NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA will resume using microphone headsets and earphones for referees on Tuesday, with testing scheduled to continue through games on Feb. 12 before the league pauses for All-Star weekend.
From Nov. 1 to Dec. 12, referees wore the headsets clipped to their uniforms, using them during instant replay reviews and other breaks, but not during live play.
In this phase, referees will wear headphones throughout the match, including live play, and will be able to communicate directly with the replay center and each other at all times.
The league informed teams on Monday that the first phase improved the accuracy of officiating and the flow of the game. The NBA also expects the new headsets — also used by referees in the NFL, with FIFA, the major soccer leagues in England and Germany, and Major League Soccer — to have improved technology, after audio quality and the ability to communicate with other referees without interruptions was an issue in some cases during the first phase of the project.
The NBA has been testing the technology since 2022 at various events, including the G League Winter Showcase, the NBA Summer League and the league’s preseason games.
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