The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced that referees will begin wearing wireless earpieces from Saturday as part of a technological upgrade aimed at improving game flow and officiating accuracy.
According to the league, each official will have an earpiece clipped to their uniform, which they will use only during instant replay reviews and other clock stoppages, not during live play. This initial phase is designed to enhance communication between referees and the NBA Replay Center.
The second phase of the programme, scheduled to start in January and run through the All-Star break in February, will see referees wear the earpieces throughout games, including during live play. This will allow direct communication with the Replay Center and each other at all times.
The technology has been tested during NBA preseason games over the past two seasons, as well as in the NBA Summer League and NBA G League Winter Showcase.
