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

Zero tolerance for self defense is an awful rule. What if that kid is a goon with a black belt? It could take the whole team to stop him. Ejecting everyone who could defend against or discourage a goon only encourages teams to have and use goons.

Asked by rodk about 8 years ago

Yes, in the extreme you are right. Most bench players enter the court to fight so the rule is constructed to contain any fisticuffs. But you sight a legit situation where they may save someone, so maybe it should be a judgement call.

thanks!!! your shot clock answer got me thinking...so any contact between ball & rim is a reset. if the player got fouled throwing the ball at the rim from directly under the hoop would it be a shooting foul?

Asked by midd44 almost 8 years ago

As long as the refs believe it is a legitimate try, it is a shooting foul.

is it legal in a "step through" move to pivot and then step with non pivot foot while lifting your pivot foot to then jump off your non pivot foot towards the goal to shoot?? Ive heard people say you have to jump off both feet or its travel.

Asked by maxstarr about 8 years ago

Yes legal.

2 Questions About Inbounds Location:
1) After an intentional foul, is the ball inbounded at half court every time or at the spot of the foul?
2) On an over and back call, is it inbounded where it is touched or always at half court?
Thanks!

Asked by Bryce about 8 years ago

In both cases, nearest spot where the foul/violation occurred.

Player received his 5th foul. The team huddles for the allotted 20 seconds. Officials weren't alerted and gave the ball to the fouled player who shoots a free throw. They then take the free throw away and require re-shooting. Correctable error?

Asked by Darrell about 8 years ago

They should not have taken the free throw away. It is not a correctable error.

Team A is in bounding the ball. And team B is guarding the inbounded but is getting to close and crossing the line. Is this delay of game? And if so what happens when you call delay of game?

Asked by Riley Prior about 8 years ago

On the first infraction of ctossing thru the throw in boundary, a warning dhould be called and the scorer should note that in the book. It is a warning unless the defender reaches thru and contacts the player or the ball.

The second violation of any teammate reaching thru without contact or the first contact reaching thru with contact is a technical foul.

3. My Question: If I maintain my dribble can I jump up and then down again while maintaing my dribble. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSyko1Zq738 (Jason Williams -NBA - "Bunny Hop" at the 1 minute mark). (Legal or Illegal?)

Asked by Doug almost 8 years ago

Yes. As i have stated a million times you cannot travel in the middle of a legit dribbling sequence. You can jump, spin around, rub your belly etc., as long as you are able to contunue dribbling after your nonsense without double dribbling.