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

Hi, so nowhere in the college rule book does it mention throwing/slamming the ball down is a technical foul, yet it gets called a tech regularly. Seems it could be used very arbitrarily against a team. Why is it a tech when it's not in the rule book?

Asked by Laura about 9 years ago

The rule book does not prohibit tossing the ball to the ref, nor does it prohibit a player from talking to the ref...yet if either is done in an unsportsnanlike way it could be a technical. If you slam the ball to protest a call most refs will call a t. So it goes to the judgemeny of the ref as to whether an action is unsportsmanlike.

You are dribbling and then grab the ball with two hands and then drop it and then pick it up. Is that legal?

Asked by action jackson over 8 years ago

Yes. If it is a legit fumble.

Offensive player catches the ball and jumps like he's shooting a jumpshot (has yet to dribble). Can he use his dribble while in the air and drive or is putting the ball on the floor now a travel?

Asked by Philip almost 9 years ago

The player needs to begin the dribble before lifting the pivot foot, so if a player jumps before dribbling he only has 2 options...shoot or pass before landing on the floor. Starting a dribble after lifting your pivot foot is travelling although not usually called in the nba.

Team A shoots their second of 2 free throws. Makes it but ref calls lane violation on team b. Does team A get another free throw or is it team B's ball and play on. I had a ref give us another free throw and I'm pretty sure he's wrong.

Asked by Riley about 9 years ago

The ref should extend his arm sraight from the shoulder indicating a delayed call. If the free throw goes in, ignore the violation. If the free throw does not go in , then reshoot the free throw.

at the start of a game the referee had the players going the wrong way, Team a got the ball and scored in what should have been team b basket. what is the correct call for this

Asked by Dave about 9 years ago

Team A gets to keep the scored baskets. Turn the players around to the correct direction and resume play.

High school rules
While an offensive player is scoring a two point shot a defensive player fouls going for rebound position. The offense is in the bonus. Is the fouled player awarded one and one on top of the made goal or only one shot?

Asked by Pete over 9 years ago

OK. So let's say the shooter comes down from his jump shot and touches the floor and the shot is in the air. This offensive player is no longer an "airborne shooter". If the defense then fouls this ex-airborne shooter, or any other offensive player while the ball is in the air here is how you administer it:

Count the basket if it goes in. Then administer the foul (one and one, or two if in bonus situations.NOTE: If the shooter is still an airborne shooter and is fouled, he is awarded one free throw if the ball goes in, two or three if the shot is no good.

A player slaps a ball handlers hand but there is no change of possession, No advantage to the defense so,,,no foul called, and I slap a players hand to frustrate him the rest of the game. My advantage, I'm not a dirty player but

Asked by rimbreaker over 8 years ago

The first time you slap him, I pass. The second time I call a foul even if there is no change in advantage because 1) you INTEND to get an advantage, and 2) if you are allowed to slap the player you are going to get punched and the game will deteriate. A good referee has each foul in context....you wouldn't last too long if I officiated your game and you started slapping players hands.