Tom Marsh is no different.

Recently, the former Shoalhaven Basketball Association product refereed the under 20 men's national championships grand final between the NBA Global Academy and Queensland.

"It doesn't get much bigger than an under 20s championship final and this game will hold its rank at the top of my all-time experiences on the court," Marsh said.

"While the game itself didn't quite possess the characteristics of a do or die final as Queensland secured the championship the evening before and they didn't quite have the juice to match up against the NBA Global Academy.

"Personally, I probably refereed one of my poorer games in the final - I left a little bit out on the court which was a little disappointing.

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"The crew worked hard to look after each other and we serviced the game to an acceptable standard.

"It was important for us to be out there for the players and we were able to present that one more time for the tournament, which was great."

Marsh's journey to that final started as a junior player with Illawarra before transitioning into refereeing as a 16-year-old.

"I started refereeing domestically and at Barrengarry for some pocket money, as mum and dad were starting to investigate why their loose change always went missing," he said.

Since then, the 26-year-old has gone on to officiate both junior and senior Waratah League competitions, including a number of finals - which led to him making the step up to national leagues.

"Officiating at the Australian junior championships, from under 14s to under 20s has been extremely prosperous to my career, by allowing me to exposed to such an elite level of basketball," Marsh, who refereed LaMelo Ball's first game on Australian soil with the Illawarra Hawks, said.

"Not to mention working with the referee world's most experienced instructors and governors has been priceless."

Marsh also credits a number of other individuals for getting him to where he is today.

"My father, first and foremost, has been the biggest influence on my career, he said.

"Given his background and history as an NBL referee and wealth of knowledge about the game and passion towards servicing the game.

"Mum's not the biggest basketball fan but she gets around my refereeing and supports me which is a huge motivator.

"John Martin from Shoalhaven and Robert Lambourn, who are involved with the national and international scene, has also been a huge part of my development."

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This all led to Marsh, who was originally slated to officiate the under 18s title, be appointed as one of a handful of referees for the May 3-7 national championships in Mackay.

"I received an invitation from Basketball NSW to head to the under 20s tournament, which I will admit was rather nerve-racking, moving up from a level I felt rather comfortable officiating," he said.

During the five-day event, Marsh officiated an array of men's and women's games, which presented a variety of skills and on-court personalities.

"The round games were competitive and challenging," he said.

"I made a couple of mistakes early on in the tournament but managed to get comfortable out there when it mattered and serviced some tough games, by doing what I thought was best for the game.

"I was very unsure of how I measured out in the officials pack and was happy I was able to relax and deliver my best performance.

"The Queensland vs Victoria men's semi-final, which would ultimately decide the champions of the tournament, was the most thrilling.

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"With Queensland coming out on top and the tournament being in Mackay, I was very happy to be able to look after that game."

Following this thrilling semi-final, Basketball Australia appointed its three-person teams for the two gold medal matches and two bronze medals fixtures.

"After announcing the three crews for the bronze men's and women's games and women's gold, I was actually named as the last cab off the rank," he said.

"The room would have heard my jaw drop on the floor as the weight of my legs disappeared from underneath me - the feeling was surreal."

Since returning, Marsh has tried to apply that standard of refereeing at a domestic level to ensure he's ready when his named it called again, because at the end of the day, he wants just every player out there to succeed.

"I enjoy refereeing because it gives me a chance to provide an environment where everyone involved can perform at their best," he said.

"The coaches and players showcase their skills and compete at their highest intensity and as a referee if you can figure out what the game needs for it to become a spectacle.

"It's a great feeling to walk off the court knowing the players were able to showcase their talents and leave it all out there, while others get to lay witness to the magic that happens on the court."

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As such, Marsh has words of wisdom for anyone who's keen to join the whistleblowing ranks.

"My advice would be to have a selfless approach to refereeing," he said.

"The game is never about the referees and always about everyone else.

"From the players to the spectators, make it enjoyable for them to be a part of and you will reap the benefits of officiating.

"If you go out there to look after the game and give it your best shot every time, people will notice that and they will look forward to you sharing the court with them."

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