Adult Basketball Referee

Posting number: 2026-00165

Department: Parks & Recreation

Division: Adult Basketball - 4564

Job classification: Referee-Adult Basketball-Non-Certfiied-Part Time

Posting type: Open

Categories: Recreation, Parks and Recreation, Sports & Physical Education, Sports

Summary

As an Adult Basketball Referee, you'll manage game action, enforce rules, call fouls and violations, and promote good sportsmanship on the court. The City of Durango is hiring both certified and non-certified referees to officiate adult recreational basketball leagues. Whether you have previous officiating experience and certification or a strong working knowledge of basketball rules and are ready to develop your officiating skills, this position lets you stay active, earn competitive pay, and help adult leagues run safely and smoothly.

Non-Certified Referee: Starting at $25.00/hour
Certified Referee: Starting at $30.00/hour

City of Durango’s Trail to Excellence
The City of Durango is a purpose-driven organization with more than 400 full-time and 300 part-time and seasonal employees across 15 departments, all working together to provide a wide range of services that keep our community running every day. From public safety and utilities to parks and recreation, our team is dedicated to delivering high-quality services that enhance the lives of all who live, work, and visit here.

At the city, we focus on continually improving how we work and serve the community. This effort is called the Trail to Excellence (T2E), and every employee plays a part in it. Whether you work outdoors, in an office, or lead a team, your daily efforts connect to the city’s mission of providing excellent service and reaching the city’s vision of being a multigenerational community that is authentic, diverse, engaged, thriving, and environmentally responsible. The full details of this vision are outlined in the city’s strategic plan.

As a member of our team, your work will be meaningful because:

• Your ideas help shape citywide improvements.
• The work you do ties directly into measurable goals.
• You'll be part of a system that values collaboration, innovation, and results.

We're looking for team members who share our core values of teamwork, dependability, professionalism, service, respect, innovation, and wellbeing — and who are excited to make a difference in the community we serve.

Examples of duties

What You’ll Do in This Role:

• Officiate adult recreational basketball matches for scheduled league games and tournament play.
• Meet with team captains before each contest to review ground rules, facility guidelines, and expectations.
• Enforce basketball rules, proper uniform requirements, and city sportsmanship standards consistently and without bias.
• Inspect gym courts and equipment prior to games to help maintain a safe playing environment for all participants.
• Assist gym supervisors with court setup, equipment returns, and post-game site preparation.
• Report safety hazards, facility issues, or conduct concerns involving players, captains, or spectators to the site supervisor.
• Stay current on league rule updates and actively participate in required pre-season training sessions.

Qualifications

You Have:

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Education or training ensuring the ability to read, write, and communicate clearly with players and staff.
• Thorough knowledge of basketball rules, mechanics, and officiating responsibilities.
• Referee or officiating certification and prior officiating experience preferred, but non-certified candidates with strong sport knowledge are encouraged to apply.

You Will Succeed in This Role If You:

• Keep up with the fast pace of basketball games through active running, positioning, and court movement
• Make clear, unbiased, and confident decisions under game-day pressure
• Communicate respectfully and professionally with team captains, players, and co-workers
• Are reliable, arrive on time, and take pride in maintaining fair and safe competition
• Stay cool and professional when handling competitive game situations on the court

Supplemental information

What We Can Offer You: The following perks are available for part-time and seasonal employees.

• Free pass to the Durango Community Recreation Center and Chapman Hill Ice Rink and Ski Area
• Free Transit pass
• Eligibility to participate in the City’s Annual Wellness Challenge and a chance to receive prizes and cash rewards