TUNIS (FIBA) - As game time draws closer he must concentrate his thoughts. He must prepare his body and mind, make sure he eats the right things, and keep his nerves in check.
At the tip-off, it will be time for Jovcic Milivoje to go to work.
But he is not a player. He's a referee. Yet his preparation still mirrors much of what the players he will be officiating are doing.
"The day of a game, I try not to have anything taking my focus away from the game. The game should be the only thing I have to think about," Milivoje says.
"I usually never eat too close to a game so that I am sure that I will be physically ready and will feel comfortable during the game."
Much of the work has already been done before the match begins. Referees operate as scouts for one another, sharing feedback about teams so their colleagues will know what to expect.
Then they go through the process of planning in detail how they will go about operating as a team.
"I try to get as much information as possible about the coaches and the players.
"During a pre-game conference, me and my colleagues will review with the mechanics in order to make sure that everyone knows exactly what positions, rotations, transitions and criteria we will follow in the game."
Afterwards, the referees will go through the same process of video analysis, scouting reports, and feedback as the players - all with an aim of constant improvement.
But the one crucial difference between what the referees are doing and what the players are doing is that Milivoje`s aim is to do his job without getting noticed. The game is, afterall, about the players.
"The aim is to make sure that the best team on the court on that particular days wins the game. That`s the top philosophy that every referee should have in mind no matter where and when he is calling a game."
The 31-year-old Milijove was born and raised in Belgrade, where he trained as an electrical engineer and teaches at a private school in the city. But he also makes sure his students learn plenty of basketball too - and keeps his eye out for future referees.
"The school welcomes kids who want to become referees, and my main activity is to teach them the rules of basketball."
He has been a referee for 15 years - before which he played the game he loves.
Milijove's rise in the game has been rapid. Within four years of taking up the whistle, Milijove began to officiate in Serbia & Montenegro's top division in 1994, and a year later was promoted to the international ranks.
This summer, his refereeing skills earned him a place on the team for the FIBA U19 World Championship for Women in Tunisia. Although it is not the first event of its kind he has worked at - he has referred at World Championships in Athens and China - these events are still a highlight for Milijove.
"It is once again a very nice experience to work in such a top competition and to meet so many different people.
"These tournaments are good for the development of basketball in all FIBA zones. There are some zones that are very strong and others which are weaker, but in general such an event is great for the popularity of our game in countries like Tunisia."
The tournament has been used by FIBA to introduce the concept of three-man referee teams where before there were only two. It's a learning process for all referees, but one Milijove believes will benefit the game.
"I was first introduced to working in a three-man team four years ago and from my point of view there is no doubt that this is better as three pairs of eyes can surely see more than two pairs of eyes.
"There is no doubt that high level competitions such as the FIBA World Championships need a three-man team.
"It has a psychological impact for the players. When the players and coaches know that three men are officiating there is less frustration. The coaches and the players feel more secure and spend less time judging you and focus more on their game."
FIBA has also used the tournament to increase the number of women referees, for the first time using an all-female team to call a final. Again, this is a development Milijove welcomes.
"I think that it is an excellent idea to have women referees on the floor.
"This is not the first time that I have worked with women. At event after event I see more women getting into refereeing and I see them getting better and better.
"I think they should be exposed to the same amount of pressure as the men so that that soon nobody will notice the difference between a man and woman.
"In my opinion, male or female, it is not important, as long as the job is done well on the court."
With the tournament in Tunisia over, for the referees just like the players, ambition has them looking forward to the next big event and the next chance to shine.
And for Milijove there is no doubt about where he wants to be heading this time next year - Japan, and the FIBA World Championship.
"I think every single referee is hoping to get a nomination for the FIBA World Championship, so I would be lying to you if I said that I don't care if I go or not."
By Ian Parker, PA International, Exclusively for FIBA
At the tip-off, it will be time for Jovcic Milivoje to go to work.
But he is not a player. He's a referee. Yet his preparation still mirrors much of what the players he will be officiating are doing.
"The day of a game, I try not to have anything taking my focus away from the game. The game should be the only thing I have to think about," Milivoje says.
"I usually never eat too close to a game so that I am sure that I will be physically ready and will feel comfortable during the game."
Much of the work has already been done before the match begins. Referees operate as scouts for one another, sharing feedback about teams so their colleagues will know what to expect.
Then they go through the process of planning in detail how they will go about operating as a team.
"I try to get as much information as possible about the coaches and the players.
"During a pre-game conference, me and my colleagues will review with the mechanics in order to make sure that everyone knows exactly what positions, rotations, transitions and criteria we will follow in the game."
Afterwards, the referees will go through the same process of video analysis, scouting reports, and feedback as the players - all with an aim of constant improvement.
But the one crucial difference between what the referees are doing and what the players are doing is that Milivoje`s aim is to do his job without getting noticed. The game is, afterall, about the players.
"The aim is to make sure that the best team on the court on that particular days wins the game. That`s the top philosophy that every referee should have in mind no matter where and when he is calling a game."
The 31-year-old Milijove was born and raised in Belgrade, where he trained as an electrical engineer and teaches at a private school in the city. But he also makes sure his students learn plenty of basketball too - and keeps his eye out for future referees.
"The school welcomes kids who want to become referees, and my main activity is to teach them the rules of basketball."
He has been a referee for 15 years - before which he played the game he loves.
Milijove's rise in the game has been rapid. Within four years of taking up the whistle, Milijove began to officiate in Serbia & Montenegro's top division in 1994, and a year later was promoted to the international ranks.
This summer, his refereeing skills earned him a place on the team for the FIBA U19 World Championship for Women in Tunisia. Although it is not the first event of its kind he has worked at - he has referred at World Championships in Athens and China - these events are still a highlight for Milijove.
"It is once again a very nice experience to work in such a top competition and to meet so many different people.
"These tournaments are good for the development of basketball in all FIBA zones. There are some zones that are very strong and others which are weaker, but in general such an event is great for the popularity of our game in countries like Tunisia."
The tournament has been used by FIBA to introduce the concept of three-man referee teams where before there were only two. It's a learning process for all referees, but one Milijove believes will benefit the game.
"I was first introduced to working in a three-man team four years ago and from my point of view there is no doubt that this is better as three pairs of eyes can surely see more than two pairs of eyes.
"There is no doubt that high level competitions such as the FIBA World Championships need a three-man team.
"It has a psychological impact for the players. When the players and coaches know that three men are officiating there is less frustration. The coaches and the players feel more secure and spend less time judging you and focus more on their game."
FIBA has also used the tournament to increase the number of women referees, for the first time using an all-female team to call a final. Again, this is a development Milijove welcomes.
"I think that it is an excellent idea to have women referees on the floor.
"This is not the first time that I have worked with women. At event after event I see more women getting into refereeing and I see them getting better and better.
"I think they should be exposed to the same amount of pressure as the men so that that soon nobody will notice the difference between a man and woman.
"In my opinion, male or female, it is not important, as long as the job is done well on the court."
With the tournament in Tunisia over, for the referees just like the players, ambition has them looking forward to the next big event and the next chance to shine.
And for Milijove there is no doubt about where he wants to be heading this time next year - Japan, and the FIBA World Championship.
"I think every single referee is hoping to get a nomination for the FIBA World Championship, so I would be lying to you if I said that I don't care if I go or not."
By Ian Parker, PA International, Exclusively for FIBA