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
That is true, but if a referee called everything technically the game would be unplayable and unwatchable. For example, the rule used to be that on a throw in, if the player didn't take the shortest path onto the court after throwing in the ball in, it was a technical foul. I never called it that way, and never worked with anyone who did. Finally, NFHS changed this action to a violation and now it gets called. Likewise, any carrying the ball, by rule, is an illegal dribble. But if a player is bringing the ball up from the backcourt unguarded and is turning the ball over, I am not going to call that until he is guarded. (Officiating principle = Advantage Disadvantage).
I get that you are annoyed that a team can get back in a game by fouling a team who cannot shoot free throws, but while I think intentional fouls need to be clarified, I believe most people do not take your literal interpretation of the game and don't mind "going for the ball" common fouls as a legitimate strategy. Again, I say a shot clock would remove much of the reason to purposely foul.
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There are no specifications in the rule book as to when a referee asks home management to eject a fan. It is very subjective, and it does not have to have a warning. I drew the line at personal attacks - to another fan, the other team, my partners, or to me. I never minded if fans boo'd my calls, but as soon as it got personal or vial, that's when I had someone ejected.
Let's stop beating around the bush here. Tell me what you did to get tossed out of your son or daughter's game.
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The assignment chairperson should never entertain your tape. Your coach probably tapes the games and the coach (or athletic director) should deal with the quality of the officiating. In my opinion you are getting in too deep, without a real understanding of how the officials are trained. For example, they may see what you are yelling about but they may be making an "Advantage Disadvantage" judgement (this is discussed in a previous question).
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The ball should be spotted at a point near the foul. It only comes back to the original thrown if it is not touched or there are no fouls called before the ball is out of bounds.
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School Teacher
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Normally, contact after a blocked shot would be considered incidental. So unless the contact is intentional or extremely harsh I would let it go.
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In NFHS rules replay is not to be used in ordinary season games. However, replay use is permitted in a state's playoff series under these conditions: 1) the state has authorized its use, 2) the replay is used to determine timing issues on the last shot, and whether it is a 2 or 3 point shot. So in high school ball during an in season game you cannot use replay. In college, the officials use it a few times a game for many situations (flagarant or not on a hard foul, timing issues as to whether a shot was launched before time expired, who is the correct free shooter, etc.)
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The dribble ends when the ball is knocked away, and so does player possession. So, if you pick up the ball and dribble it is not double dribble. You can pick up a ball with two hands as long as you are lifting up. If you push down with two hands it is double dribble.
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