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

After a made basket and time out even though you can run the baseline can the referee dictate your starting spot?

Asked by Buzzerbeater over 9 years ago

Yes the end line official designates the spot to start in.

If you see a replay after a game and realize you blew a call, do you admit it or apologize next time you ref a game for the team you screwed?

Asked by paul about 13 years ago

I admit it during a game if I boot a call. Most coaches would favor honesty as in, "hey coach you are probably right about that last call - after thinking about it I think I made the wrong call", as opposed to trying to argue something you realize is not true. So if there was a question of rule or angle of play, and if I determined that I made a bad call or applied a rule in error I would definitely contact the coach and explain what my thinking was, and why I now think I may have been wrong. That's me, other ref's never ever say they made a bad call.

Who do you think would win in a game - the best high school men's basketball team in the country or the best women's pro team?

Asked by RonMexico over 12 years ago

Just a speculative guess... I think the boys high school team beats the women's pro team because usually the best boys' team sends a player or two right into the NBA. Males peak physically around 19 or twenty, so I think physicality trumps maturity and practice. Who knows? This question reminds me of the tennis battle of the sexes in 1973 when Bobby Riggs gave Billie Jean King the doubles lines and was soundly trounced (but both made a lot money promoting it!).

In the bonus time of a game what fouls don't constitute shooting a 1 and 1 or 2 shots in double bonus?

Asked by Pricesportsg@aol.com over 9 years ago

In each half, when an opponent has committed the 7th team foul, the player is awarded a 1 and 1 for non shooting common fouls. When that opponent has committed its 10th team foul the player is awarded 2 free throws for non shooting common fouls.

Regardless of the team foul count on shooting fouls, if the basket was made the shooter gets 1 free throw. If the basket was not made on a shooting foul the shooter is awarded 2 or 3 free throws depending on where the shot was attempted.

Team A is inbounding the ball in their front court. On the throw-in, the ball deflects off of player A1 and the ball continues into the back court. Is it a violation if a team member of Team A is the first to touch the ball in the back court.

Asked by ME over 8 years ago

The ball achieves front court status NOT on the throw in, but when the offensive team obtains ball control in their front court. In your example, the deflection (unless deliberate) would not constitute ball control, so no backcourt violation.

Is it legal for a referee to be referring a basketball game if he is related to a player?

Asked by Joe over 9 years ago

There is no prohibition in the NFHS rule book prohibiting relatives officiating a game. However, good sense should prevail. My state asks what schools an official is affiliated with to avoid conflicts of interests but that is for the state playoff system only. This should be avoided whenever possible.

Do you get the sense that teenage players are already focusing more on highlight-reel type stuff as opposed to fundamentals?

Asked by Former coach about 13 years ago

In most high schools (at least around Chicago) the coaches usually will not put up with such selfish play....BUT in AAU ball, where a lot of college recruiters have to go to get talent, the desire for the highlight reel is rampant and lessens the game. At the very elite level AAU players are better developed through rigorous training and coaching, but the street agent and coach-controlled hold on middle to upper players is horrible. Some AAU coaches encourage showboating because it is flashy and might increase the recruiting clout that they show, but it usually does not win games. It is a real dilemma.