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

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 9 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.

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

Asked by Brandon Downs over 9 years ago

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

If the game is a point away and a player makes a buzzer beater that wins the game but the referee says it does not. Can he review the play on video which was provided to him on the spot?

Asked by Amalia over 9 years ago

In Illinois, video replay is limited to the state playoff series. Each state makes its own video rules.

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

Asked by Oldhoopster over 9 years ago

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

Drammond Green is on the list as not playing in today's game . Can the coach change his mind during the game and play him ?

Asked by Debbie over 9 years ago

In NFHS rules a coach must submit a roster of players for that game 10 minutes before the start of the game. It is s technical foulnto insert a player who is not on that list, but it is allowed.

When driving to the basket, how much can you use your off hand to swat away the defender's reaching hand and how much can you legally push the defender?

Asked by Jay over 10 years ago

In theory, you cannot use your hand to swat away the defender. In practice, I think it is a judgement call by the official. If I were working games my judgement would be based on whether the hand swat created any kind of advantage for the offense.

If the player with the ball is running super fast down the court to make a lay up, how do i stop them? I can't just step in front of them and block them because they'll trip and go flying

Asked by Alaysha over 9 years ago

You have to establish legal guarding position down court, then you can move obliquely and take a charge. Alternatively you can chase from behind and hope when you swat at the layup you get all ball.