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

why was my last question taken off?!

Asked by Dirt eater over 7 years ago

What was itSelf explanatory

I was defending a player on a drive to the hoop. As we approached the block, I went to contest the shot at the block, and was hit with a pick. Would this be a legal screen?

Asked by Bigs about 8 years ago

A few concepts: 1) a pick can be legally set anywhere on the court, 2) you as a defender are entitled to the vertical space if you have legally obtained that position, and 3) in NFHS rules a pick can be legally set within the defender's vision with no space requirements or, if outside the defender's vision the pick must allow the defender a step to avoid collision.

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 almost 7 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.

Hey if there is a team you don’t like foul while trying shoot a basket do you walk up right behind the player and blow your whistle in his or her ear? Do you have a team bias and do you show it?

Asked by Ding along ding almost 7 years ago

You should not have a bias, but if you do you should never show it. If I was assigning a game and I thought the ref had a bias, I would not put that ref on the game.

After 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? Some people keep saying you have to jump off with both feet to avoid to be called travel. Thank you very much.

Asked by Joseph over 7 years ago

With the exception of a step to a jump stop, where neither foot can be a pivot, you are correct. Let's suppose your right foot is the pivot. You can step with your left foot and lift your pivot (right foot) and shoot or pass. It has to be this way or you could not shoot a lay up. However, if you touch the floor with your right foot after lifting it or drag your left before releasing the ball it is travelling.

A personal foul was called. The coach threw her clipboard down on the playing floor and was given a technical. The tech. fouls were shot, then the personal fouls. The ball was played as a live ball after the 2nd pers. foul shot. Was this proper?

Asked by Scott about 7 years ago

No. Awarded free throws are to be administered in the order the fouls occurred. So, clear the lane and shoot the common foul shots if in bonus or if the offended was in the act of shooting. Then shoot the technicals, then take the ball out at half court.

Defensive player intentionally kicks at a pass, but the ball hits his hand first, then the knee area. Is it a steal or a deadball with the offense retaining possession?

Asked by John Landauer almost 7 years ago

If a player intentionally kicks the ball it is a violation. If the player misses kicking the ball it is a no call.