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

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

Asked by Oldhoopster about 8 years ago

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

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 over 8 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.

What if the game was in the city playoffs can the referee still review a play?

Asked by Amalia over 8 years ago

Again , only if stste rules allow..in illinois a city championship cannot use video replay.

JV, late, we are +25. 1 man backcourt press; he flattens their pick. Their kid was ready to fight; 5 of ours left the bench, kept them apart, and were ejected. Is there discretion or zero tolerance? Those kids stopped the fight before it began. Tx

Asked by Rodk over 8 years ago

Yes, there is no discretion in the rulebook for this. Coming off the bench to join a fight is immediate ejection. But, the refs could have used some common sense - for example in Illinois an ejection also means the player sits out the next game. So if the refs could have inferred that they came onto the court and were not going to fight, maybe they could look the other way. This is strictly my opinion, as the rulebook is clear ... ejection.

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

Asked by Doug almost 8 years ago

You are welcome!

If one referee who makes the call is overuled by two who gets the call?

Asked by Brandon Downs about 8 years ago

In NFHS rules there is no provision for overruling one another. In practice the referee decides disputes between umpires.

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 about 8 years ago

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