Players are faster, more skilled and more athletic than ever before.

This is great news for fans of the game, but Joseph, FIBA's head of referees in Oceania, knows officials need to keep up.

That's why Monday's referees’ clinic, the day before the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup tips off, is so important.

Not only is it an opportunity for referees to hone their skills, but also the instructors.

“We've seen that the game has changed, the players have changed,” Joseph said.

“They've become a lot more skillful, and they've matched that skill with speed.

“The pace of the game is incredible, and it's important for us, as referees, to be able to match that.”

Joseph has been coming to the Country Cup to assist with referee coaching and development for more than 15 years.

In that time, the focus has shifted from spending time in the classroom to getting on the court.

With input from coaches of all levels, Joseph believes the officials under his instruction this week will quickly eliminate bad habits.

“We do a lot of practical training, we've moved away from classroom-based training and aligned ourselves with the kind of training the players themselves are doing,” he said.

“For us technically, we need to be in the right spot, at the right time to make the right decision for the sake of the players.

“What's critical is that whenever we're coaching these kids is that we're coaching from the same playbook.

“The young referees coming to this tournament, straightaway we're getting rid of old habits and introducing new ones.

“The evolution of the game is such that the training changes quite rapidly.”

With the NBL enjoying a surge in popularity, the WNBL not far behind and national competitions in New Zealand continually growing, Joseph said there was an expectation the standard of officiating should keep up.

The NBL had to warn players not to disparage referees on social media after a controversial ending to a match between Melbourne United and the Adelaide 36ers in December led to a chorus of criticism.

“Playing standards are going higher and higher, and there's an expectation that the standard of the referees will also increase,” Joseph said.

“Particularly at the top levels the standard has gone through the roof, which is excellent for us, but there is difficulty in trying to match it.

“Players set the standard for us, we really try and work hard to match that standard.”

Competition in the tournament begins after Tuesday's opening ceremony.