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

Can a ref officially end a game before time has expired - say in the event of an uncontrolled crowd or team?

Asked by DB about 9 years ago

Yes. If a referee deems conditions unsafe for players, spectators or officials he should notify home management that the refs can no longer work under current conditions. Without refs the game should not be played.

While in the front court off player almost gets the ball stolen and to avoid that he dribbles the ball backwards one time and it touches the centerline. Is that over and back or do we play on?

Asked by Jj over 9 years ago

If the ball was established in the front court and an offensive player with ball control dribbles on the centerline or steps on any part of the centerline (while in control of the ball) it is a back court violation. The centerline is part of the back court.

Would you ever give a coach a technical with 30 seconds left in a tied game if he were arguing with you, you tell him to walk away, and he walks away about 25 feet away, and says something that is not audible 2 the ref 2 another person about the call

Asked by molio64 about 9 years ago

I would not call a foul on a coach who says something that I did not hear. However, if the coach defiantly tried to show me up with body language designed to attack my integrity I would T him up.

Having said that, in 20 years you could count on 2 hands the technical coach's fouls I called.

Are players allowed to disagree with calls if they are not directing their comments to the ref but to players on their own team?

Asked by Riley about 9 years ago

Yes as long as they do it without trying to show up the ref. For example, the player turns to his bench and says loudly, "that fat a$$ is the worst ref we've ever had". That would be a t.

I see too many arguments over camping out in the lane. I think lack of calling three second is the cause. Advantage in my experience has always been to the camper because I have to work harder to prevent entry passes in front of rim.

Asked by rimbreaker almost 9 years ago

I respect your position but in my experience coaches mark down the refs who call a lot of 3 second violations - it just feels like a cheap call that interupts the game too often

To clarify; if the ball is rolling towards out of bounds, a player stops it and he goes out of bounds ; can he come back in and pick it up?

Asked by Donny over 8 years ago

Again, if in the opinion of the referee, the player purposely stepped out of bounds then it is a violation. If his momentum carried him out, or if he was pushed then no violation.

Why isn't it an offensive foul when a shooting player jumps into the defender? The shooter creates the contact but is always rewarded.

Asked by Crcsda over 8 years ago

If an offensive player jumps and causes contact within the defender's space it should be called a player control foul, unless the contact did not change the play in a material way (Advantage Disadvantage Theory of Officiating).