Ask a Basketball Referee anything

651 Questions

Last Answer on September 20, 2019

There is 1.2 seconds left in game. Your fouled on a three point attempt you miss first two third shot is shot to get rebound ref says never hits rim no time runs off clock he reverses call that he did hit rim what happens?

Asked by Greg over 11 years ago

This is horrible officiating and there is no provision to fix this, so the referee has to do the best he possibly can do. If I were the referee and I thought that my crew erred and the ball really hit the rim, I would think the following:1) the whistle blew and stopped the clock before it started when the official thought the ball missed the rim. Therefore, no time should have expired.2) if there is an inadvertent whistle during a time when there is no possession, it can only be resolved by the possession arrow. Reset the clock to 1.2 and go to the possession arrow.3) I think that is the best that can be done in a lousy referee-caused situation.

929 Votes

Guy gets post up pass, with both hands bounces ball once,fakes, then dribbles...double dribble every time. But did first offense occur on the two handed single bounce, or dribble after his fake?

Asked by rimbreaker almost 12 years ago

A two handed bounce is double dribble. So is dribbling a second time after holding the ball. Both are violations.

929 Votes

When shooting a hook shot I go up with two hands on the ball. when I release my off hand and it moves away from the ball but stays between the ball and defenders hand that is trying to block the shot. Is it an offensive foul if contact is made?

Asked by Post player over 11 years ago

Usually this would be incidental and not called, UNLESS your arms flailing whack the defender.

928 Votes

I see a lot of confusion around "3 in the key" in offense, I'd like to clarify the rule, especially when the ball is shot and players are rebounding. Can a player, who would otherwise be called for 3 seconds, stay in the key after the ball is shot?

Asked by AussieRef over 11 years ago

Once the shot is released the 3 second restrictions are lifted. It is ok for a late whistle to call 3 seconds after the shot goes up IF the violation happened before the shot, and the official is just late in calling it. But it is an error if part of the 3 second violation occurs including time after the shot is released. The restrictions start again after the offensive team obtains team control with the ball in the front court.

It is also possible to be legally in the paint for 5 seconds with the ball. Here is how: a player catches the ball in the paint. You are counting 1, 2 . Before you get to three, the player dribbles toward the basket. You restart the count. If the player drives directly and shoots before the new 3 seconds then it is a legal play. If the dribbler reverses directions or stops, then it is three seconds.

3 seconds at the varsity level is a good example of preventive officiating. When a player is camped out in the lane, I want to warn him to move out a couple times unless he has gained the ball or a big rebounding advantage. "Move out, or keep moving out of the paint". After a couple warnings, then call it constantly. In my experience, the higher quality players need 3 seconds called rarely, whereas in middle school you need to call it regularly.

925 Votes

Also on Jobstr...

Call Center Employee (Retail)

Do you think it's just a matter of time before all U.S. companies move their customer support overseas?

Sr. Software Engineer

Is it basically impossible for a skilled programmer to be out of work these days?

Architectural Project Manager

Were there any structural deficiencies in the Twin Towers that made them fall?

Are lane violations on free throws the least-whistled calls in the NBA? I honestly don't even know what the rule is anymore, given that it seems like ONE team is in the lane before the ball leaves the shooter's hand on like 80% of 2nd free throws.

Asked by NBA-wut over 11 years ago

The NBA is different than NFHS because in high school players are supposed to wait until the ball hits the ring or backboard. In the NBA they can move on the release.

925 Votes

Varsity game. We are using a man defense. Their pg trips and faceplants into his defender' thigh, who gets a blocking foul. How did that happen?

One one possession he is dribbling when he trips, possibly on his teammate. He faceplants on his defende

Asked by Rodk over 10 years ago

I obviously didn't see the play, but if the defender has obtained legal guarding position (that is, he is entitled to the space he is at) and the opponent crashes his face into the defender's knee it is either a no-call or an offensive player control foul.

925 Votes

While the shot clock is winding down a player throws a pass and it hits the rim. After it hits the rim the shot clock goes off. His teammates catches the ball. Is this a shot clock violation or a new shot clock?

Asked by Max about 11 years ago

There is no shot clock in NFHS rules. In NCAA men's rules it is a violation for a team to fail to make a try for a basket AND have the ball touch the ring or flange before 35 seconds.

Notice the rule states "a try …" which means that a pass would not qualify even if touched the ring. Not sure what pro rules state.

923 Votes

Showing 330 - 336

Show All

315 More Answers by Basketball Referee

Last 7

45 46 47 48 49 50

...

Next 7 Answers

Basketball Referee

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

There is 1.2 seconds left in game. Your fouled on a three point attempt you miss first two third shot is shot to get rebound ref says never hits rim no time runs off clock he reverses call that he did hit rim what happens?

Guy gets post up pass, with both hands bounces ball once,fakes, then dribbles...double dribble every time. But did first offense occur on the two handed single bounce, or dribble after his fake?

When shooting a hook shot I go up with two hands on the ball. when I release my off hand and it moves away from the ball but stays between the ball and defenders hand that is trying to block the shot. Is it an offensive foul if contact is made?

I see a lot of confusion around "3 in the key" in offense, I'd like to clarify the rule, especially when the ball is shot and players are rebounding. Can a player, who would otherwise be called for 3 seconds, stay in the key after the ball is shot?

Also on Jobstr...

Are lane violations on free throws the least-whistled calls in the NBA? I honestly don't even know what the rule is anymore, given that it seems like ONE team is in the lane before the ball leaves the shooter's hand on like 80% of 2nd free throws.

Varsity game. We are using a man defense. Their pg trips and faceplants into his defender' thigh, who gets a blocking foul. How did that happen?

One one possession he is dribbling when he trips, possibly on his teammate. He faceplants on his defende

While the shot clock is winding down a player throws a pass and it hits the rim. After it hits the rim the shot clock goes off. His teammates catches the ball. Is this a shot clock violation or a new shot clock?

Basketball Referee

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

There is 1.2 seconds left in game. Your fouled on a three point attempt you miss first two third shot is shot to get rebound ref says never hits rim no time runs off clock he reverses call that he did hit rim what happens?

Guy gets post up pass, with both hands bounces ball once,fakes, then dribbles...double dribble every time. But did first offense occur on the two handed single bounce, or dribble after his fake?

When shooting a hook shot I go up with two hands on the ball. when I release my off hand and it moves away from the ball but stays between the ball and defenders hand that is trying to block the shot. Is it an offensive foul if contact is made?

I see a lot of confusion around "3 in the key" in offense, I'd like to clarify the rule, especially when the ball is shot and players are rebounding. Can a player, who would otherwise be called for 3 seconds, stay in the key after the ball is shot?

Also on Jobstr...

Are lane violations on free throws the least-whistled calls in the NBA? I honestly don't even know what the rule is anymore, given that it seems like ONE team is in the lane before the ball leaves the shooter's hand on like 80% of 2nd free throws.

Varsity game. We are using a man defense. Their pg trips and faceplants into his defender' thigh, who gets a blocking foul. How did that happen?One one possession he is dribbling when he trips, possibly on his teammate. He faceplants on his defende

While the shot clock is winding down a player throws a pass and it hits the rim. After it hits the rim the shot clock goes off. His teammates catches the ball. Is this a shot clock violation or a new shot clock?

Login

Forgot Your Password?

Register

Varsity game. We are using a man defense. Their pg trips and faceplants into his defender' thigh, who gets a blocking foul. How did that happen?

One one possession he is dribbling when he trips, possibly on his teammate. He faceplants on his defende