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

1 pt game, ref gives ball to inbound with 7.6-7.9 secs left and running clock. team does not get ball in until less than 1.5 seconds, so clearly five seconds, but no call. Coach shows ref 6 seconds ran, but no call. What would you do?

Asked by Michael over 10 years ago

According to NFHS rules, a referee can alter the scoreboard if, and only if he has direct knowledge of the error and correction. So, in this case you start with 7.6 minutes. The throw-in team has 5 seconds to avoid a violation. So theoretically the violation should have been called with 2.6 seconds. You might think that this is the end of it. However, it takes longer to administer a throw in than 2.6 seconds, allowing both teams to set up. So unfortunately I think the game ended. This is why I dislike running clocks in close games.

Airborne player A-1 attempts a 3-point field goal. After returning to the floor B-1 fouls A-1. The try is unsuccessful. The official awards A-1 three free throws. Is the official correct?

Asked by mIKE about 10 years ago

No. After returning to the floor the player is no longer in the act of shooting. It should be a non-shooting common foul.

Can any set of circumstances in a school game besides a foul on a three point attempt result in an award of 3 free throws? I saw it in a HS game and did not understand what happened. Thanks.

Asked by rodk over 9 years ago

How about a common foul after a dead ball technical? Or, a 2 shot free throw sequence where there is a violation by the defense on one of the free throws which is missed and awarded a do over?

Does the head coach have to come to the pre game meeting of players / Coaches / officials ? If he does not attend and an Asst. Coach does he the Asst. deemed head coach for that game ?

Asked by Robby about 9 years ago

I think the pre-game conference rules are dictated by each state.

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

Asked by Andrew over 9 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.

Does the ball have to be in play for a foul to be called? I coach a youth team (ages 10-12) & I instructed one of my players to foul a player on the other team, and he did so, but the ball hadn't been in bounded yet, and it wasn't called. That right?

Asked by Brian M. about 9 years ago

If the ball is live, then any foul can be called. If the ball is dead, the only foul which can be called is a technical.

On a throw in, the ball is live (even though the clock is not running) when it is at the disposal of throw in player ... in other words when the referee hands or bounces the ball to the player. So, yes a common foul can be called before the clock runs.

What are the rules and restrictions for a player in-bounding the ball NOT after a made basket? Is there a 3-foot radius that allows them to move backwards? Do they have to establish a pivot or can they move both feet?
Thanks

Asked by Confused Player about 10 years ago

A player must have at least one foot ON or Above a 3 foot wide (parallel to the out of bounds line) during the throw in. He/she may move forward or back all the way to the wall or bleachers perpendicular to the out of bounds line. There is no requirement to maintain a pivot foot on a throw in, nor can you travel. The violation occurs when the throw in player exits a 3 foot wide area along the boundary line before the throw in.