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

There was a question from years ago regarding how many players are required to play? You said down to 2 but that is incorrect.. down to 1 if in official's mind that team still has a chance to win! Throw in would have to deflect off another player.

Asked by TechGuy over 9 years ago

Right from the NFHS rule book, "When there is only one player participating, the team shall forfeit the game, unless the referee believes that the team has an opportunity to win the game."

So it is possible to play down to one player, but entirely impractical. The other team, after scoring would simply move to the half court line and wait for 5 second throw in violations, or they would surround the ball and make the lone player foul. If I were refine the game I would call forfeit unless there was a sizable lead and little time left for the other team to catch up.

If a ball is loose on the baseline and two players both have possession but one player's hand is out of bounds, isn't it still a held ball because both players have contact?

Asked by Tarheel 1 over 9 years ago

When a player is out of bounds (touching the baseline) and touches the ball it is a violation and it goes to the other team. If the simultaneous possession occurs before the player touches the line it is a held ball. If they happen at exactly the same time i would call the violation because it takes more than an instant to have a held ball.

player A gets fouled. player B steps to line and hits front end of 1&1. ref notices the wrong player shot the free throw. does free throw from player B count? what should happen?

Asked by midd44 over 9 years ago

The made free throw is canceled. Put the correct player on the line for a one and one

If a player 1 in bound the ball to the back court to player 2. While in the back court player 2 passes the ball to player 3 who catches the ball in the air while jumping from front court & landing in the back court. Is that a back court violation?

Asked by Tom Nguyen over 9 years ago

Yes, backcourt violation because when player 2 catches the ball in the backcourt it establishes backcourt status. When player 3 alights from the frontcourt he has frontcourt status, but when he lands he is in the backcourt, hence the violation.There is an exception in the rule book on a throw in which allows a player in the frontcourt to jump, catch the ball in the air and land in the backcourt. But that only applies 1. On a direct throw in, or 2. On an interception play by a defensive player.

When does the 5 seconds for inbounding commence after a made basket under HS rules? We had a steal and a breakaway layup while the opposition was giving each other stinkeyes in front court. Thx.

Asked by Rodk over 9 years ago

The rulebook says that the count starts when the ball is at the throw in team's disposal.

I just wanted to confirm your answer. LEGAL
1. I am dribbling right handed from half court down to about the right elbow with the defender in front. I drive to the right of defender and while keeping my dribble I slightly raise my right knee with a slight hop off my left foot and then crossover right hand to left hand in front of me and drive to the leftside for a layup.

My Question: Is it ok to raise my right knee up and do a slight hop with my left foot while keeping my dribble ?
• (LEGAL ) You cannot travel in the middle of legally dribbling. So yes you can!

Asked by Doug about 9 years ago

You can hop, skip or jump in the middle of a dribble as long as you dont palm the ball or double dribble.

A team is in the double bonus, we commit a foul and a technical foul is also called. Does the team get to shoot the bonus, technical foul and receive the ball?

Asked by Cedrick over 8 years ago

Yes, the rule of thumb is that fouls are administered in the order they occurred. In your example, the offended player shoots 2 shots, then the technical foul is shot, then the ball is given to offended team at half court.

The only way technical fouls are not shot is if both teams commit an equal number of technicals and then they are not awarded, they offset each other.