Basic Questions People Ask Me
What are the differences in reffing boys and girls games and which do you like doing better? Well the first difference is that you need to check for a girl's 28.5" ball versus the boy's games using the 29.5" ball. But girls games are fun, different skills, like maybe better jump shooters and my opinion is they box out better. Boys COULD box out better but they don't try as much. Girls games have more jump balls and traveling, fewer block\charge calls, but they are scrappier and seem to end up on the floor more than the boys do. I like doing both, they're different styles of games and nice to be able to switch between them. Interesting how there is a men's board with women's refs, and a woman's board with men, and we do girl's games.
How do you stand listening to the players and coaches after every call? Well, on players, people think it's like the NBA where players go at it with refs verbally. Not so in high school (as much), we have one "speaking captain" that can politely speak with the refs, but no players can go off on refs, or they get a technical foul. Coaches? ok, part of what they do is to put on a show, for maybe their players, to motivate them, or the fans. So, if you ref, and especially at certain schools, you KNOW you'll hear it from those coaches. The coaches that are better at it, will know the limits of what they can say to you, without cursing, without being too much, but yes, they are enough to get under your skin. But then, they're the ones that get tuned out, and that isn't to their advantage either. And the fans? hey, they maybe pay to attend these games, and I really don't care much what they have to say, unless they get too vocal or of course any personal threats. One funny story, I was doing a game and had an out-of-bounds call, I was handing the ball to the player and felt someone shove me in my back and say it was a bad call. I stopped and turned to see what this guy's deal was. I hear his daughter say "Dad, you can't hit the ref". Now she looked about 60, so dad was around 80. I just said, "That's right, listen to your daughter, you can't hit the ref". I guess other people have more serious confrontations but I've never really had any major issues, or fights at any games. I remember a story I read about, where a game in Atlanta was going on, and a fight broke out, and the article said shots were fired. Then the interesting line said "the refs returned fired!". Oh, now THAT would be a different pre-game check. Whistle? check, Jacket? check, GUN? check..... :-)
Do you get paid to ref? Yes, it covers the cost of gas, ref clothes, water, fees, Ref magazine, etc...
Why do you referee? I played basketball as a kid over in Delco, later men's leagues in NJ, then coached a few years and saw an ad for referee training school. I signed up and love it. It's a great way to exercise, as those kids seem to get faster every year. A great way to stay part of organized basketball. We do various charity events, including reffing Special Olympics games, which I've participated in for most of my 20 years. It's also good training for the corporate world, if you can keep crazy fan-packed games (and yourself) under control, it definitely helps in those similar work experiences.
What is the toughest call to make? Well, the block\charge call is probably the hardest, just because of the quick response needed. You need to see if that defender was set, in a defensive position, and got hit in the torso, and when they got position, before\after the shooter went airborne. For me, the next toughest "call" is more about dealing with irate coaches, watching that they stay in the coaching box, and keeping a communication open with them.
Basketball... Misconceptions?
3 Second Count - The 3 second count is when an offensive player is in the lane, his team has control of the ball in the front count, and no shot\rebound is happening. So, if you see a loose ball bouncing around, or rebounding action happening, there is NO 3 count then. If the player in the paint with the ball gets to 3 seconds and then does not shoot, then yes, it'll be called a 3 second violation, but if at 3 he THEN turns and makes a drive to shoot, then it won't be called a 3, even if that drive sent him to 4+ seconds in the paint. You'll frequently see a ball being tapped or loose, and someone yelling "THREE SECONDS". I guess in summer, they are the same people that yell "BALK" every time the pitcher steps off the mound and doesn't throw to third base! :-)
5 Second Count - While on counts, let's talk the "closely guarded" 5 second count in the front court. A player can actually posses the ball and be closely guarded for up to 12 seconds. Here's how... The 5 second count starts when a defended is guarding within 6 feet, so the offensive player can hold the ball for 4 seconds, and before hitting that 5 count, start dribbling, for 4 more seconds, still closely guarded, then lift the dribble and hold the ball for 4 more seconds. As long as none of those separate counts reaches 5, then no violation has occurred. So, 4+4+4 = 12 seconds, The count starts fresh on any new dribble or held ball. Also, if the defender backs off, beyond 6 feet, then the 5 second start would start again.
10 Second Count - Some weirdness with this count also. The offensive team has 10 seconds to bring the ball across the division line into their front court. If they are dribbling across the line, then they must have the ball and BOTH FEET in the front court to be considered IN the front court. So, if you dribble the ball over the line and one foot is still touching the back court, they are still considered in the back court, and the 10 count is still going. Need both feet and the ball, all touching the front court to end the count when dribbling across.
Defender Moving so is it a Block or Charge? - There's a common misconception heard on a CHARGE call "the defender was moving". Yes, a defender in a legal guarding position is allowed to move, the block\charge call should be more about where the contact was on the defender. If they are hit squarely on their torso, then even if they are moving, the call probably should be charging.
High Dribble Illegal? - People will yell for a traveling violation when the dribbler bounces the ball high, but just based on the height itself, there is no rule that says you can't dribble higher than your head even. What should be looked at more, is how long the ball stays in contact with the hand, so if the ball is being held\palmed\carried then there is a violation, but not just because of the height of the dribble.
Recovering a Fumble - Get football out of your head, an offensive player ends a dribble and then fumbles the ball, runs to it and picks the ball up. Legal play, you can recover your accidental fumble.
Self Pass - You cannot pass the ball to yourself. You will hear this on a shot when the shooter is first to get to the shot ball, especially on an air ball shot. But, they are entitled to get to the ball just like the defender, as long as it's not deemed to be a self-pass, meaning not an actual shot, but a pass.
Basketball Rules
The National Federation basketball rule book is a lot larger than the casual fan might think. Below, I listed the 13 original basketball rules, a BIT shorter than the annually changed published rule book!
13 Original Rules of Basketball - Written by James Naismith
- The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.
- The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands, but never with the fist.
- A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man running at good speed.
- The ball must be held by the hands. The arms or body must not be used for holding it.
- No shouldering, holding, pushing, striking or tripping in any way of an opponent. The first infringement of this rule by any person shall count as a foul; the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made or, if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game. No substitution shall be allowed.
- A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violations of Rules 3 and 4 and such as described in Rule 5.
- If either side makes three consecutive fouls it shall count as a goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the meantime making a foul).
- A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do no touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.
- When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field and played by the first person touching it. In case of dispute the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds. If he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on them.
- The umpire shall be the judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.
- The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made and keep account of the goals, with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.
- The time shall be two fifteen-minute halves, with five minutes rest between.
- The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner.
