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

How do you decide that making or not making a call will affect the score at the end of a game

Asked by rimbreaker almost 10 years ago

You don't decide based on how you think it will affect the score, if you follow the Advantage Disadvantage philosophy you decide to ignore a violation or foul if the infraction did or did not cause an unearned advantage to the violator.

What constitutes a foul being on the ground or not?

Asked by Riley over 10 years ago

There is no distinction in the rule book about being on the ground except 1) a player who alights and shoots the ball is called an airborne shooter until he comes back to the ground, and if fouled even after releasing the ball the airborne shooter is in the act of shooting and 2) a player is considered to be in the act of shooting if he begins the habitual motion of shooting a try regardless of being on the floor or in the air.

One of our junior high players was called for travelling while shooting a free throw. Is there such a thing?

Asked by Bleacher Coach over 10 years ago

No. There is no such violation. Likewise, there is no travelling on a throw in.

Also, how much thicker skin do you have to have at the end of games?

Asked by molio64 over 10 years ago

There is nothing worse than having an officiating partner with a chip on their shoulder, trying to be a tough guy, at any point in the game. Coaches need to respect an official, and usually that has to be earned over time. I think officials need thick skin always. Here's my red line: if a coach makes it personal in a derogatory way or if he questions my integrity then I would zap him right away, but I didn't call many technicals - I guess you would say I have thick skin. Guys who agitate coaches and call lots of Ts don't deserve to advance.

Can I throw my feet/legs over the basketball while i'm dribbling?Hot Sauce - At the 35 second mark http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=hot+sauce+basketball&view=detail&mid=00D29C6BDD00D43AE2DF00D29C6BDD00D43AE2DF&FORM=VIRE

Asked by Doug about 9 years ago

Yes, as long as you do not end your drivble, palm the ball or step into some else's space.

Is it a backcourt violation during an inbound pass if the player either jumps from the backcourt, catches the ball in the air and lands in the front court or jumps from front court, catches and lands in backcourt?

Asked by Coachdale over 9 years ago

Normally, when you jump, you are considered to be in the court from which you jumped. BUT, there are three exceptions to this principle as far as back court violations are concerned: 1) on a jump ball, 2) on a throw in, and 3) when a defender jumps from his front court and intercepts the ball in the air and lands in his back court.

So to answer your question directly, no violation in either case if the ball is caught on the throw in.

Can a defensive player move without establishing position when taking a charge? I have the director of my city arguing with me on his interpretation of the rule that says a player can move but he is not considering they must establish LGP.

Asked by Alan over 9 years ago

To take a charge, a player must establish legal guarding position. That does not mean you have to stop. For example you could be defending while moving backwards, and you get run over - you established your right to the space, which is legal guarding position and it is a charge.