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

When an offensive player is driving for a layup at full speed and the defender wraps his arms around player to stop him don't you think this should be a technical foul? This was intentional. Maybe not flagrant , but a player can get injured.

Asked by Doug almost 9 years ago

In high school rules unless there is excessive contact beyond wrapping up the player, it would be an intentional foul which imposes 2 free throws plus a throw in.

There was a question from years ago regarding how many players are required to play? You said down to 2 but that is incorrect.. down to 1 if in official's mind that team still has a chance to win! Throw in would have to deflect off another player.

Asked by TechGuy over 9 years ago

Right from the NFHS rule book, "When there is only one player participating, the team shall forfeit the game, unless the referee believes that the team has an opportunity to win the game."

So it is possible to play down to one player, but entirely impractical. The other team, after scoring would simply move to the half court line and wait for 5 second throw in violations, or they would surround the ball and make the lone player foul. If I were refine the game I would call forfeit unless there was a sizable lead and little time left for the other team to catch up.

Is there a time frame that a Coach has to sit down after getting an unsportsmanlike technical foul? This is in a Varsity Boys Basketball game.
Coach gets a 'T' the official walks away and his partner tries to get him to sit down. How long do we wait

Asked by Mole the Ref almost 9 years ago

It should never get to this but, after a minute or two the coach should be advised that he is risking a second direct technical foul and if he refuses to sit down, he will be ejected from the gym along with that foul.

There is no time specified, but give him a moment to calm down and comply, and if necessary then t him up.

player is directly under the hoop as shot clock is expiring. player throws the ball & hits the rim from directly under the hoop. the ball never had a real chance to go in & is not "really" a shot. does the shot clock get reset? thanks

Asked by midd44 about 9 years ago

There is no shot clock in nfhs except by state authorization. But yes, where a shot clock.is used any contact between ball and ring resets the shot timer.

In fiba rules, what if the result if the two teams had only two player each and all players committed fourth personal foul then the two players commit a double foul which team declared the winner?

Asked by Caiverson34 over 9 years ago

I dont know fiba rules, but i have never seen anything like this.

My Question: In the triple threat position can I raise my left knee up waist high
faking a shot and then bring my left knee and foot down to the ground while keeping my right pivot foot on the floor and then start dribbling. I read somewhere that to start a dribble, neither foot may be lifted before the ball is released from the hand. After coming to a stop when neither foot can be the pivot foot One or both feet may be lifted, but may not be returned to the playing court, before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal.  (Legal or Illegal ?)

Asked by Doug about 9 years ago

You can start dribbling while moving the non pivot foot if you have a pivot foot. If you caught the ball in the air, landed on one foot then alighted to land on both, neither can be moved except to jump for a shot.

Backcourt called: My center brought the ball across half court & decided to pass the ball back to me in the backcourt.As he madethe pass I jumped toward the ball,caught in the air in the backcourt but landed both feet in the front court. Violation?

Asked by Peter D over 8 years ago

Normally, when you jump in the air you are considered to have status in the area where you alighted from. So, in your case, the ball was established in the front court, you jumped from the backcourt and caught the ball in the air ... violation.There are two exceptions to this rule. 1. Throw ins, and 2. Defense intercepting a pass.