You Make the Call

The Future...

2011-10-18T15:56:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, readership of this blog has continued to decrease over time as has the participation in the "voting" process where You Make the Call (which was the whole intent of this forum). As a result, future posts have been suspended for the time being to contemplate the best method of reaching out to fellow officials and the best way to encourage participation and interaction in the learning process.

New Rule Review

2011-10-06T16:16:00.000-04:00

Our previous question dealt with a foul committed by the offense, during the last minute of the game, while the ball was still in the hands of the offensive player on a throw-in. The good news is that 100% of the responses recognized that this is a rule change under NFHS (High School) rules this year. Team control now exists when a player has the ball on a throw-in. As such, regardless of the number of team fouls, no shots are awarded - the ball is given to Team B for a throw-in at the out-of-bounds spot nearest the foul.

The bad news is that 28% of the responses applied the wrong penalty under FIBA rules. The ruling and the penalty are now the exact same as in NFHS - the ball is awarded to Team B out-of-bounds for a throw-in. The confusion lies in the fact that under FIBA rules, a foul committed by the defense in the last 2 minutes while the ball is still in the hands of the offensive player on a throw-in is ruled an unsporting foul (see FIBA Interpretations Article 36). An offensive foul in the same situation is not considered unsporting and therefore does not result in Free Throws.

The rationale in FIBA is that a defensive foul in this situation is primarily committed as a way of ensuring that the clock does not start (remember, in the last 2 minutes the clock stops after every made basket in FIBA only) and is therefore unsporting. An offensive foul committed in this situation would be a result of a player making illegal contact with no regards to the clock and therefore would be a common foul only. But remember - that's FIBA only. In NFHS it's just a common foul regardless of whether it is a defensive or offensive foul (unless, of course, hard contact occurs).

Check back soon for another situation where You Make the Call.

Welcome Back!

2011-09-19T12:24:00.000-04:00

A new season is upon us so let’s get right in to a rules question. Please make your call (by casting your vote) on the left hand side and I'll be back in 2 weeks to review the votes and see how we did.

With 0:45 remaining in the 4^th quarter, A1 has the ball out of bounds for a throw-in. Prior to releasing the ball on the throw-in, A2 pushes B2 in order to get open for a pass. A2 is called for a foul. Both teams are over the foul limit. What is the result of the foul if you are refereeing a NFHS (High School) game? What is the result in a FIBA game?

Summer is coming...

2011-04-21T11:12:00.001-04:00

With the Spring rep tournaments coming to a close in the next couple weeks, I want to encourage everyone to work on their game over the summer in order to come back in the Fall refreshed, re-energized, and ready to get better. Although there isn't as much ball played from June to August, there are still ways to improve.

One great way to improve is to attend a referees camp. Check out the Hamilton Board Fox 40 Officials Camp held from July 18-20, 2011.

As the season comes to a close, sit down and take a good, honest look in the mirror and "self-evaluate yourself" - you can be your own worst critic. What aspect(s) of your game needs improvement?

Do you need to improve your rules knowledge? If so, get out the rule book(s) and the interpretation manuals and get studying. Leave them on your bedside table and study one article each night - don't just read it, but study and think about it. Breaking the rule book down into small bits will help you concentrate on each specific rule and makes the task less cumbersome - you've got all summer.

How about your floor positioning and mechanics / signals? Could they be better? If so, have you really studied the mechanics manuals? Both FIBA and NFHS publish these and they cover everything that a referee needs to know other than the rules. Floor positioning can be tough to practice when not on the court (so attend a camp to help with this) but mechanics and signals can be practiced - stand in front of a mirror and see how you look. Do you look like a robot or a drill sergeant, like a limp noodle or like a professional, confident referee?

Take some time to think about your fitness level. It's often difficult during the season to find time for anything other than basketball, so use the off-season to cross-train. Cross-training is any activity different from the one you normally do (running in our case) and it's proven that those who cross-train suffer fewer injuries as a result of strengthening more muscles than the ones used only in your primary activity (i.e. running). So get out this summer and bike, hike, swim, lift weights, play tennis, golf or do whatever else you want in order to get more fit. And if your self-evaluation suggests that you need to shed a few pounds, then make a conscious effort to watch what you eat and come back in the Fall leaner and lighter.

Above all, have a great summer and look for regular "You Make the Call" articles to return in September.

CABO - FIBA Rule Casebook

2011-04-03T18:14:00.000-04:00

No video replay this week - just a new tool to help "You Make the Call".

CABO has introduced a new FIBA Rule Casebook. This is in addition to the official FIBA Interpretations that already exist. The new Casebook has a few Canada specific rulings. Also keep in mind that in Ontario, the OBA has introduced some Ontario specific interpretations and differentials from the FIBA Rules - these can be found in the OBA Coaches Manual.

Hard Screen reviewed...

2011-04-03T17:58:00.000-04:00

80% of voters thought an illegal screen should be called. It would be interesting to see what opinion the voters would have if a) the announcer was not so blatant in her opinion and b) the TV feed did not provide a replay with 2 different angles on it. Making this call without the luxery of being able to see it more than once is tough. The screener is in fact stationary (albeit very briefly) if you look at her feet only. However, the 2nd angle especially makes it quite clear that the screener does in fact move her upper body toward the defender and "bumps her" with her shoulder / upper arm. This is very different from a screener who uses their arms to protect themselves and re-coils on contact (which is legal). This type of play is more often seen from defenders on cutters, though generally not this violently. It often occurs in the offensive lane where coaches now teach players to "bump" the cutter to knock them off their path - this is referred to as "chucking the cutter" by officials and is a foul. In this case, the offensive player has "chucked the defender" or "bumped her" off her path and a foul should be called.

Screen - Legal or Illegal

2011-03-14T16:26:00.000-04:00

Here's another video from YouTube. Try to watch this with the volume turned OFF as the TV Announcer clearly has her own thoughts regarding this play (which may or may not be correct). What are your thoughts - is this screen legal or not? Cast your vote on the left.

FIBA Throw-In Spot reviewed...

2011-03-14T16:14:00.001-04:00

Review the situation presented below in the posting from March 1, 2011.

The first item of note is that the foul being called must be ruled an unsporting foul. The foul has occurred in the last 2 minutes and takes place while the ball is still in the hands of the player throwing in (review FIBA Interpretations, Article 36, Statement 1). As such, Team A2 will shoot 2 free throws and Team A will be entitled to possession after the shots. However, Team A has also taken a time out so the question is, where shall the throw-in take place?

As of October 2010, the new FIBA rules state that when the offensive team who is entitled to a throw-in in the back court (which includes straddling the centre line extended) is granted a time-out in the last 2 minutes, the throw-in spot shall be advanced to the new throw-in line in the front court (Article 17.2.4). HOWEVER, Article 17.2.3 states that the throw-in following any unsporting foul shall be administered at the centre line extended. So which rules takes precedence? 63% of officials voted to put the ball in play at the centre line extended, which is the correct answer.

As the clock had been stopped following the made basket by Team B, the foul by Team B was committed to ensure that the clock did not re-start. This puts Team A at a disadvantage - hence the ruling of an unsporting foul. Giving Team A the throw-in in the front court would put them at a further disadvantage as they would not be able to throw the ball into the backcourt. As such, FIBA has ruled that the throw-in in a case such as this should take place at the centre line extended, allowing Team A to inbound the ball anywhere on the court.

For further clarification, please see the Updated FIBA Clarification regarding this situation.

FIBA Throw-In Spot

2011-03-01T13:30:00.000-05:00

No video this week - just a FIBA interpretation question...

In a FIBA game with 1:30 remaining in the 4th quarter, team A is scored upon. A1 takes the ball out of bounds for the throw-in following the made basket. As A1 is about to inbound the ball, B2 grabs A2 and the official rules this a foul. This is team B's 3rd foul of the 4th quarter. While reporting the foul to the scorer, the coach of Team A requests a time out. When team A eventually inbounds the ball, where shall the ball be inbounded?

Please cast your vote on the left hand side.

Hard Contact reviewed...

2011-03-01T12:12:00.000-05:00

There is no slow motion replay of this video as the clip came from YouTube (see the post below to review the video clip again). Two-thirds of voters thought that an intentional / unsporting foul was appropriate while one-third thought that a flagrant / disqualifying foul should be called. The good news is that no one voted to call a regular personal foul.

While there is no "right" or "wrong" answer to this play (since it isn't a rule book call, but rather a judgment call) there are some questions that you should ask yourself as an official when making a ruling:
- was there an attempt to play the ball?
- was the contact unnecessary or excessive?
- was there an attempt to injure the player?

Answering yes to either of the first 2 questions should automatically be an intentional / unsporting foul. Answering yes to the last question (attempt to injure) would result in a flagrant foul. In reviewing this play, there is certainly no attempt to play the ball and the contact is definitely excessive. In fact, the defender not only contacts the shooter from behind, she fully extends her arms out and upwards to push the offensive player towards the wall. IMO, the "follow through" push after the excessive contact from behind makes this a flagrant act which should be penalized with an ejection.

Disagree? Ask yourself this - how much more contact are you going to allow on the next play before deciding to eject a player? If you don't call a flagrant foul on this play, you better be ready for the retaliation foul or fight that breaks out at the other end of the court...

As a game management point, when making the initial call in a volatile situation such as this, err on the side of caution. It is better to initially call an intentional foul at the scene and then get together with your partner to discuss it. An intentional foul can easily be "upgraded" to a flagrant / disqualification after getting together with your partner and deciding together that an ejection is warranted. However, if you immediately and clearly indicate that the player is ejected at the scene of the crime, that can't be taken back if you then decide that you "over-reacted" to the play.

Hard Contact

2011-02-14T10:37:00.001-05:00

A slight change from our normal video reviews - this YouTube video was sent to me by someone else and I thought it would make for a good poll. As always, cast your vote on the left.

There is no question that this is a foul. Based on the title of the YouTube video, we know what the author of the video thinks. The question is, what kind of foul would you assess?

Basket Interference reviewed...

2011-02-14T10:24:00.000-05:00

Basket Interference is one of the many rule differences that exist between FIBA and NFHS. A summary of the major rule differences can be found here - Ontario Basketball Rule Differences.

90% of respondents answered correctly that this play is Basket Interference in NFHS (High School) but NOT in FIBA where the "imaginary cylinder" does not exist after a shot contacts the rim.

Basket Interference??

2011-01-25T14:40:00.000-05:00

As the FIBA season gets underway and our High School season wraps up, we must be aware of rule differences. What's your call on this play? Cast your vote on the left.

Defending the Dribbler - Reviewed...

2011-01-25T14:32:00.000-05:00

Let's review this play in slow motion (2 clips below). There are lots of decisions to be made on this play - multiple opportunities where we could call an offensive foul, a defensive foul or even a violation.

The results of the poll were:
- 38% - offensive push-off before the pass to the point guard
- 7% - defensive foul on the pass to the point guard
- 46% - defensive foul committed on the first dribble

In the video, the referee does not call a foul until the point guard drives to the right at the end of the play sequence - and even then he calls an offensive foul. Based on the results of the poll, most are in agreement that there must be a call made well before this, and that is the entire point of this video clip - there is simply far too much contact occurring on this play for there not to be a call.

We must not allow players to create illegal contact as it leads to rough play. Why do you think the offensive player uses his forearm to push the defender away at the end of this sequence? He does so to try create some space because the referee has allowed the defender to illegally bump and body-up to the dribbler without making a call. Similarly, this is likely why there is so much bumping & pushing on the initial pass to the point guard - the referee has likely allowed excessive contact throughout the game. Keep it simple - call the illegal contact when it first occurs to avoid rough play later.

Part 1

Part 2

Defending the Dribbler

2011-01-04T14:47:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year!

Let's return to the video replays and see if we've gotten rusty over the holidays. Lots of possible calls that could be made on this play. At what point (if any) would you blow your whistle and make a call here...? Cast your vote on above.

What the game is all about,,,

2010-11-30T13:47:00.000-05:00

We've just completed writing the annual IAABO Exam and we're getting ready to write the FIBA Exam at our next meeting, so enough rules review and answering questions for a while. The video below is just a good news story that reminds us that every game is important to someone. Make sure your speakers are turned on...

Defensive Foul? Reviewed...

2010-11-30T13:33:00.000-05:00

The lead official calls a defensive foul on this play. The question is whether or not this is a correct call. 71% of voters said yes, the call was correct. I disagree - review the play again in slow motion (below) and see what you think.

We often hear officials talk about "refereeing the defense". This is true, but we must also referee the offense. Watch the post players feet. He catches the ball in the air and lands almost simultaneously on both feet (we'll grant that either foot could be the pivot - it's really close to being simultaneous). He then clearly pivots on his right foot - one step forward with his left foot, and one step back. However, he then hops backward with both feet - this is a clear travel. This occurs prior to the contact on his back from the defender behind him. The correct call is a travel before the foul. We must see the whole play and referee both the defense and the offense.

Defensive Foul?

2010-11-12T14:28:00.001-05:00

Review the play below. The lead official rules a defensive foul on the play - do you agree?

Have your say by casting your vote on the left-hand side or leaving a comment below the video.

As always, you can make the video full-screen by clicking the button on the bottom-right of the video.

Travel? Reviewed...

2010-11-12T14:27:00.000-05:00

As an official, you must see the entire play and make a decision. The offensive player moves his pivot (left) foot after picking up his dribble. By rule, this is a travel. However, the decision that needs to be made (or question that needs to be answered) is - why did he move his pivot foot?

Has he moved his pivot foot because he has dribbled into a poor position where he is stuck behind the backboard? Has this caused him to panic and try to force a pass by taking an extra step away from the defender? If you decide that this is what happened, then a travel must be called.

On the other hand, has the offensive player moved his pivot foot because he is knocked off balance by contact from the defender? Illegal contact that affects a players speed, rhythm or balance must be penalized as it creates a disadvantage. Review the play again in slow motion below. After the offensive player picks up his dribble, watch the defenders left arm extend into the back of the offensive player. Is this contact (push?) enough to knock the offensive player off balance? That is the decision that you as an official must make.

If you rule that the extension of the defenders arm causes the player to lose balance, a foul must be called as the contact has created a disadvantage.

If you rule that the extension of the defenders arm is marginal contact that did not affect the offensive player in any way, then a travel is the correct call.

Based on the survey results, the majority of respondents answered that the lead official, who called a travel, made the correct call.

Travel?

2010-10-29T13:43:00.000-04:00

Review the play below. The lead official rules a travel - do you agree?

As always, you can make the video full-screen by clicking the button on the bottom-right of the video.

Block / Charge #2 - Review

2010-10-29T13:39:00.000-04:00

Final poll results on this play - 76% said Block, 14% said Charge and 9% said No Call.

Two players from opposing teams end up on the ground as a result of contact. If the contact was marginal (i.e. not enough to warrant a call) we wouldn't have two players on the ground. We must have a call here.

The torso of the defensive player continues in a forward motion (toward the shooter) up until the point of contact. In fact, when the play is reviewed in slow motion (below), the defenders feet even "hop" at the last moment in a forward motion as he tries to "lean in" with his body to take the charge. By rule (4-23-3c) this is a block.

Another Block / Charge

2010-10-15T11:45:00.000-04:00

Let's take a look at another Block / Charge situation. What's your ruling on this play? Cast your vote on the left-hand side.

Block / Charge Review

2010-10-15T11:41:00.000-04:00

Results of the poll we're 68% - Block, 32% - Charge.

Review the play again in slow motion and ask yourself this - what has the defender done wrong? (As always, you can click the button in the bottom right-hand corner of the video to make it full-screen).

The defensive player establishes a legal guarding position with 2 feet on the floor facing the offensive player (Rule 4-23-2). Time and distance are not a factor as the opponent has the ball (4-23-4). Most importantly, the offensive player does not get her head and shoulders past the torso of the defender (4-7-2b) and the contact occurs on the defensive players torso (4-7-2) - by rule this is a charge.

Do not rule on the result of the play - yes the defensive player is "spun around" and so the result appears that it may be a "trip" (which by rule would be a block for extending a knee - rule 10-6-1). However, there is no rule that says the contact on a charge must be directly in the middle of the defenders torso - the torso is armpit to armpit - nor is there a rule that says the defender must be driven straight back. The initial contact - pictured below - which is the offensive player charging into the torso, must be penalized, not the result.

Block / Charge

2010-09-28T14:20:00.000-04:00

Simple - is this a block or a charge? Do you need to watch it more than once to decide - we don't have that luxury on the court...

Post Play Review

2010-09-28T14:14:00.000-04:00

Post Play…

The key to making the correct ruling on this play is understanding the definition of Continuous Motion (NFHS Rule 4-11). Watch the play again in slow motion (below) and let’s review the choices.

No Call (0%). Contact of this magnitude can not be ignored as it leads to rough play. We must have a whistle on this play.
Foul – 2 FT’s (3%). This ruling is illogical. The ball enters the basket. If the foul occurred before the shot, the result must be an end-line throw-in. If the foul occurred during the FG attempt, the basket must count and 1 FT is awarded.
Travel (21%). Review the play in slow motion. The post player catches the ball while airborne. His right foot lands first – this becomes his pivot foot. His move before the dribble is to pivot his right foot (the right toe maintains position on the floor) and slide his left (non-pivot) foot. Legal. After the dribble he goes straight up to shoot.
Offensive Foul (9%). The defender has not maintained his own vertical plane as he jumps from behind and toward the offensive player – responsibility for the contact lies with the defender.
Defensive Foul – And 1 (39%) or Throw-In (27%). As an official, we must make a decision – has the player begun his “habitual throwing movement” which starts a FG attempt (the definition of Continuous Motion) when the foul occurs or not?

Slow Motion replay:

Post Play

2010-09-09T14:54:00.000-04:00

(Click the button in the bottom-right corner of the video to make the video full-screen...)