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

I see too many arguments over camping out in the lane. I think lack of calling three second is the cause. Advantage in my experience has always been to the camper because I have to work harder to prevent entry passes in front of rim.

Asked by rimbreaker over 10 years ago

I respect your position but in my experience coaches mark down the refs who call a lot of 3 second violations - it just feels like a cheap call that interupts the game too often

high school Player A picks up his dribble and looks to pass. ball gets slapped out of his hands by defender and the ball pops in the air. Player A grabs the ball out of the air. is player A allowed to dribble?

Asked by midd44 over 10 years ago

Yes, player A lost control of the ball caused by the defender. There is no provision which states the ball must hit the floor after being batted away before recovering. So, yes A can dribble again.

While in the front court off player almost gets the ball stolen and to avoid that he dribbles the ball backwards one time and it touches the centerline. Is that over and back or do we play on?

Asked by Jj almost 11 years ago

If the ball was established in the front court and an offensive player with ball control dribbles on the centerline or steps on any part of the centerline (while in control of the ball) it is a back court violation. The centerline is part of the back court.

should i still catch or fallow it up the ball after i take a shot without touching it on the ring or board?but i still cannot dribbling it.

Asked by marvz over 10 years ago

In NFHS rules a shooter can be the first to retrieve an "air ball shot" as long as it was a legitimate try for a basket (in the opinion of the officials).

Is it acceptable to hand the ball to an inbounder rather than passing the ball to an inbounder?

Asked by Cholly over 10 years ago

yes, unless the mechanics have changed in the past couple years, we were required to hand the ball to the in bounders on end line throw-ins. There is an advantage of bouncing the call to the in bounder on the sidelines because it allows the on-ball referee administering the throw in to step back and take a wider view (while he counts the 5 seconds).

After the game Coach receives a technical.
Officials confirm the scorers book and exit the court down a tunnel. Completely off of the court and only visual if you look down the tunnel. 1 official returns to call a 2nd technical. Is it legal?

Asked by JP over 9 years ago

First, once the game has ended a coach cannot be tagged with a technical foul UNLESS the game is tied before the technical foul and is heading into overtime. In Illinois, postgame inappropriate behavior should be written up to the state for further adjudication.

Furthermore, according to Rule 2, Section 2, Article 4, "The jurisdiction of the officials is terminated and the final score is approved when all officials leave the visual confines of the playing area. So, when all officials are in the tunnel leading away from the court their jurisdiction is done.

I am dribbling right handed as I am driving to about the free throw line and I raise my right leg up and pause for a split second and crossover right hand to left hand and go for layup on leftside. Is it ok to raise my right leg up while dribbling?

Asked by Doug about 9 years ago

You cannot travel in yhe middle of legally dribbling. So yes you can!