Basketball Referee

Basketball Referee

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

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Last Answer on September 20, 2019

Best Rated

On a designated spot throw in. Can a player take one step forward to adminster a throw in

Asked by Rox about 11 years ago

On a spot throw-in, a player must stay within a 3 foot area along the out of bounds boundary. That three foot area extends from the out of bounds line all the way back to the wall, or the first obstruction (bleachers, table, etc.).  

So to answer your question, as long as the player does not step in bounds before releasing the ball, he can take as many steps forward short of breaching the out bounds line.

Can a defending player push on an offensive player with his body when he is not posting up. He appeared to be doing for the sole reason of aggravating the player into a foul. I do have a video clip.

Asked by docbar85@gmail.com about 10 years ago

Pushing an opponent is a foul. but the severity must be judged by the official. If it is immaterial to the play I would generally ignore (unless it is escalating into a potential pushing fight).

Are the votes in the q and a for the question or the answer?

Asked by rimbreaker over 9 years ago

It is subject to your interpretation.

Hi Rndballref, A1 has ball out of bounds 5 ft past half court inside front court. A1 bounce passes ball to A2 who is in backcourt meaning that he ball bounces in front court before A2 catches it while standing in back court. Legal or turnover? Thx

Asked by Peter Johnston about 10 years ago

Legal. There is mo team possession on a throw in. So team A does not have possession until they hold the ball in the backcourt. The fact that the ball bounced in A's front court is immaterial because Team A did not have possession then.

Hi Ref,

Player A1 dribbles then stops and holds the ball with both hands. Defensive player B1 smacks the ball from A1 causing it to hit the floor and bounce up to A1. What options does A1 have?

Asked by Peter Johnston over 10 years ago

A1 can dribble pass or shoot because B1 knocked the ball away and A1 no longer had player possession.

IS Allen Iverson's Crossover a travel? I mean he does a crossover before his body and take three steps for a lay up without any dribble. See this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkkNcIDZquc

Asked by JYAO about 10 years ago

One principle is that you cannot travel between dribbles. Iverson probably travels (high school rules) when he jumps forward BEFORE he dribbles, a move Michael Jordan used as well. Iverson also, like Jordan, carries the ball (a NFHS violation) in the video several times but this seems to be allowed by the NBA.

Have you ever had to call a game winning shot not good because time expired?

Asked by Andrew about 10 years ago

Yes, in a tie game I called travelling on a last second shot which went in. I sent the game into overtime and the team that travelled lost the game.