Making History and Surviving the Whistle with Referee Kyla Dinkel

Sara ViseHolman
3 days ago
5 min read

Basketball official running down the court.

For Kyla Dinkel, a former college athlete who picked up her first whistle at sixteen, the basketball court has become a space of historic leadership. Having spent fifteen years officiating Alaska basketball, Kyla recently made history as part of the state’s first-ever all-female referee crew to work a state championship game. In this interview, she offers an unfiltered look at surviving the mental burnout of the job, the tight-knit community behind the whistle, and the technical love for the game that keeps her returning to the hardwood season after season.

You’ve been officiating for roughly 15 years, starting around the time you got your driver's license. What first drew you to officiating, and what is the most rewarding part of being on the court today?

The first thing that drew Kyla to officiating was actually a who drew her to it, the local assigner at the time. He stressed the importance of getting young people into refereeing basketball and how "we need to give back the same way that referees for generations have officiated our games." As soon as she got her driver's license, he told her, "Alright, let's go. The first rule you need to know was to blow your whistle."

Once she got over the feeling of just being absolutely terrified, things took off from there. Now, one of the more rewarding parts goes hand in hand with where she came from as a player: remembering all the games she played and the referees who gave their time to make sure those games happened. With the current official shortage, she points out that if one or two people decide not to show up then there won't be a game. It can be a little thankless because a lot of people don't realize how bad the shortage is, but Kyla notes that "not everyone needs to know that in order for it to still feel rewarding."

"...with the shortage and everything, there are a lot of games where, you know, one or two people decide not to show up that night and we're not going to have a game."

What did it mean to you personally to look across the court and see your colleagues, Wendy and Zosha, knowing you were forming the first all-female crew at the state level?

An official blowing her whistle during a basketball game.

For Kyla, the coolest thing to begin with was knowing that they all deserved to be there. Having worked with Wendy for several years and Zosha for the last couple, she describes them as two very high-level officials in Alaska who have dedicated themselves to high integrity and professionalism. "Having that girl power and being able to represent as women

really was priceless," Kyla says, especially on a women's championship game.

She hopes that having that representation showed players and spectators that just because high school or college basketball is over, your time with the game doesn't have to end. It was a blessed year for her. This was her first time ever being on an all-female crew, and she actually got to work three different all-female crews this season, proving that Alaska is starting to get more women into refereeing.

How does your experience as a college player help you make better calls under pressure?

The biggest benefit comes down to basketball IQ. The higher level of basketball you play, the better sense you develop for handling high-pressure scenarios. That experience comes in handy during intense overtime situations or close moments at the end of a game when you need to know exactly what to focus on.

In high school, players aren't quite as tuned in or paying attention to everything at once. Playing in college gave Kyla a direct understanding of what players are trying to bring to a referee's attention, like when they need a timeout. Being able to tune into that past experience allows her to pay attention to those exact same things as a referee today.

Officiating involves a lot of 'feedback' from coaches and fans. How do you maintain your focus and keep the integrity of the game intact during a high-stakes championship?

"That's one of the hardest parts, honestly, about refereeing," Kyla admits. While she usually tunes the fans out for the most part, you can't completely tune out a coach because you still need to hear them when they call a timeout. It requires listening to their feedback and determining whether or not it belongs in that specific game, all while maintaining a rapport. At

the end of the day, you want to know you didn't affect the outcome or influence the game.

To keep her composure, Kyla focuses heavily on what's happening on the court, but she also focuses on her crew. Maintaining great eye contact and "just splashing a smile to let everyone know that we're okay" helps remind her that she isn't out there alone. There are two other people right there in the trenches with her.

With the current official shortage in Alaska, what would you say to young women or former players who are thinking about picking up a whistle but might be hesitant to start?

Officiating shows you a whole different, highly technical side of basketball than what you see as a player or coach. Kyla calls it "the nerdy side of the game," watching how different calls or lack of calls can completely influence a game, and it can become a little addicting. Beyond giving back to the community, the biggest draw for her is the relationships with other referees: the road trips, the locker room conversations, and dissecting a game with people who love it. The crews she works with day in and day out are some of the best people she knows.

"At the end of the day, my crews that I work with... they are some of the best people that I know, even though ironically, they're some of the most chastised people that I know."

When she talks to players in the gym, she tries to spark conversations about getting involved. The most intimidating part is just getting started, and retaining officials is one of the hardest parts of recruiting once they experience being yelled at and feeling all eyes on them.

Kyla admits that she wants to give up at least once every season. "You can run more games physically than you can referee mentally," she explains. Working five or six nights in a row without a break can lead to a mental breakdown where it just gets to be too much. Setting boundaries and taking a night or two off is important, even if the shortage makes it incredibly hard to say no.

Is there anything about this experience or your journey as an official that I haven’t asked about, but that you think is important for people to know?

Kyla running next to a basketball player

To beat a dead horse, Kyla emphasizes that not every night is fun or rewarding. There are nights you walk out of the gym miserable, wondering why you are still doing it. But in the big picture, the rewards are massive, whether it's giving back to the players, building relationships with your crew, or diving into the technical side of the game. If you truly enjoy the sport, you will find a draw and a completely new experience in officiating.

We want to thank Kyla for taking the time to share her officiating journey and to highlight the importance of refereeing in today's sports. Read more about Kyla and her achievement being part of the first all-female crew in a championship game in Alaska here.