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

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 9 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!

Our game went to ot the refs jumped the ball the wrong way. Our kid got the ball and went and scored in the wrong basket and was fouled. The refs restarted the ot and the basket didn't count what would you have done

Asked by Andy about 9 years ago

Baskets scored counts. Stop the game as soon as you realize you have them going the wrong way and turn them around. Do not restart the ot.

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 over 9 years ago

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

When driving to the basket, how much can you use your off hand to swat away the defender's reaching hand and how much can you legally push the defender?

Asked by Jay over 10 years ago

In theory, you cannot use your hand to swat away the defender. In practice, I think it is a judgement call by the official. If I were working games my judgement would be based on whether the hand swat created any kind of advantage for the offense.

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

Asked by Brandon Downs about 9 years ago

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

If the player with the ball is running super fast down the court to make a lay up, how do i stop them? I can't just step in front of them and block them because they'll trip and go flying

Asked by Alaysha about 9 years ago

You have to establish legal guarding position down court, then you can move obliquely and take a charge. Alternatively you can chase from behind and hope when you swat at the layup you get all ball.

Zero tolerance for self defense is an awful rule. What if that kid is a goon with a black belt? It could take the whole team to stop him. Ejecting everyone who could defend against or discourage a goon only encourages teams to have and use goons.

Asked by rodk over 9 years ago

Yes, in the extreme you are right. Most bench players enter the court to fight so the rule is constructed to contain any fisticuffs. But you sight a legit situation where they may save someone, so maybe it should be a judgement call.