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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651 Questions

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Last Answer on September 20, 2019

Best Rated

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

Asked by Kobe54 over 10 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.

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 almost 10 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.

Offensive player drives and shoots a layup. Defensive player goes for the block, whiffs, but slaps the backboard in the process. The ball comes off the front rim due to the backboard shaking, but the defensive player didn't touch the ball. Goaltend?

Asked by Philip over 10 years ago

The call is defensive basket interference. Award the points but no foul unless the defender intentionally slapped the backboard.

Sir, suppose a player holding the ball or driving in for a layup is it legal for defender to PRESS the ball without touching his body in his hands (ball still in the hand of offense player) ??

Asked by kartikey almost 10 years ago

If i understand the question, what happens when a defender legally pushes on the ball in opposte direction of the offensive player? Answer = held ball, go the possession arrow.

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 10 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.

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 10 years ago

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

In a high school game and a players shoe comes off. What is the obligation of the official to stop the clock or halt play when the clock is stopped to allow the player to put the shoe back on.

Asked by MN official over 9 years ago

No obligation. The circumstances where an official must halt play is imminent danger or glasses/contact lenses on the floor. For example if A1 is injured but not in imminent danger, the officials should allow Team B to finish their attack until they back off the original play. As soon as B's drive ends or if they kick the ball back out to reset, then the officials should stop play for the downed player. If the player was bleeding or about to be trampled, then they should halt play immediately

If your shoe falls off, play continues.