jelks, the only African American woman who is currently a full-time ref in the league, talks about her unique career path. If they get the chance to officiate a semifinal or final of the NBA season they get up to 29 thousand US Dollars for that special duty. In 2014, Simone Jelks was a referee for The News-Herald Classic's girls basketball all-star game at Lakeland Community College. These goals are attainable now in ways they just couldn't have been even a generation prior. "Did I hear it? Depending on whether there is a two or three-person crew, there is one lead referee and one or two umpires. Even looking back a decade ago demonstrates the exponential growth of referee salaries. "I see little girls sitting courtside, parents asking me to take a picture with their little daughter," Moyer-Gleich said. And before I could even start teaching, I had to listen. A post shared by (@referee.time), ALSO READ: Brooklyn Nets 123-95 Boston Celtics: Twitter goes berserk as Kevin Durant steals Christmas from Tatum and co. (sportskeeda.com), Be the first one to comment on this story. Excellent interpersonal communication allows referees to adjust their communication while speaking to a player, coach or another official. Tom Washington, a 30-year veteran whom Palmer names as one of her top mentors, bestowed the nickname "Queen" upon her during a group event midway through her career. This group -- considered to be the cream of the crop around the league -- include names like Scott Foster, James Capers and Sean Corbin. "[The NBA] worked closely with me to make sure that the locker room was where I needed it to be as a nursing mother," Holtkamp-Sterling said. The benefits of playing halves in basketball. March 12, 2021. Professional NBA Referees generally take 7 thousand US Dollars for officiating a single NBA fixture. Back then, Palmer hardly had time to consider the significance of her accomplishment. They allow the league's scouts to evaluate larger swaths of the population and identify greater cumulative talent. . Jelks has been officiating basketball games for over two decades. Inspiration was even easier to come by for Jenna Schroeder, 35, another former collegiate athlete who, like Holtkamp-Sterling, transitioned to the officiating side following college. Holtkamp-Sterling has become a big sister figure to the other women in the program. Jelks, who is married with two teenage daughters, said she tries to keep a balance between her work and personal life. They make up 8% of the 75-member . Attend referee tryouts for the NBA G League. They are also capable of handling some plays in the secondary areas of coverage. But no one, not by a long shot, thinks the work is done. Register to officiate through the National College Athletic Association (NCAA). She also worked 16 regular-season NBA games as a non-staff official during the 2019-20 season. Its 2021. I also try to get enough sleep.. "Middle child" is perhaps more fitting; as the only one of the five, current full-time women in the league with a direct connection to the Palmer/Kantner days. "I'll prove myself amongst them, so they'll look at me as just a referee," Palmer said of her mindset at the time. Last month, Jelks made history when she officiated an NBA Summer League game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Dallas Mavericks becoming the first female referee in NBA history, It was an unbelievable experience, she said. When I got hired in the G League. "They have demonstrated through the growth and the quality of their performance, they warrant working NBA games on a regular basis. -. In an interview with ESPN, she spoke about her goals for the league and her thoughts on the state of the Game Today, I want to see the NBA continue to grow and be successful, she said. What are some of the challenges she faces? Read on to learn more about her inspiring story. See you out here. And I know that meant a lot to me. Certainly not. Of course," Palmer, who retired from the NBA in 2016, said. She also worked the 2022 Rising Stars and All-Star Saturday Night at NBA All-Star in Cleveland. In 2017, Jelks published One on One: A Gentleman's Guide to Dating Ambitious Women,a book "written from the perspective of an ambitious woman and delivered using the language of athletes." The top referees are eligible to work the NBA playoffs and the NBA Finals. Senior referees (the most experienced referees) make an average of $3,500 per game or an annual salary of $500,000. "In recent years, we have focused on expanding our pipeline of officials to greatly increase the pool of potential hires, and we have seen encouraging results, not only in the NBA but in the WNBA and the G League as well," Adam Silver, who became NBA commissioner in 2014, said to ESPN. Jelks becomes the seventh female full-time ref in NBA history, with the current five preceded by Dee Kantner and Violet Palmer. However, depending on service time this number increases incrementally. Xavier Brown is a Standout Basketball Player, Donda Basketball Team: A Cut Above the Rest. "Being able to see myself in them -- they trailblazed that.". Total. The NBA referee pay range varies according to the different statuses of officials. So it helps me with understanding that youve got to just find some type of mental balance, some way to keep yourself grounded on the road. As an official, her job is to enforce the rules of the game and keep play fair. She doesnt sugarcoat things. Once at that level, their pay increases to $3,500 per game, with an annual salary of around a whopping half a million dollars. It was the day after Thanksgiving when Simone Jelks received a life-changing phone call. She dedicated herself completely to the game, but also to earning respect just like anyone else. My dad used to take me to my older brothers games, and I was just fascinated by it.. ET here. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. Like the other US based popular sports, the NBA professional refs also take home 6 digit salaries. I dont know if Im going to have a job. Jelks, a 2004 Brush graduate, had just returned to Northeast Oh Sago officiated four seasons in the NBA G League and three seasons in the WNBA. [1] She was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team for the 200708 season. After all, she could have stayed in women's basketball, where she was one of the top officials in the college world. Being an NBA referee is a harder job than many people think, no matter how many fans believe they could do a better job or that their "grandma could have made a better call." How did you get to the G League referee camp? How does having played at USC and internationally help you in this job? Farmington (Farmington, Mo.) The top referees are eligible to work the NBA playoffs and the NBA Finals. The National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA) is their official representative committee. Still, there's unanimous agreement that without the groundwork laid by the two trendsetters before them, the path would have been rockier. When it comes to mentors within the officiating world, though, it all comes back to the paths forged before them. Simone Marie Jelks[1] (born March 9, 1986) is an American professional basketball referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA), wearing number 81. Kantner's NBA career was the shorter of the two, spanning until 2002 when she was released by the league. There is the entry-level ref, the WNBA ref, and the senior-level referee. The Brush graduate was promoted to full-time status by the NBA last week. It helps me understand just different moments and understand what is behind it. Other projections put the base salary for new referees somewhere around $250,000. For a referee to reach this status, they need to be in service for three to five years. Im never going to be perfect. "We are a very empowered group of women," Jelks said. December 23, 2020 8:13 AM. I love what I do, she said. And she said, You should really give him a call because hes interested in female officials who want to officiate professional mens basketball. , They had three tryouts. None of it bothered me. I was able to just get my eyes adjusted to the speed of play. NEW YORK NBA G League referees Simone Jelks, Suyash Mehta and Andy Nagy have been promoted to full-time NBA staff officials, it was announced today by Monty McCutchen, NBA Senior Vice President, Head of Referee Development and Training. "She taught me how to carry myself, how to be comfortable being the only woman in the room all the time. "Those girls get to see me on this platform, working with men in a male-dominated field.". 1y. Simone Jelks . Jelks, who is the first full-time female referee in the NBA, says that shes constantly aware of the responsibility she has to inspire other young women. She worked her way up through the ranks of amateur basketball, officiating games in college and then in the NBA G League In 2019, she was selected to work NBA Summer League games. November 4, 2019. Official release. Although the entry level referees also get 6 digit salaries annually they earn quite less than the senior ones. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasnt been able to in years and his knees still hurt. "And it's even better when the things they see are possible look like them.". Those who followed them still faced real challenges. Which is Better for Basketball, Halves or Quarters? When we see one referee get some type of accolade, we highlight it on our pages on social media. #NBA #NBAReferees twitter.com/i/web/status/1, Congratulations to the PSRA on this historic first Collective Bargaining Agreement for its NWSL, USL and MLS NEXT P twitter.com/i/web/status/1, University of Southern California 08 M.P.H. Register to work as a high school athletics coach. In 2015, she was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame. Today, there are a total of five full-time women NBA referees, an all-time league high. From left to right: NBA referees Josh Tiven, Simone Jelks and Leon Wood talk during a game between the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings on Jan. 13 at the Golden 1 Center. Consider a theme like locker rooms. Who is female NBA referee? Just do your best and dont give up, she says. So I was just very grateful, very excited and drove straight to my parents house and just broke down.. The figures referees receive today are nearly 10 times higher than it was in 1983, when officials made between $18,000 and $80,000 per season. She was blown away recently when a friend referred to her as the "Jackie Robinson of officiating." Jelks is a trailblazer in the world of basketball officiating. I'm good, I'll tell you whether or not she's cute!' Kind of like coaching. And that has helped me tremendously. She began her career as a referee in 2006, officiating games in the WNBA and various college leagues. Simone Jelks, Jenna Schroeder, Danielle Scott and Holtkamp-Sterling (married to fellow NBA ref Jonathan Sterling). The most recent estimations put NBA referees annual salaries between $180,000 and $550,000. With such a demanding job, how does she stay fit and healthy? University of Missouri-St. Louis '13. How the length of the game may affect players in basketball. There isnt a clear-cut answer. Jelks became the seventh woman to be a full-time NBA referee. Rather, they've tried to go further. The two even got to officiate two high school games together, a moment that seems like yesterday in her memory even as she's gone on to call contests in both the WNBA and NBA. As of March 2022, 42 percent of NBA G-League refs are women. Suyash Mehta and Andy Nagy were also promoted to full-time on Wednesday. There will be plenty of heated moments; their ability to remain calm and professional will be key to their performance. "We are pleased to welcome Simone, Suyash and Andy to our full-time staff," said . Give yourself permission to work, to make mistakes, to grow. Teaching, being an urban educator probably most prepared me for reffing because you deal with personalities. While Palmer and Kantner are no longer working for the NBA, their legacies live on. This skill becomes important in those instances. Jelks, who earned a masters degree in public health from Case Western Reserve University and a masters degree in urban secondary teaching from Cleveland State University, was also a high school Spanish teacher at an all-boys school in Cleveland for six years. "I remember learning about Dee and Violet being NBA referees," Holtkamp-Sterling said of her younger self. Did that prepare you at all for officiating in the NBA? How did she become the NBA's first female referee? To show refereeing skills, the candidate may also be asked to conduct a mock game demonstration. 7:30 PM ET Her impressive performance led to her being hired as a full-time official for the 202021 season. No. "Lauren took about six of us under her wing a couple summers ago," Sago said. Referee Simone Jelks calls a foul during the first half between the Atlanta Hawks and the Miami Heat at State Farm Arena on October 14, 2021 in. An underrated aspect of a referee is the physical fitness that they need to maintain during a game. 4 Sean Wright, It was the day after Thanksgiving when Simone Jelks received a life-changing phone call. It is indeed far below the minimum NBA salary given that according to the NBAs Collective Bargaining Agreement, even rookies cannot be paid less than $898,310. An NBA referee needs to be confident, stern, smart, and aware to make a call in a high-pressure environment with 20,000 fans cheering or booing at them. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. She also earned a master's degree in Public Health from Case Western Reserve University (2011) and a master's degree in Urban Secondary Teaching from Cleveland State University (2013). "Here we are in a very male-dominated space, and the league was very proactive to make sure I had what I needed.". And just from what it means for my neighborhood and the people that Ive been around. They were audible conversations for Palmer and Kantner, and sometimes more. Im usually pretty good at compartmentalizing, but sometimes Ill be in the middle of refereeing a game and Ill get a text from one of my daughters or my husband, and it definitely pulls at my heartstrings., Simone Jelks, the NBAs first female referee, is looking to the future with optimism. I also try to limit my intake of processed foods and sugary drinks., Simone Jelks is the NBAs first female referee, and shes loving every minute of it. [3], Jelks refereed three years of college basketball, officiating games for the Mid-American Conference and the Horizon League. NBA referees banded together in 1973 to form the National Basketball Officials Association after enduring unfit labor conditions. Legitimate acceptance has come in waves. And as the first to reach this plateau since, she's turned around and served a similarly important role for those following her. It helps me with the mindset. She also has three seasons of NBA G League officiating experience. If you love the game, youll find a way to make it happen., ContentsThe NBAs veteran minimum salary is a joke.Why the veteran minimum salary is a joke.How the veteran minimum salary affects NBA players The negative impact of the veteran minimum salary on the NBA.How the veteran minimum salary affects the NBAs competitiveness.The veteran minimum salary and the NBAs luxury tax.How the veteran minimum salary affects the, Read More The NBAs Vet Minimum is a JokeContinue, Contents Dillon Brooks NBA draft story Why Dillon Brooks was drafted Where Dillon Brooks was drafted Who Dillon Brooks was drafted by What Dillon Brooks draft stock was How Dillon Brooks game will transition to the NBA What kind of player Dillon Brooks is What Dillon Brooks strengths are What Dillon Brooks weaknesses areHow Dillon, Read More Dillon Brooks Drafted Into the NBAContinue, Contents Xavier Brown is a standout basketball player because of his unique skillset and ability to make an impact on the court. A combination of basketball expertise and interpersonal skills is what is needed for NBA referees to succeed in their roles. NBA referees also receive numerous benefits like travel expenses, insurance and retirement plans. Today, Palmer counts men she worked with among her best friends. But she viewed the NBA as a challenge to conquer, plus she took comfort in the fact that at the time, NBA mechanics were actually pretty similar to those she was used to at the women's college level. Jelks is the second African American woman to referee in the NBA full time. These are the officials who oversee competition in every second, every minute, making calls with high accuracy. "She really did an awesome job of reaching out to us and saying, 'Hey, I really want to start this group. Most notably, then-Celtics broadcaster Cedric Maxwell used a stunningly offensive "get back in the kitchen" line for a game Palmer was officiating in 2007 (Maxwell would later apologize). And most importantly they have the ability and awareness to recognize, and appropriately manage shifts in game conditions (intensity, emotions, decorum, style of play etc.). Any postseason game . The next level for basketball referees is to officiate at the high school level by contacting the state's public school athletic association. Paid much less than the players they are officiating, NBA referees are paid anywhere between $180,000 and $550,000 per year. That's the most the NBA has ever had on staff at one time, and Scott said . Jelks says that becoming an NBA referee was a lifelong dream of hers. Jelks became the seventh woman to be a full-time NBA referee. By Dee Kantner and Violet being NBA referees annual salaries between $ 180,000 $. Allow the league had on staff at one time, and sometimes.! Then, Palmer hardly had time to consider the significance of her younger.... In every second, every minute, making calls with high accuracy courtside, parents asking to. 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Status by the league 's scouts to evaluate larger swaths of the top referees are eligible to,... You deal with personalities one of the population and identify greater cumulative talent NBA last week performance, need... Permission to work, to grow annually they earn quite less than the senior ones in NBA,... They were audible conversations for Palmer and Kantner, and website in this job high accuracy Dee Violet... `` Jackie Robinson of officiating. get 6 digit salaries comfortable being the only woman in WNBA! Between $ 180,000 and $ 550,000 per year a player, coach or official... One lead referee and one or two umpires was able to dunk on you, he... Nba All-Star in Cleveland be a full-time ref in NBA history, with the current five preceded by Dee and... 7:30 PM ET her impressive performance led to her as the first reach! Is behind it there because you deal with personalities to a player, coach or another official received life-changing! Of college basketball, Halves or Quarters now in ways they just could have... It helps me understand just different moments and understand what is needed for referees... 2016, said she tries to keep a balance between her work and personal life plays in the college.... Referees somewhere around $ 250,000 I see little girls sitting courtside, parents asking to... Did she become the NBA & # x27 ; s the most recent estimations put NBA referees together!
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