Rndballref
20 Years Experience
Chicago, IL
Male, 60
For twenty years I officiated high school, AAU and park district basketball games, retiring recently. For a few officiating is the focus of their occupation, while for most working as an umpire or basketball referee is an avocation. I started ref'ing to earn beer money during college, but it became a great way to stay connected to the best sports game in the universe. As a spinoff, I wrote a sports-thriller novel loosely based on my referee experiences titled, Advantage Disadvantage
I agree that it is unfair to the lower levels that they get new refs learning the craft or old burned out refs just collecting a check, sub-par coaches who are just learning to coach, and parents who are learning to appropriately advocate and cheer for their kids.
I have always said this: we should pair varsity-capable refs with young, new refs to work and learn the craft in freshman games. Assignment chairman would say that the purpose of summer camps where refs work high school summer leagues is to train new refs and sift out untrainable officials. So if you think the officiating is spotty during lower level season play just wait until your kid plays in summer leagues officiated by training camp referees. Good luck and know that the quality of the players, coaches, officials and parents will improve as your daughter progresses.
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Since awarding the 2nd free throw was in error, and even if it was correctible, play resumes from the point discovered, and all points scored and fouls remain intact. So the ref should have dropped the ball and play on. There is no provision to use a jump ball to fix a misapplication of a rule.
As a practical matter, awarding a jump is less awkward than the chaos of handing it correctly.
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Some officials carry a small gauge, but most referees hold the ball head-high (about 5 3/4 feet high) and let it drop. It should bounce up to the official's elbow when the upper arm is held parallel to the floor. Higher bounce than the elbow means over-inflated, bouncing under the elbow means it needs more inflation. The referee usually checks the game ball after making sure the book contains at least the number of players who are warming up (and the starters are designated), around 10 minutes before gametime. Try it sometime when you are on a wooden floor. Note, if the game is being played on an indoor soft rubberized floor (as in underclass games in the fieldhouse), the ball will need more air than on a wooden floor.
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I certainly encourage you to report this. Most people officiate because they love the game, and if you love the game you have a duty to do anything in your power to advance the avocation of refereeing. I suggest you find out who ran the AAU tournament and voice your concerns. Because of your background, meaning you have training and experience and do not appear to be simply a biased, ticked off untrained parent, the AAU tournament director should be willing to tell you who the assigner of the officials was for the tournament and you should contact him/her directly.
I think most states would not allow an official complaint at the state licensing level because AAU tournaments are not normally state sanctioned contests even though they only hire "patched state officials".
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Sounds like a bad call. The center for Team A does not establish team possession by tipping the ball, but by knocking the ball out Team B gets the ball. Because neither team had possession and B got the first ball the arrow is set for Team A's possession on the next one.
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seems reasonable...
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If the ref calls for the ball you should give it up. If you defy the ref it could be construed as disrespectful by a thin-skinned official. So yes, it could be called. BUT I never have made that call and I advise refs not to.
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