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

Can the player who saved the ball from going Out of bounds be the first player to touch it when he comes back in bounds

Asked by Tim over 9 years ago

The rule prohibits a player from voluntarily leaving the court. so if the player went out of bounds purposely to get around a defender it is a violation. If however the player jumped to save the ball and landed out of bounds, he may step back in and gain control of the ball. He cannot pick up the ball and dribble, because throwing the ball while saving it constitutes the start of a dribble.

Can a defender put up one arm close his chest to protect him from an offense player drive-in? basically trying to protect the chest from a strong shoulder contact, does it consider a foul?

Asked by Alan over 9 years ago

Yes, he can if the arm is within his vertical space. However, once the defender pushes the arm forward and moves the offensive player (arm bar) then it is a 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 9 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.

If the ball is fixing to go out of bounds and my opponent tries to throw it off my leg wouldn't it be out of bounds on my opponent if I step out of bounds and become part of the out of bounds as the ball bounces off my leg?

Asked by Doug almost 9 years ago

The ball is not out bounds until it hits the floor out of bounds or a player who is out of bounds. If a player steps out of bounds and is the first to touch the ball, the other team gets a throw in. So no, a player cannot get a throw in by getting out of bounds and then getting hit with the ball.

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 9 years ago

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

Dukes Grayson ought to be shown the door and Don't! trip him on the way out to teach him a lesson. Can a ref enforce a ban on a dangerous player above leagues allowing him to play?

Asked by rimbreaker about 9 years ago

In NFHS rules the referees have jurisdiction from the start of the game to the end of the game when they leave the visual confines of the court. During this period, the harshest penalties the officials can administer are technical fouls and ejections from the game.

However, in many places, the state association can impose further sanctions. In Illinois, for example, if a player is ejected from the game he must sit out the next game. The officials role is to write up an accurate game report and submit it to the state for their consideration.

There was a question from years ago regarding how many players are required to play? You said down to 2 but that is incorrect.. down to 1 if in official's mind that team still has a chance to win! Throw in would have to deflect off another player.

Asked by TechGuy over 9 years ago

Right from the NFHS rule book, "When there is only one player participating, the team shall forfeit the game, unless the referee believes that the team has an opportunity to win the game."

So it is possible to play down to one player, but entirely impractical. The other team, after scoring would simply move to the half court line and wait for 5 second throw in violations, or they would surround the ball and make the lone player foul. If I were refine the game I would call forfeit unless there was a sizable lead and little time left for the other team to catch up.