Starting with Saturday’s games, NBA referees will be equipped with earpieces in order to “improve game flow and enhance officiating accuracy,” the league announced Friday.
This is the first phase of a planned two-phase program to help officials communicate in real time with the NBA Replay Center and one another.
For now, each referee will have an earpiece clipped to their uniform. They will unclip the device and place it in their ears only during instant replay reviews and as needed during other clock stoppages, but not during live play.
Following an evaluation of the first phase, the second phase will see the referees wear the earpieces throughout the games — including live play. This phase is set to begin in January and run at least through the All-Star break in February.
“During the second phase, referees will be able to communicate directly with the Replay Center and each other at all times during the game,” the league said in a news release.
The technology was tested during NBA preseason games over the past two seasons, as well as in the NBA Summer League and NBA G League Winter Showcase.