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

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 over 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.

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.

How do you decide that making or not making a call will affect the score at the end of a game

Asked by rimbreaker almost 9 years ago

You don't decide based on how you think it will affect the score, if you follow the Advantage Disadvantage philosophy you decide to ignore a violation or foul if the infraction did or did not cause an unearned advantage to the violator.

Why do some refs say the wrong team color sometimes? In a recent rec league game, for example, the ref called a team in orange jerseys "red." The first time I saw this I figured it was colorblindness. Then it happened several other times.

Asked by Brian over 8 years ago

It is just easier to say red than orange, or even blue than turquoise.

Regarding sliding or hopping on the non-pivot foot, I understand that a traveling call appears obvious, but can you tell me which of the 7 articles in the college rules under 'Section 6 Traveling', applies? I couldn't find any!

Asked by JJinVista over 9 years ago

I focus on NFHS rules. In the high school rule book it states in Rule 4 Section 44 Article 3, "After coming to a stop and establishing a pivot foot,

a) The pivot foot may be lifted but not returned to the floor before the ball is released.b) If the player jumps, neither foot may be returned to the floor before the ball is released.c) the pivot foot may not be lifted before the ball is released to start a dribble.

section b rules out hopping or sliding giving up both the pivot and the non pivot.

One of our junior high players was called for travelling while shooting a free throw. Is there such a thing?

Asked by Bleacher Coach over 9 years ago

No. There is no such violation. Likewise, there is no travelling on a throw in.

Player A is substituted before the 2nd free throw. Player B enters the game. Opponent is called for a violation during the 2nd free throw. Can Player A re-enter the game?

Asked by David Johns over 8 years ago

A cannot reenter until the clock starts during a live ball.