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

SubscribeGet emails when new questions are answered. Ask Me Anything!Show Bio +

Share:

Ask me anything!

Submit Your Question

651 Questions

Share:

Last Answer on September 20, 2019

Best Rated

What does it feal like to be booed? Yea I know it’s a stuipid question but I want to know

Asked by The man about 6 years ago

It is tough when you first start out because you make mistakes and sometimes you deserve to be booed. That is why so many new refs quit. You have to have thick skin to not let it bother you . You also need to be lucky to work with good partners that will help you correct an error, or reinforce a good but controversisl call. It gets easier as you progress because you get better thru ref camps and experience, but if it continues to bother someone, they should think about giving it up.

During an NCAA D2 game I was at an offensive player lost his shoe on the play, turned the ball over, picked his shoe up and played defense carrying his shoe and even took a charge carrying his shoe. Is playing D carrying an object not a violation?

Asked by Troy almost 6 years ago

In NFHS rules a referee should stop the game immediately for an injured player in imminent danger or the loss of contacts or glasses. Otherwise, the offense is allowed to complete their play, and then the ref can stop the game.

fter I ended my dribble, and put down my left foot as my pivot foot. Can I step thru and jump off my right foot to do a layup? And is NBA and FIBA allowed this move? Sorry for asking the same question twice!

Asked by Joseph almost 6 years ago

You need to be precise with your question. The rulebook does not define stepping through. It lays out the rules based on what can be done after you establish your pivot foot. So again, if your left foot has been established as your pivot, then you can step on your right foot and lift your left. You cannot then put down your left or drag your right.

Is it an illegal dribble if a player shoots at the wrong basket misses the shot, gets the rebound and shoots it again?

Asked by BRIAN Avery Sweezer almost 6 years ago

If it is a legitimate attempt despite being at the wrong basket, there is no violation.

When an offensive player drives to the rim and imitates contact into a moving defender by dipping the shoulder, is it an offensive foul?

Asked by Yoh over 5 years ago

An important concept much misunderstood is that a defender is allowed to be moving as long as he is entitled to the space where contact is made. So, it is not a question of dipping a shoulder or even who initiates contact - it matters most which player is entitled to that spot.

In streetball when two players posses the ball simultaneously (no jump balls in street) how is possession determined? Where I play the person that yells “first” gains possession. Also does the defender need both hands on the ball or just one?

Asked by Menchi over 5 years ago

I could make up an answer, buy I don't know official streetball rules if they even exist. When I played as a kid, we required 2 hands on the ball and simultaneous possession for a first call. A better way is to award it to the defender.

What happen if at the beggining of the game duringbthe tip off when the referee throw the ball in the air nobody touches the ball and the ball start bouncing and nobody does anything ....is a stupid question but i will like to know....

Asked by Michael Romero almost 6 years ago

Administer the jump ball again. If it occurs again, issue a warning to each player, and if it happens again issue a double technical. I have never seen that.