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

Here is a question... On a dunk when you miss it and the ball bounces on the rim and you are still hanging in the rim and let it go and the ball bounces up and back in, why is that not basket interference?

Asked by jimmydellis@usa.net almost 9 years ago

The rules allow a player to hold onto the rim for safety. If the player holds on excessively it could be ruled a technical foul or basket interference. So it comes down to thecref's judgement.

just wanted to say thank you for answering my questions !! Your Awesome!!! Thanks again.

Asked by Doug over 8 years ago

You are welcome!

With 1,4 seconds left in the game, Team A is inbounding the ball on the sideline. A1 passes the ball into A2, who then passes it to A3 who shoots a 3-ponter and makes it, but the clock never started. is the basket good?

Asked by hendu almost 9 years ago

Since the timer or the clock had a malfunction, the referee must mak an assessment. Given all the passes most likely the basket should not count.

What are the rules relative to Asst Coaches standing during a game? Live Ball/Dead Ball to address his own Team.

Asked by Brent Stewart almost 9 years ago

Only the head coach can stand in the coach's box during a live ball. The asst coach should only stand during extended dead balls (injuries) or time outs.

On an inbounds play after a made basket, can the inbounding player dribble the ball while still out of bounds?

Asked by Oldhoopster almost 9 years ago

Yes. But if he bounces the ball inbounds it would be a violation.

When driving to the basket, how much can you use your off hand to swat away the defender's reaching hand and how much can you legally push the defender?

Asked by Jay about 10 years ago

In theory, you cannot use your hand to swat away the defender. In practice, I think it is a judgement call by the official. If I were working games my judgement would be based on whether the hand swat created any kind of advantage for the offense.

A offense of foul so many Officials get this one wrong when do you think a offense of foul should be called

Asked by Jacob The official almost 9 years ago

The ref on the endline should "referee the defense". It is hard to do because you naturally want to watch the ball, but if the endline referee focuses on the tracking the defenders hr will most often get the block/charge decision correct.