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Basketball ref DeRosa stays on top of myriad college rules changes
By Greg Gulas
AUSTINTOWN
After spending 21 years as an NBA official, Lowellville native Joe DeRosa said that he is looking forward to officiating his sixth season since returning to the college game.
Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly session at Lucianno’s Restaurant, he noted that fans will see nearly 30 rules changes that have been implemented this year alone, adding that about 10 will have a major impact on how officials will call a game.
“In the NBA players are the focal point, so there’s more communication and dialogue between them and an official over the course of a game. In college, it’s the reverse. Coaches are the focal point and we deal more with them throughout a contest,” he said. “On the professional level, players tend to stick around for a while. In college, with ‘one-and-done,’ very rarely do you see a player four straight years.”
The rules changes can result in more whistles over the course of a game.
“The job of the referees is to differentiate between what is illegal and incidental contact as defined in the rule book,” DeRosa said.
DeRosa, who has been selected to work the last two NCAA championship games, is one of just two officials to have worked an Olympics game, NBA finals contest and NCAA title game, joining Joe Forte as the answer to a basketball trivia question.
With Big 12, Southeastern Conference, American Athletic Conference, Horizon League and Conference USA assignments awaiting him this season, he’ll work nearly 70 games with his first less a month away.
DeRosa admitted that his biggest adjustment in returning to the college game was differentiating between professional and college rules.
“In the NBA, the rules are concise, defined and much easier to understand. In college, the rules have more exceptions to different situations,” he said. “That makes it more difficult to apply the rules. There are far more rules in college that the fans and viewing audience don’t understand, as opposed to the NBA.”
Another part of the college game that has been drastically changed has come about due to the addition of instant replay.
“I like instant replay when I get to see all of the angles that the people are seeing while watching the game,” DeRosa said. “When you don’t get to see those angles, it makes it very tough.”
DeRosa added that an official needs four things in order to referee at the game’s highest level.
“First, you have to know the rules and secondly, you must be accurate in their application,” he said. “Third, you have to be able to communicate and finally, be able to manage major moments. Then you have to be right.”
DeRosa is also owner of Smitty Officials Apparel, manufacturer and wholesaler for officials of all sports which is in its eighth year of operation.
“We’re still doing well as business continues to grow at a rapid pace,” he said.
Officials interested in contacting Smitty’s can do so at 330-639-4107, or by visiting www.smittyapparel.com.
Next week, Bob LaRicca of the Trumbull Basketball School and former head coach at Warren Western and Warren Harding, is the scheduled guest speaker.