EASTON, Mass. —

Students at the Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in Easton, Massachusetts are earning their stripes

Literally.

A new basketball officiating pilot program gives students the opportunity to learn the skills and confidence they'll need to call plays.

After completing the program, students can start making money refereeing youth basketball games.

"I've learned a lot of like specific rules from the rule books, certain situations, and also just basic like terms and knowledge about refereeing basketball," Braden McElhinney, a senior, said.

18-year NBA referee veteran Gary Zielinski helped guide the students in the program.

"I'm going to give you a foundation, and you're going to build of that foundation, and hopefully one day you'll be the referee you

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