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

Team A is inbounding the ball in their front court. On the throw-in, the ball deflects off of player A1 and the ball continues into the back court. Is it a violation if a team member of Team A is the first to touch the ball in the back court.

Asked by ME about 8 years ago

The ball achieves front court status NOT on the throw in, but when the offensive team obtains ball control in their front court. In your example, the deflection (unless deliberate) would not constitute ball control, so no backcourt violation.

Follow on to last question What’s the best way to get refs attention? Yell it out while it is happening? Wait for stoppage of play? – call ref over to ask for discussion? Can ref just ignore me? Looking for respectful interaction protocol w/ ref

Asked by Randy S over 11 years ago

Most respectful way is to ask the ref if he can discuss a play.  If you are the kind of coach who is shilling for every call you will be ignored by a skilled official for your own good.  You would do well to expend your enegy in understanding how tight or loose a ref is calling a game, and coaching accordingly, rather than ratcheting up your complaints.  During a game, the ref holds all the cards. After the game if you feel a ref is grossly misinterpreting the rules talk to the assignment chairman.

When a head coach is given a technical foul is he required to sit down the rest of the game? High school level or college level? Any level?

Asked by Bill over 8 years ago

I believe the technical sit down rules are conceived and enforced by state asociation. In Illinois a direct t sits down the coach.

Is the top and bottom of the backboard considered in bounds?

Asked by Liz almost 8 years ago

The top and bottom are in bounds, but on a rectangular backboard if the ball goes over the top even without touching, it is out of bounds.

Do you think Middle school Basketball games should have three referees?

Asked by Peter Piper almost 9 years ago

I think 2 referees can handle middle school games. Most high school underclass games use 2 officials. Schools are stretching their budgets, they have better things to spend money on.

There is an exception to my opinion, and that is if the 3rd official is training and being mentored by the other 2 then there is value for the trainee but not necesarily for the game itself.

If you have 5 seconds to in bound the basketball to a teammate, how come when players let the ball roll down court it's not a 5 second violation? As I see it the ball is not inbounded if no one touches it.

Asked by Tniz over 8 years ago

The in bounder has 5 seconds to release the ball. The restriction is satisfied as soon as he releases the throw in.

Why doesn't basketball use instant replay?

Asked by marcus almost 12 years ago

Replay IS being used by various levels in basketball. In National Federation of High School Rules, states are allowed the option to use replay in the state tournament for specific things such as whether a buzzer shot was launched before time expired. In college, they use replay to ascertain the severity of fouls - whether a tech foul is flagarant or class 1, etc. NBA seems to use it more. The benefit is to make sure you get the call correct, the obvious downside is that it takes time and breaks momentum.