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

A player dribbles the ball and picks it up with two hands. He then drops the ball, can he pick it up without impunity?

Asked by Arthur Puritz over 8 years ago

It is a judgement call. If the player did not intentionallyvdrop the ball it is a muff or fumble and he can pick it up ... but not dribble again.

Now days knee pads are very common. We love the idea in that it promotes effort and aggressiveness but... if a player starts to slide, then grabs a loose ball and.. continues to slide another foot or three... Is this traveling?

Asked by Jeromy about 9 years ago

If a player has possession of the ball and slides it should be travelling.

Would it be legal if i were going for a rebound and touched the ball inbounds to save it from going out of bounds, then stepped out and back in bounds, and then got possession of the ball?

Asked by Frank Grillo about 9 years ago

It is a violation for a player to leave the floor for an unauthorized reason. So if you step out of bounds purposely then a violation occurred and the ball is awarded to the other team. But if, in the judgement of the official you did not purposely step out of bounds, then no violation.

Team B full court press. Team A inbounder cant find a teammate, count approaches 5, fires the ball directly at Team B kid denying inbound pass. Team B kid is hurt. Game stopped and Team B player taken out of game. Some type of foul on Team A?

Asked by midd44 about 9 years ago

It is a legitimate basketball play to bounce the ball off of a defender hoping the ball then goes directly out of bounds. There is no prohibition against that. HOWEVER, if a player purposely throws the ball at an opponent to hurt or intimidate him, that is an unsportsmanlike technical foul. So, it is up to the judgement of the officials.

Why are so insulting to the pro leagues? You sound exactly like a typical high school type. The pros have the best players playing at the highest level, putzo. A WMCA pickup game?umbass remark. Diana DTaurasi, Sheryl Swoopes = remarkable players

Asked by Adam about 9 years ago

The nba has the best basketball players in the world, as you suggest. No question. But that doesnt mean the pro game is the best spectator game to watch. I dont like the fact that rarely do defensive teams press because ball hanflers are so good, i dont like the calculated fouling of poor free throw shooters, i dont like the isolation half court game, the lack of fast break basketball ..particularly in the eastern conference and physical moving screens. I respect anyone's preferences, including a stranger who calls me putso. If you like the nba go watch it.

can i box out an opponent before their offensive player takes a shot ?

Asked by Kobe54 over 9 years ago

Yes, because boxing out is getting to a spot on the floor before your opponent is entitled to that space, and doing it in a way that "blocks" the direct path of your opponent.

If a player is suspended for 1 game and his team receives a win as a result of a forfeit, should he be allowed to play the following game without actually sitting out a game?

Asked by JT over 8 years ago

I think this depends on the state interpretation of its own rules. My opinion is that the player should not sit out the game after a forfeit because it is not the player's fault that a team did not show for the game of his punishment. But i see it the other too.