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

My Question: In the triple threat position can I raise my left knee up waist high
faking a shot and then bring my left knee and foot down to the ground while keeping my right pivot foot on the floor and then start dribbling. I read somewhere that to start a dribble, neither foot may be lifted before the ball is released from the hand. After coming to a stop when neither foot can be the pivot foot One or both feet may be lifted, but may not be returned to the playing court, before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal.  (Legal or Illegal ?)

Asked by Doug about 9 years ago

You can start dribbling while moving the non pivot foot if you have a pivot foot. If you caught the ball in the air, landed on one foot then alighted to land on both, neither can be moved except to jump for a shot.

I have a question! I was watching my brother's basketball game and a kid from the other team started throwing punches at a kid on our team. The kid on our team didn't touch him! The reffs didn't call anything!! Should the other kid have gotten a tec?

Asked by Abby.S over 9 years ago

Throwing punches is an automatic flagarant technical foul which includes ejection. However, if the other player incited the fight, such as racial slurs or unsportsmanlike conduct he could be ejected as well.

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.

I love basketball and I'm good but it seems like everytime I play a game of 5 on 5 I tend to get nervous and have a lack of confidence . I'm very good but I just get nervous any suggestions on how to not get nervous ?

Asked by Josh over 9 years ago

Are you nervous playing organized basketball? The way to calm your nerves and to hone your skills is to play basketball against similar age/skills outside in a park where you just play for fun. That experience transfers to organized games.

So if I catch the ball on the three line and pump fake a shot then I side step to the left or right without dribbling and after he jumps is that a travel. take two steps after a fast break when you catch the ball to lay up it in.

Asked by Jordan about 9 years ago

The travelling rules are built around your pivot foot. If you have a pivot foot, you can step with the other foot and lift your pivot but it is travelling if your pivot foot touches the floor after lifting it, it is travelling. As far as the three point goes, your position is where your feet were when you jumped. So if a foot is touching the line when you jump it is a try for 2.

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.

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