Meet Aquinas College teacher Kieran Udy - the youngest basketball referee to be appointed to the National Basketball League officiating panel.
At 26 years old he is a six-year veteran of the national league and has been refereeing for half this life.
"We had a family friend who was refereeing when he was 16 so I started because it looked all right and you got paid for it - not much but it was something," said Udy.
"I started refereeing at 13 and have carried on ever since. I love refereeing. For me it's about dealing with people, which I've always enjoyed.
"You get out there and have a run around and you get paid for it. There's a lot of focus on the negatives parts, but there's lots of positives.
"You get to see athletes perform at a high level and share the court with them. There's also the possibility to represent your country, which I've been lucky to do at a lower level."
Udy, who officiated the bronze medal game at the 2009 Youth Olympics in Sydney as well as being the first male ref from New Zealand to be appointed to a final at the Country Cup in Australia in 2003, hit the national age group scene at just 16 years of age before wielding a whistle in the national women's league a year later.
He still gets a buzz from being in the thick of the action among players like Thomas Abercrombie of the Breakers.
"The first time I ever reffed him in the national league I'll never forget it. A player put up a three-point shot and he just came from nowhere and blocked it. I'd never seen it and never expected it. I just froze and thought - what just happened?
"The ball went up into the crowd and I didn't even blow my whistle. I just wondered what had happened.
"You just wouldn't expect it. He's got a great athletic ability - he can certainly get up there."
Taranaki's Aaron Bailey-Knowles is another player who stands out.
"He's not an overly amazing player but he's got a lot of heart. He's a pretty rough player to say the least, he often fouls out and stuff like that, but he's the heart of the team. I admire that sort of player - probably more so. He may not be the best player on the team but he gives his best every game."
Udy hopes to move into the second tier of referees on the national level this year as well as earning the FIBA licence required to officiate in the Australian National Basketball League.
From there, he hopes to become one of only 1000 FIBA referees worldwide, opening doors to treading the boards in international competition.
"Like everyone I'd love to go to the Olympics some day, but you have to assess that closer to the time to see if it is a possibility."