They are present at every game, keeping a close eye on every player, every play and every second of action. If they do their jobs right, they are forgotten. If they do them wrong, they will be remembered forever. The life of a basketball referee is no easy task, especially in the harsh world of high school sports.

The International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO) Board 12 President Bill Dixon has been a basketball referee for over 51 years at both high school and collegiate levels. Dixon first began his relationship with basketball as a player for nearby Blair High School and currently referees for many MCPS schools, including CHS.

“Friends of mine first got me into the business,” Dixon said. “I wanted to remain involved in basketball as I have been my whole life but am now too old to play the game.”

IAABO is the reigning authority for North American referees, and IAABO’s Board 12, the regional board of DC, Maryland and Virginia, is one of the association’s largest boards with over 300 individual members. Dixon has led Board 12 for the past five years and plans on staying involved as long as IAABO needs him.

According to Dixon, he largely ignores criticism from parents during games, believing that “confrontation is not worth the effort” when he makes a controversial call.

“You are dealing with people that don’t know the rules, and you usually do,” Dixon said. “Everyone has an opinion. The difference is that parents and coaches support one side or the other, and referees are supposed to be neutral.”

According to Dixon, CHS students “usually are no trouble” during games due to the “upscale atmosphere” of the school.

Having been in the business for so many years, Dixon has seen many changes both in the game itself and in the athletes who play it.

“Kids are much bigger, faster and much better than when I first started,” Dixon said. “Speed is now a big thing. When I first started, bigger kids were slow, and now they are as fast as the smaller kids. According to Dixon, the attitudes of players have also changed since his starting days.

“[Players are] much more confrontational with the referees,” Dixon said. “When you make a call or don’t make a call, they get upset a lot easier.”

Despite the intense atmosphere that is present at most games, referees tend to not even notice noise from the bleachers when they make a call.

“As hard as it is to believe, you have to do your job out there,” Dixon said of fan participation. “It lends atmosphere to the game. That is what the kids and parents are there for.”

Though the high school basketball has changed, the main point of the game has remained the same.

According to Dixon, no matter who wins or loses, the most important thing is that teenagers are staying healthy and participating in physical activity.

“We’re getting kids to be active,” Dixon said. “We need more kids that are sitting at home playing video games to get out of the house and get moving.”