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

If a player has ran amd jump behind the 3 point line but release the ball by the free throw line, is the shot a 3 or a 2?

Asked by Lenricco about 8 years ago

A player is considered to be in the position on the court where he last touched the floor. So this would be a 3.

In streetball, how is a “held ball” handled? My forever understanding is that since there are no jump balls or possession arrows, the first player to call either “ball” or “first” gets awarded the ball. Help me end this argument.

Asked by Menchi over 7 years ago

I am no expert on streetball, but when I was a kid we yelled first on a held ball.

Is this traveling?

https://youtu.be/d_byY-iHNOw

Asked by Kev25 almost 8 years ago

Sorry, this link did not work.

What should a referee do if a spectator stands up and comes on to the court to verbally dispute a call? Also, could a warning of a technical foul, or actually a technical foul be assessed against the spectator's team.

Asked by Hoopa35 over 7 years ago

You should not assess a technical foul unless the home administration does not execute your request to have him removed. See answer in previous question.

If an offensive player attacks a defender and uses their off arm to lock the defender’s arm while driving. Who is at fault? The offensive player claims that the defender should move their feet quicker. The defender says they have the right to contact

Asked by g5esAXfpiBtujsGQDJdH almost 7 years ago

There is no requirement of a defender to move so that the offensive player avoids contact. This comes down to who has the right to the vertical space. Suppose the defender has obtained legal guarding position, and the offensive player initiates contact within that space it is a player control foul on the offense.

I was defending a player on a drive to the hoop. As we approached the block, I went to contest the shot at the block, and was hit with a pick. Would this be a legal screen?

Asked by Bigs about 8 years ago

A few concepts: 1) a pick can be legally set anywhere on the court, 2) you as a defender are entitled to the vertical space if you have legally obtained that position, and 3) in NFHS rules a pick can be legally set within the defender's vision with no space requirements or, if outside the defender's vision the pick must allow the defender a step to avoid collision.

OK I am running to the basket pick up my dribble take two to three steps and throw it off the back board and dunk.
OK know I am on the side and throw it off the back board and it goes off the glass and its a travel.
Whats the difference?

Asked by jack greene over 7 years ago

I do not understand your scenarios, but the principle is in the judgement of the ref, was it a legitimate try for a basket? If so, then the shooter can retrieve the ball. If however it was not a shot, or try, then retrieving the ball is travelling.