Senior referees (the most experienced referees) make an annual salary of $500,000. "In that moment, he was being very clear -- there was no micro-aggression or anything: 'I'm going to tell you exactly that I don't think you belong here doing this.'". The 2004 graduate of Brush High School worked 16 regular-season NBA games as a non-staff official last season. The names she's invoking are Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner, the first full-time women referees to ever work in the NBA. Candidate profiles, including referee clips and employment history are reviewed by an NBA scouting team. . 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. While at . There is no consensus answer to how much money NBA referees are paid by the league. Entry-level NBA referees earn $250,000 per year as "rookies." After three to five years of experience, entry-level referees are eligible for a higher salary at the senior level. A lot of times in officiating, were on the road for 20 days and then go home for a few days and then get back on the road. Per Game Ref Stats. Entry-level referees take way less than the seniors as they get paid just 2 thousand USD for operating a game. Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. 7. Years 2019-Present. March 12, 2021. Entry-level referees are on the lower end of that scale and receive larger paydays the longer they are in the league. Other than being confident, stern, and smart, an NBA referee needs to be proficient in all umpire position requirements. Jelks is the second African American woman to referee in the NBA full time. 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.). She is a founding member of Women In Sports officiating, an organization that works to promote female officials at all levels of play. 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. 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. Jelks becomes the seventh female full-time ref in . The top referees are eligible to work the NBA playoffs and the NBA Finals. Each team in the league plays 82 regular-season games over that period. Heres a look at paydays and more for NBA referees. [She's] always been my biggest role model. Why not? That is an opportunity that you dont get every lifetime and just the challenge of both womens and mens officiating is challenging, but then you add that extra level of being a woman in a mans world. Palmer recalls all the media hubbub that surrounded her and Kantner when they entered the league; when Holtkamp-Sterling did the same 17 years later, there was hardly so much as a press release -- something Palmer delighted in seeing. Read on to learn more about her inspiring story. December 23, 2020. Jelks was one of three referees promoted to full-time status by the NBA on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020 making her the fifth woman on the current lineup of officials. She heard whispers from some corners of the sport. ET here. Its your job to work hard, to be good at your job, to always realize you have room for growth, to be confident, to be strong and just be you. Your login session has expired. She was a 2004 McDonald's All-American nominee and a two-time (2003, 2004) Western Reserve Conference North Division MVP and first-team all-conference selection. In March 2015, the NBA began issuing Last Two Minutes reports that detail the performance of referees at the ends of games which the . A published author, a former professional basketball player, and now a full-time NBA official. Playing a crucial role in every game, the NBA referees do more than enforce the rule book. There's simply a desire to make this world, and others like it, more accessible. I love what I do, she said. Please logout and login again. Ubicacin en Avenida Ejercito Nacional No 613, oncologa sala 19. "Being a Black woman herself, being a trailblazer as the first African-American [woman referee] in the NBA, she understands 100% of the challenges that I face," Jelks, 35, said. Jelks has been officiating basketball games for over two decades. NEW YORK (AP) Simone Jelks was one of three referees promoted to full-time status by the NBA on Wednesday, making her the fifth woman on the current lineup of officials. Suyash Mehta (Baltimore, Maryland) officiated five seasons in the NBA G League. FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2020, file photo, referee Simone Jelks gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Portland Trail Blazers in Miami. Simone Jelks . Did that prepare you at all for officiating in the NBA? Entry-level referees are on the lower end of that scale and receive larger paydays the longer they are in the league. She also worked 16 regular-season NBA games as a non-staff official during the 2019-20 season. But no one, not by a long shot, thinks the work is done. She began her career as a referee in 2006, officiating games in the WNBA and various college leagues. It hits harder now after years of reflection. Her currency? Career Explorer Guide also estimated that a referee's salary can increase by $30,000 a game during the NBA Finals. Scott's average point total comes in at 230.1 while the home team has won an even 50% of the time when Scott is in . 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. Register to officiate through the National College Athletic Association (NCAA). Have you had any conversations with Violet Palmer? As of March 2023, Ashley Moyer-Gleich has a salary of $300,000. They make up 8% of the 75-member . "While there were times it could wear on my spirit, it was also a real test of what I want to do and why it's important that I'm choosing to pursue this," Holtkamp-Sterling said of those initial struggles. She also won the 2002 WKYC Channel 3 Leadership Award. They make up 8% of the 75-member officiating staff. While at Brush, Jelks completed her career as the school's boys and girls career scoring leader with 1,397 points. Why was he once considered a star? Back then, Palmer hardly had time to consider the significance of her accomplishment. Simone Marie Jelks[1] (born March 9, 1986) is an American professional basketball referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA), wearing number 81. copyright 2023 National Basketball Referees Association. A decade back, they used to earn much lesser. Simone Jelks is the first female referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Skype chats gave way to lengthy group texts, including several that persist to this day. NBA TV SCHEDULE 2022. On top of an NBA referee's salary, regardless of their distinction, they also earn large compensation packages. At times a referee is required to handle an upset player or coach in response to a call they made. . I was so scared I was going to mess up, she recalls. But Palmer and Kantner's influence on today's generation is immense and undeniable. "Being able to see myself in them -- they trailblazed that.". Of course," Palmer, who retired from the NBA in 2016, said. Jelks, who is from Richmond, Virginia, went on to play college basketball at James Madison University. Andy Nagy (Toledo, Ohio) has six seasons of NBA G League experience. Road trips can be 24 to 25 days per month sometimes. Simone Jelks was one of three referees promoted to full-time status by the NBA on Wednesday, making her the fifth woman on the current lineup of officials. Give yourself permission to work, to make mistakes, to grow. But shes proud to be a role model for other young women who Love Basketball I hope that I can inspire other young girls to pursue their dreams, she says. You could see Im getting emotional now because that call came when I was at a low point. The league releases the refereeing assignments daily at 9 a.m. Ashley Moyer-Gleich, 33, a former Millersville University college basketball player who debuted as a full-time NBA referee in 2018 after working in the WNBA, took years of mentorship from Kantner; both are from cities within an hour of each other in Pennsylvania. They also have to stand for long periods throughout games. The hiring of Holtkamp-Sterling (the "Sterling" comes from Jonathan, her husband and fellow NBA referee) was a first domino of sorts with Silver's modern NBA, after almost two decades of no upward movement for women referees. Building a championship team with your ambitious woman before you meet her, while you are together, and even after experiencing some setbacks are the key areas of focus.". Along with the athletes, a referees physical fitness is also vital. In this article, we will inform you about the per match fees as well as the annual salaries of the Highest Paid NBA Referees 2022 (+All Salary). NBA G League officials Simone Jelks, Suyash Mehta and Andy Nagy have been promoted to full-time NBA referee status. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. Career Explorer Guide also estimated that . ET. Certainly not. Twenty-four of the G League's 57 referees are women, plus several who jump between the NBA and G League (all NBA officials with under four years of experience are commonly assigned as crew chief for G League games to gain experience); 15 of the WNBA's 33 referees are women, nine of whom also work games in the G League. 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. [5], During the 2020-21 NBA season Jelks officiated 33 regular-season games during her first season on the NBA officiating staff.[3][4]. A great deal of patience is required for this. But now, in 2021-22, the NBA has six female referees on its full-time officiating staff, the most . I try not to take my work home with me, but its not always easy, she said. I also try to get enough sleep.. "It's almost normal now. Xavier Brown is an, Read More Xavier Brown is a Standout Basketball PlayerContinue, Contents Who is Melvin Booker? 6. Jelks became the seventh woman to be a full-time NBA referee. How much are refs paid in the NBA? College. This biographical article relating to United States women's basketball is a stub. Jelks joins the group of female NBA referees that also includes Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling, Ashley Moyer-Gleich, Natalie Sago and Jenna Schroeder. Jelks says that her favorite way to stay active is by playing basketball Its a great workout and its also a lot of fun, she says. All parties involved can talk about themes like equality until they're blue in the face, but the truest mark of that state is actually when it's not a constant discussion topic. For a referee to reach this status, they need to be in service for three to five years. None of it bothered me. What is the biggest thing you learned as a part-time referee? Holtkamp-Sterling, now 40, had just finished officiating a youth boy's game as the solo referee. The NBA, like the society it's part of, inches ever closer to true equity. The Brush graduate was promoted to full-time status by the NBA last week. What is he doing now? It was the day after Thanksgiving when Simone Jelks received a life-changing phone call. In the 2020-21 season, there have been a record 7 female NBA referees who officiated at least one game. Because I've seen it done before.". Looking for a way to soothe anxious nerves, she called Kantner before her first WNBA game, then again before her first NBA preseason game. [2] As of the 202021 NBA season Jelks has officiated 49 regular-season games, including 16 regular-season games as a non-staff official during the 201920 NBA season. Simone Jelks is making history as the first female referee in the NBA. "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. Simone Jelks, Jenna Schroeder, Danielle Scott and Holtkamp-Sterling (married to fellow NBA ref Jonathan Sterling). These veterans are believed to be some of the highest-paid referees in the league. 2022-2023 Simone Jelks's betting stats and past seasons including games officiated, home team ats, avg. While Palmer and Kantner are no longer working for the NBA, their legacies live on. What are her thoughts on the future of the NBA? Im never going to be perfect. 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. Professional NBA Referees generally take 7000 USD for a single match & $9000 for playoffs. It's not a big deal anymore," she remembers thinking. #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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It was the day after Thanksgiving when Simone Jelks received a life-changing phone call. "I remember learning about Dee and Violet being NBA referees," Holtkamp-Sterling said of her younger self. She also worked 16 regular-season NBA games as a non-staff official during the 2019-20 season. Just do your best and dont give up, she says. And every time that Ive reached out to her, shes given me nothing but just honesty and transparency. So my patience level went from zero patience before teaching to a hundred thousand percent because you really have to learn how to be a good communicator when you are an urban educator. The pros and cons of, Read More Which is Better for Basketball, Halves or Quarters?Continue. Still, there's unanimous agreement that without the groundwork laid by the two trendsetters before them, the path would have been rockier. Lifelong bonds have been formed within this group. And in the position Im at, I want to be really good at that. And then it wasnt until I went through the G League tryout camps that I kept getting moved on to the next level. If youre interested in becoming a referee, Jelks says that the best piece of advice she can give is to just get out there and do it. Refereeing can be a daunting task at first, but Jelks says that the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Violet is an incredible woman and shes such an honest woman. ESPN was unable to obtain comment from Kantner, 60, for this story. How does having played at USC and internationally help you in this job? There is the entry-level ref, the WNBA ref, and the senior-level referee. Those whispers Holtkamp-Sterling would hear as she entered the league years later? Whats the best advice that shes given you? Natalie Sago, 31, a 2018 addition to the league, had a birthright motivating her: Her father, Dr. Shelton Sago, was a 35-year high school official in Missouri, a local legend in both basketball and football. How would you describe being an NBA referee so far? I grew up watching basketball and to be able to be a part of it now is just an unbelievable feeling., Jelks, who has been officiating for 12 years, says that she didnt set out to become the first female referee in the NBA. Simone Jelks is the first female referee in the NBA, and shes also a mother of two. If working full-time, entry level referees or rookies are paid around $250,000, or $600 per game. Loading Per Game Stats. I was totally fan-girling. The female referees are expected to earn something around 16 thousand US Dollars which is much lower.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'sportscriber_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportscriber_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Your email address will not be published. The NBA's Assistant Coaches Program has helped more than 200 former players with potential coaching careers since its inception in 1988. And before I could even start teaching, I had to listen. She is also known for being one of the most accessible officials, often taking the time to interact with fans before and after games. But once I got a few games under my belt, I realized that it wasnt as difficult as I thought it would be.. [3][4] Jelks along with Andy Nagy and Suyash Mehta were promoted to the NBA officiating staff on December 23, 2020. Its been great to see more women getting involved in coaching and refereeing, she said. "She really did an awesome job of reaching out to us and saying, 'Hey, I really want to start this group. Included aren't just the five women who have achieved full-time NBA status, but also many more working their way up through the G League or WNBA training ranks. The best part is just being around the game, she says. "Former Brush Basketball Standout Simone Jelks Becomes NBA's 7th Female Referee", "NBA Promotes Three Referees To 2020-21 Officiating Staff", National Basketball Referees Association bio, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Simone_Jelks&oldid=1098223458, This page was last edited on 14 July 2022, at 20:41. Strides are being made, even if we're still talking about small percentages of the overall population and more work is clearly needed. I never met Natalie before. Simone Jelks. The book was designed to give men "key skills to improve your overall game. That's the most the NBA has ever had on staff at one time, and Scott said . None attempt to discount their own burdens that they overcame. Even looking back a decade ago demonstrates the exponential growth of referee salaries. JAYLAND WALKER LIVE BLOG: Protesters gather in downtown Akron following grand jury decision, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost releases evidence from Jayland Walker grand jury, 'Unhealthy' conditions trigger Air Quality Alert in multiple Northeast Ohio counties, One on One: A Gentleman's Guide to Dating Ambitious Women, Boss Ladies of CLE: Vitamix CEO Jodi Berg. Palmer, the NBAs first African American female referee, officiated 919 games and became the first woman to referee an NBA playoff game in 2006 before retiring in 2016. An in-person interview, knowledge test and background check is needed in order to qualify. When I was refereeing womens college basketball, I really wasnt thinking, Hey, I want to be an NBA ref. It was just like, Hey, I want to be the best ref I can be in womens basketball. Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling remembers feeling vulnerable, but not intimidated. Those who followed them still faced real challenges. NBA officials Simone Jelks (left) and Ashley Moyer-Gleich working a game together in Chicago. College softball expert roundtable: Who has the most to prove and who can stop Oklahoma? She also has three seasons of NBA G League officiating experience. A WNBA referee is paid the lowest of the distinctions and they make around $425 a game or about $180,000 a year. THE FIRST NBA INDIAN ORIGIN REFEREES JOURNEY FROM PRE-MED TO PRE-REF, NBRA ANNOUNCES RATIFICATION OF AGREEMENT FOR G LEAGUE START OF SEASON, TONIGHT I make sure to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, she says. What advice would you give to others who wants to be like you? Who is female NBA referee? ", Editor's Note: The below story aired on December 16, 2020, Example video title will go here for this video. The NBRA voted to strike during the 1977 NBA playoffs. 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