The Worst Error You've ever made reffing a game?

[Toren]

But I remember distinctly two calls:

First: player goes in for a layup, lays the ball of the glass, defender tries to block it and hits the backboard. The backboard rattles as a result and here comes my whistle...tweet, goaltending. At the time I blew, I knew it wasn't a violation, but I didn't have much experience with above the rim plays, so I blew. Nobody said a word. Luckily enough it was a blow out game.

Secondly: Player A shoots the ball, Team B goes up to secure the rebound, before they grab the ball, Player B gets fouled. Team B is in the bonus. I call the foul, don't award the shot. What makes this worse, is I explained to the coach, "there is no team control on a shot, so that's why you don't get to shoot free throws"...wow, precisely inaccurate is how I would describe that

[scrounge]

Called what was in hindsight a completely phantom traveling call on a somewhat-clumsy girl (Girls JV) that fumbled a throw-in. Generally no biggie...except her team was up by 1 point. With 3 seconds left. After a time out, the opposing team throws it from the division line spot to a girl who got free under the basket and laid it in for the winning basket right before the buzzer. An irate mom came out the stands and swung her purse at me, but I saw her coming and ducked away. Oy.

So not really the worst error (there've been PLENTY of WTF ones) but certainly the worst related to the immediate aftermath and consequences.

[Freddy]

My very worst was . . .
Boys' frosh game, two-man with a Slinky partner. Five seconds for home inbounding team, down by two, to go length of court to launch a shot to tie or win. Clock not easily visible to me in extremely noisy gym, with fans, players, and coaches all screaming, as ball is dribbled past a picket fence of defenders, each a potential fouler I had to keep an eye on. Dribbler coming inches from touching sideline in front of benches, which I had to keep an eye on. He launches an off-balance three-point attempt with defender's hand up and nearly blocking the ball, which I had to keep my eye on. While my eyes were engaged on everything necessary, my ears were not--I could not hear the horn. Shot went in. Was it in time? I could not tell. Slinky partner, with nothing whatsoever to do this whole time was no help since he had checked out and assumed I had all aspects of this play as my exclusive responsibility. I went with my gut and banged it "Good!" and ran to the locker room.
Scorer, a trustworthy veteran, came in and asked what I thought. I told him. He said, "Wish you woulda asked me. The buzzer went off before the shot was released." He was from the home team, but woulda informed me that the visitors had won if I had checked with him at the table.
Lesson for me: better diligence on last-second shot responsibilities. And, since the book does consider any information the scorer might have as valid input to consider, consult with them before making a final decision if necessary.
There, I feel better.
Still trying to "burn the tape" on that one.

[SWMOzebra]

BV game in late February a couple of years ago, working two-person with an experienced partner. SRO in the gym, officials' locker room is behind home bench. Home team played a terrible first half and was down 14 when Q3 started. The second half was fast and furious, few fouls called as the boys were playing fairly clean. My P and I were mostly trying to stay out of the way.

16 seconds left in the game, home team scores to tie the ball game. I am old L becoming new T opposite the table, there is no backcourt pressure. I'm trailing the player about 4 steps and probably about 3 steps to his right, he is dribbling with his left hand. I can see the defense set up in a 3-2, I can see the V bench if the coach decides to call a TO, I felt like I was in the perfect position.

Just as he crosses the half court line, I see the back of his right arm move oddly (remember, I'm trailing). Of course, my first thought is "he just double-dribbled" but since I didn't actually see it, I don't blow my whistle. However, I'm about the only one in this small gym who DOESN'T see the double-dribble. Home coach is screaming, fans are screaming ... visitor coach is shouting at his player to hold the ball at about the 8 second mark. Home team stops playing defense out of frustration with my no-call and thinking game will go to OT. Ball handler makes a quick bounce pass into the post and the receiver spins, putting the ball in the hole. Then the horn sounds.

[BigT]

Game started and the poor kid got the tip and scored in the wrong basket. I then gave the other team the ball, as everyone was confused, and allowed them to try to score. Couldnt believe I didnt process that one correctly.

Another summer high school league and two rivals were playing. A kid got knocked down on a rebound and didnt appreciate it so he grabs the rebounders leg has he starts a break. Easy I have a call and the kid grabbed starts to kick at the kid who fouled him. People start to come off the bench and two guys getting water run onto the court. I didnt eject them. Clearly that would have been my first solid ejection.

Last another game a shorter power forward is getting out rebuonded all game by Dennis Rodman. This time he sees Dennis flying in the air to snag yet another rebound and as he looks up at his trajectory he moves 3 feet so he has no where to land. He of course comes down on this guys back slides to the floor with a massive smack! That is clearly an intentional foul and all I had was a regular foul.

So many lessons learned. Thanks for sharing today.

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by Toren

But I remember distinctly two calls:

First: player goes in for a layup, lays the ball of the glass, defender tries to block it and hits the backboard. The backboard rattles as a result and here comes my whistle...tweet, goaltending. At the time I blew, I knew it wasn't a violation, but I didn't have much experience with above the rim plays, so I blew. Nobody said a word. Luckily enough it was a blow out game.

Secondly: Player A shoots the ball, Team B goes up to secure the rebound, before they grab the ball, Player B gets fouled. Team B is in the bonus. I call the foul, don't award the shot. What makes this worse, is I explained to the coach, "there is no team control on a shot, so that's why you don't get to shoot free throws"...wow, precisely inaccurate is how I would describe that

Frightening in that mine are both in these two scenarios with a bit of a twist:

First: same situation only I called a technical for slapping the backboard (proving that a little knowledge along with a lack of game experience are truly not a good combination).

Second (before team control on inbounds): Coming out of a timeout I remind my partners that team A is in the bonus. On an inbound soon after I hand the ball to B1, watch B2 foul A, call the foul and proceed to give the ball to A for a throw in. Correctable error time and my crew chief bailed us out, but not a fun conversation with B's coach.

First 8th grade game: Team A scores a basket and forms up to press. B1 passes the ball along the endline to B2. This looks really weird. I call a violation and give the ball to Team A. At halftime I check my rulebook and right next to the rule is a red question mark I wrote down a few months earlier indicating I didn't understand what that rule meant. When I came out after halftime, Coach B was waiting for me. Holding a rulebook in his hand.

First varsity game: also my first three-man game, I had a block/charge play which I got right. I was so focused on making the right call that I forgot the number of the player who committed the foul. Reported the wrong number, won't do that again.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by AremRed

I had a block/charge play which I got right. I was so focused on making the right call that I forgot the number of the player who committed the foul.

Most player control (charge) calls here in my little corner of two person Connecticut are taken by the lead. I'm pretty close, but not exact, to the book in my player control signal. I usually take a step, or two, onto the court as I sound my whistle (look at me, I'm about to make a big block/charge call), signal the foul with a fist in the air, put the other hand behind my head for the player control foul, and then point in the other direction for the next possession, while at the same time stating, "Player control. Blue ball". Sometimes I have to use the no basket signal. At this point, for some unknown reason, I have crept up a few more steps off the endline, and with the torso to torso contact, I have yet to see the number the offending player. At this time the two players involved have both fallen to the floor, are usually in a pile on the floor, and they're usually slightly behind me (those little creeping steps add up). Now I have to take a few steps toward the two players to get things sorted out (like a football official separating players after a fumble), and then grab the number before I approach the reporting area. It's never easy, it happens about a dozen times every season, for the past thirty-two years. I've tried to break this bad creeping habit, but old habits, especially bad habits, die hard.

[BillyMac]

I won't go into the details because I've described the play several times on the Forum already. After a successful free throw by Team B, as Team A is bringing the ball up the court against pressure from Team B, I get to a count of ten and call a ten second backcourt violation against Team A. Team A coach goes bananas as he's pointing to the game clock, something about only seven seconds running off the clock since the successful free throw. I have to T him up. On the ride home, discussing the play with my partner, we decide that I probably turned a five second inbound count (maybe three seconds) into a ten second backcourt count (seven more seconds), without resetting in between the two counts. That's why we're supposed to change hands with each separate count.

[grunewar]

Many yrs ago, in one of my first MS games (before even reading the rules and taking the test), I called a 5 second closely guarded violation IN THE BACK COURT! Oh, the horror!

My partner was like,

[Texas Aggie]

Honestly, based on the calls I and partners have made (or not made) and missed, NOTHING comes close to problems caused by others -- usually scorers and timers. I don't mean to pick on these guys because 98% of the time, they do a good job and get it right, but when they mess up, particularly the timer, things go to hell faster than you can say, "I love my mother-in-law."

I was watching a game a few years ago when the timer started the clock when the team doing the throw in passed along the baseline out of bounds. Nobody really noticed the clock starting since everyone was watching the play but when the buzzer went off in 3 seconds rather than 5 or 6, it was obvious something got screwed up. Then, they reset the clock and do it again, only the clock guy set it for 6 MINUTES rather than seconds, and the buzzer never goes off! They reset for a third time (I don't know why, other than the screaming by one of the coaches got to them) and the game ends like it should.

The officials did NOTHING wrong (except allow the third replay -- should have ended the game or at worst, put a second back on the clock and go throw in) and yet I'm sure were blamed.