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

In streetball when two players posses the ball simultaneously (no jump balls in street) how is possession determined? Where I play the person that yells “first” gains possession. Also does the defender need both hands on the ball or just one?

Asked by Menchi over 5 years ago

I could make up an answer, buy I don't know official streetball rules if they even exist. When I played as a kid, we required 2 hands on the ball and simultaneous possession for a first call. A better way is to award it to the defender.

Hey if there is a team you don’t like foul while trying shoot a basket do you walk up right behind the player and blow your whistle in his or her ear? Do you have a team bias and do you show it?

Asked by Ding along ding over 5 years ago

You should not have a bias, but if you do you should never show it. If I was assigning a game and I thought the ref had a bias, I would not put that ref on the game.

1)Player drives to the hoop,picks up dribble.2) Steps with right foot, then left foot (designating as pivot foot by planting it and not picking it up).3)Drops right foot on ground for balance.4) Pauses a second,then shoots the ball. Travel?

Asked by PhilB almost 6 years ago

Yes travel as you describe it because if you pickup the dribble the first foot down is your pivot unless you do a jump stop (hop on one foot, land on both - neither is the pivot). So assuming no jump stop, your right foot should be the pivot, step on left and lift the right ok, but as soon as the right touches the ground ... Travelling.

How can you tell whether it’s the defender or the offensive player who entitled to space?

Asked by Yoh over 5 years ago

The defender has to achieve the space before the offensive player alights or begins to step into that space. In other words the defender has to get there first, before the dribbler leaves his feet or steps towards that space.

In high school on opening tip two players from opposing teams gain possession simultaneously and jump ball is called. What happens next? if it is a re-jump who is involved in the re-jump

Asked by SCOTT BERNTHISEL about 6 years ago

Yes. Jump again.

A teammate passed the ball to me. The pass was high, so I needed to jump. The defender impeded my ability to jump. He didn't step on my foot, but his foot was above mine in a way that impeded my ability to jump and catch the ball. Is it a foul?

Asked by xian almost 6 years ago

You have the right to your vertical space. If the defender steps in your space AND makes contact, it is a foul. Generally no contact no foul.

Hi, and I wanted to know if a player is dribbling and stops. Is he allowed to pass the ball (not in the face or to hurt) off of the defensive player to regain his dribble again? Not sure if there is an official rule, & wanted to see if there was one.

Asked by Jason over 5 years ago

Yes as long as it is not deemed unsportsmanlike by judgement of the referees.