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

Time expires while shot in air. Ball bounces before going through hoop, untouched by a player. Does it count?

Asked by Matt about 8 years ago

A try (rulebook jargon for a shot) ends when it is clear that it will not go directly in the ring. So if a try goes up in the air and then bounces on the floor, the try ended, and in your example time ran out. No basket.

Is it Outabounds if the ball hits the back of the backboard

Asked by Hodgkin about 8 years ago

Yes. Also on a rectangular backboard if yhe ball goes over the top it is out of bounds.

JV, late, we are +25. 1 man backcourt press; he flattens their pick. Their kid was ready to fight; 5 of ours left the bench, kept them apart, and were ejected. Is there discretion or zero tolerance? Those kids stopped the fight before it began. Tx

Asked by Rodk about 8 years ago

Yes, there is no discretion in the rulebook for this. Coming off the bench to join a fight is immediate ejection. But, the refs could have used some common sense - for example in Illinois an ejection also means the player sits out the next game. So if the refs could have inferred that they came onto the court and were not going to fight, maybe they could look the other way. This is strictly my opinion, as the rulebook is clear ... ejection.

If the game is a point away and a player makes a buzzer beater that wins the game but the referee says it does not. Can he review the play on video which was provided to him on the spot?

Asked by Amalia about 8 years ago

In Illinois, video replay is limited to the state playoff series. Each state makes its own video rules.

If one referee who makes the call is overuled by two who gets the call?

Asked by Brandon Downs almost 8 years ago

In NFHS rules there is no provision for overruling one another. In practice the referee decides disputes between umpires.

just wanted to say thank you for answering my questions !! Your Awesome!!! Thanks again.

Asked by Doug almost 8 years ago

You are welcome!

Sorry, does that mean I can't go up on the balls of my feet ? I was just wanting to get a little extra fake like I am going to jump and shoot but don't.

Asked by Doug almost 8 years ago

Yes you can go on the ball of your pivot foot without traveling. Most of the time players would use the ball of their pivot foot to well, um pivot!