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 you set a screen on both sides of a player at the top of the key? (Pin them from both sides so the guard can pick whichever way they want to go) they looked at me crazy when i told them it seemed wrong in 3rd grade.

Asked by Brad Yarnall almost 8 years ago

Yes you can. The same blocking and picking rules apply.

player is directly under the hoop as shot clock is expiring. player throws the ball & hits the rim from directly under the hoop. the ball never had a real chance to go in & is not "really" a shot. does the shot clock get reset? thanks

Asked by midd44 over 7 years ago

There is no shot clock in nfhs except by state authorization. But yes, where a shot clock.is used any contact between ball and ring resets the shot timer.

My Question: In the triple threat position can I raise my left knee up waist high
faking a shot and then bring my left knee and foot down to the ground while keeping my right pivot foot on the floor and then start dribbling. I read somewhere that to start a dribble, neither foot may be lifted before the ball is released from the hand. After coming to a stop when neither foot can be the pivot foot One or both feet may be lifted, but may not be returned to the playing court, before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal.  (Legal or Illegal ?)

Asked by Doug over 7 years ago

You can start dribbling while moving the non pivot foot if you have a pivot foot. If you caught the ball in the air, landed on one foot then alighted to land on both, neither can be moved except to jump for a shot.

If a player 1 in bound the ball to the back court to player 2. While in the back court player 2 passes the ball to player 3 who catches the ball in the air while jumping from front court & landing in the back court. Is that a back court violation?

Asked by Tom Nguyen over 7 years ago

Yes, backcourt violation because when player 2 catches the ball in the backcourt it establishes backcourt status. When player 3 alights from the frontcourt he has frontcourt status, but when he lands he is in the backcourt, hence the violation.There is an exception in the rule book on a throw in which allows a player in the frontcourt to jump, catch the ball in the air and land in the backcourt. But that only applies 1. On a direct throw in, or 2. On an interception play by a defensive player.

player A gets fouled. player B steps to line and hits front end of 1&1. ref notices the wrong player shot the free throw. does free throw from player B count? what should happen?

Asked by midd44 over 7 years ago

The made free throw is canceled. Put the correct player on the line for a one and one

If a player was shooting a 3, and another defender flies by and touches the ball but ball goes in the basket then is it counted or not ?

Asked by HS almost 8 years ago

It would count as a three point shot. It does not matter where the defender is standing.

What would cause you to call fouls for 5-7 year olds. My son was fouled out tonight . He was only trying to go after the ball. The ref never explained to him what he was doing wrong. It caused a big argument and the ref tried to fight our coach.

Asked by Brittany almost 7 years ago

5-7 year olds should not be playing traditional full court basketball (in my opinion). They would learn the game better in half court, 3 on 3, with supervision stopping plays on fouls but not shooting free throws. Just my opinion.

By the way, I have always maintained that lower level high school, and grade school games are harder to officiate than Varsity games. The reason is that in Varsity games, a ref calls what they see - in lower level games you have to decide what NOT to call, otherwise you ruin the game.