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

If a ball is loose on the baseline and two players both have possession but one player's hand is out of bounds, isn't it still a held ball because both players have contact?

Asked by Tarheel 1 about 9 years ago

When a player is out of bounds (touching the baseline) and touches the ball it is a violation and it goes to the other team. If the simultaneous possession occurs before the player touches the line it is a held ball. If they happen at exactly the same time i would call the violation because it takes more than an instant to have a held ball.

If a player 1 in bound the ball to the back court to player 2. While in the back court player 2 passes the ball to player 3 who catches the ball in the air while jumping from front court & landing in the back court. Is that a back court violation?

Asked by Tom Nguyen over 9 years ago

Yes, backcourt violation because when player 2 catches the ball in the backcourt it establishes backcourt status. When player 3 alights from the frontcourt he has frontcourt status, but when he lands he is in the backcourt, hence the violation.There is an exception in the rule book on a throw in which allows a player in the frontcourt to jump, catch the ball in the air and land in the backcourt. But that only applies 1. On a direct throw in, or 2. On an interception play by a defensive player.

I have a question! I was watching my brother's basketball game and a kid from the other team started throwing punches at a kid on our team. The kid on our team didn't touch him! The reffs didn't call anything!! Should the other kid have gotten a tec?

Asked by Abby.S over 9 years ago

Throwing punches is an automatic flagarant technical foul which includes ejection. However, if the other player incited the fight, such as racial slurs or unsportsmanlike conduct he could be ejected as well.

team a is shooting a free throw. player on team b steps in early and free throw shooter shoots an air ball. double violation go to arrow or team b violated 1st and team a re-shoots free throw? i've talked to several refs & gotten different opinions

Asked by midd44 about 9 years ago

If player b stepped in first it is a delayed violation and player a is awarded another throw. If player b did not step in before it was clear the ball would not touch the ring then no violation. The answer to your question is entirely bssed on whether b violated. If b did not violate, then b gets the ball. If b violated then a gets another free throw, regardless of whether the free throw is an air ball.

A team is in the double bonus, we commit a foul and a technical foul is also called. Does the team get to shoot the bonus, technical foul and receive the ball?

Asked by Cedrick over 8 years ago

Yes, the rule of thumb is that fouls are administered in the order they occurred. In your example, the offended player shoots 2 shots, then the technical foul is shot, then the ball is given to offended team at half court.

The only way technical fouls are not shot is if both teams commit an equal number of technicals and then they are not awarded, they offset each other.

I love basketball and I'm good but it seems like everytime I play a game of 5 on 5 I tend to get nervous and have a lack of confidence . I'm very good but I just get nervous any suggestions on how to not get nervous ?

Asked by Josh over 9 years ago

Are you nervous playing organized basketball? The way to calm your nerves and to hone your skills is to play basketball against similar age/skills outside in a park where you just play for fun. That experience transfers to organized games.

So if I catch the ball on the three line and pump fake a shot then I side step to the left or right without dribbling and after he jumps is that a travel. take two steps after a fast break when you catch the ball to lay up it in.

Asked by Jordan almost 9 years ago

The travelling rules are built around your pivot foot. If you have a pivot foot, you can step with the other foot and lift your pivot but it is travelling if your pivot foot touches the floor after lifting it, it is travelling. As far as the three point goes, your position is where your feet were when you jumped. So if a foot is touching the line when you jump it is a try for 2.