St. Louis Officials Association Blog page

Basketball Roundtable - 5/14/2020

Marc Langhauser — Tue, 26 May 2020 14:02:57 GMT

Extra Period Time-Outs

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 13:36:47 GMT

Play A: Airborne shooter A1 is fouled by B1 with the try inflight. The horn then sounds ending the fourth quarter playing time. The ball continues its flight and goes through the basket to tie the score. Before A1 attempts the free

throw as part of the fourth quarter, Team B captain requests and is granted a 60-second time-out. Team A or B captain then requests a 30-second time-out during the same dead-ball period. RULING?

Play B - Following the expiration of time for the first extra period, the coach of Team B is charged with a technical foul. Team B requests a time-out before the free throws are administered to start the second extra period. The time-out request is granted. Thereafter, the official administers the first free throw to A1. Following the attempt: (a) Team B; or (b) Team A, then requests a time-out. RULING?

In Play A - The second request is denied. At the end of playing time for the fourth quarter or any overtime period, successive time-outs shall not be granted. This means a time-out cannot be granted either team until the clock has run in the extra period - assuming the free throw is missed. Successive time-outs may be granted in all situations except after time has expired in the fourth quarter or any extra period.

In Play B - The request cannot be granted in either (a) or (b), as it would be considered a successive time-out. The fact that the ball did become live between the two requests has no bearing on the ruling. Another time-out request by either team cannot be honored until after the clock has started in the second extra period.

Expect the Unexpected

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 13:40:25 GMT

_{_{_{Expect the Unexpected, referee mag}}}

Most of us are well aware that bad judgment or lack of focus in the last minute of a game can destroy the other 98 percent of a fine effort. We check to make sure there are no scorebook or possession-arrow problems as we approach that critical time in a close game. But what about others? Here are some thoughts for dealing with an array of other potential pitfalls.

The foul festivals

Most have been in close games in which the losing team fouls repeatedly in the last minute. Officials know that will be the strategy, but need to deal fairly and firmly with three issues: consistency, avoiding violence and intentional fouls.

Consistency is a significant issue. If you did not rule a finger touch on the forearm a foul in the first quarter, don’t call it a foul in the last minute.

Why not? You know that the trailing team wants to foul. Perhaps it only has five team fouls and needs to get two more to put the opponent on the line. A couple of quick fouls with no argument will move the game along, right?

Think about the words above. If you call the touch a foul in that situation, you are becoming part of the fouling team’s strategy. You are forcing the leading team to shoot a free throw or make a throw-in prematurely when seconds are valuable. Throw-ins are dangerous. They can be picked off, bobbled, tied up or even result in a violation. You are charged with being fair for the whole game. Remind the players that they need to make a basketball play, and be consistent in what you rule to be a foul.

That being the case, we need to forestall violence. If you don’t call the touch foul, some player, blindly following his or her coach’s wishes, might tackle the player with the ball. A combination of communication and instant punishment is all you can do. As a preventive measure, talk to the captain during a foul shot or as the team comes out of a timeout to remind them to play the ball. If the tackle still comes, call the intentional foul.

It is unfair to rule an obvious intentional action, regardless of severity, as a common foul. Dribblers are pushed in the back when the defender has no chance to reach the ball; players far away from the ball are hugged in front of an official. It is not being chicken or naïve to enforce the rule. Some veterans will say, “They were going to shoot two anyway,” but that does not cut it. Retaining possession is important. Get on the same page with your partner(s) and call the first intentional foul. That will clean up the game and make clear that the rule will be enforced.

Last-minute delays

If a player interferes with the ball after a basket to delay an opponent’s throw-in, issue a warning for the first offense. However, in the closing seconds of a close game, that can be used as an unsporting effort to get you to stop the clock for the team’s advantage. An immediate technical foul is warranted if the thrower’s efforts to make a throw-in are affected. If not affected, it should be ignored when the only purpose is to stop the clock (NFHS 9.2.10A Comment).

The blowout

Whether or not any state-adopted “mercy” rule is in effect, officials cannot lose focus in a blowout. Even if you ignore a minor miscue by the losing team, taunting by the winner and frustration reactions by the losers need to be prevented.

If you see tensions mounting, get the captains of both teams together to ask for cooperation in defusing the situation. If that fails, keep working harder than the teams and be alert for trouble until the final horn.

The walk-off

It has become fashionable for players to start off the court in the last few seconds when the outcome is clear. The game is not over. A player might throw you the ball. You may instinctively block it to keep it inbounds or, worse, a player might keep playing and steal the ball, tempting a “sophisticated” opponent to tackle him or her.

Be alert for that kind of trouble. You might find a moment to ask both teams to keep playing as the situation approaches, or remind the captains and coaches at the pregame meeting or halftime intermission that you expect both teams to compete for the full 32 or 40 minutes. If you see the tackle coming, perhaps showing your stripes to the potential fouler might prevent it.

Other clowning/taunting

Fox News showed a clip of a college player dunking to give his team a three-point lead with 0.5 seconds to play, then chinning himself twice on the ring. One of the reporters was a former presidential press secretary. Even she wondered why there was no technical foul. The conference penalized the officials.

There are less bizarre examples of that kind of nonsense. Verbal taunting can be followed by confrontations or bench players can run onto the court before the horn. Call the necessary technical fouls and leave with your head held high.

Keep your focus sharp to avoid surprises and have the courage to enforce all the rules.

Backcourt Violation?

Thu, 11 Jan 2018 13:54:50 GMT

Saw this miscalled in a game and want to share

SITUATION: A1 has the ball for an end-line throw-in in his/her frontcourt. A1’s pass to A2, who is in the frontcourt standing near the division line, is high and deflects off A2’s hand and goes into Team A’s backcourt. A2 is then the first to control the ball in Team A’s backcourt.

RULING: Legal. There is no backcourt violation since player control and team control had not yet been established in Team A’s frontcourt before the ball went into Team A’s backcourt. The throw-in ends when A2 legally touches the ball, but the backcourt count does not start until A2 gains control in his/her backcourt. (4-12-2, 9-9)

An Interesting Scenario, Mike Imergoot

Sun, 31 Dec 2017 13:19:01 GMT

Found this scenario on “Ref 60”. It’s a good one.

The official nearest the score table beckons THREE substitutes for Team A onto the court during a dead ball.
In the wave of Team A’s personnel change, FOUR players leave the court for Team A and play mistakenly resumes with Team A competing one player short.
The coach for Team A is the first to notice the mistake and grabs a player from the bench and directs the player to “get back on the court” immediately.
That player does not report into the scorer’s table — but just jumps back into the “live ball” play.

The closest official (or an official with confidence in his/her knowledge of the rule!) should blow their whistle immediately, and after a brief conference, charge Team A with a technical foul for this deceitful entrance by A-5 into the game.

However, with a scenario that has a tardy A-5 frantically running off the bench to join his/her teammates in Team A’s front court is a more benign situation that does not create an unfair advantage and therefore no technical foul should be charged.

Since there is no infraction, no whistle is necessary assuming all of the officials are confident in the rule.

But in most cases, the impulse to blow the whistle and quiet the chaos coming from Team B’s bench and cheering section will win the moment.

So officials should confer quickly and then the Referee provide a brief explanation to the head coach of Team B. Play will resume with a Team A throw in from the point of interruption.

Rule Reference :

NFHS Case Book 10-4-2B and 10-2-5

ROD - Spot Throw-in, dave f

Thu, 28 Dec 2017 11:41:55 GMT

DESIGNATED SPOT THROW-IN

PLAY A: A1 is out of bounds for a designated-spot throw-in. The administering official has designated the spot and put the ball at A1’s disposal. In order to avoid some of the defensive pressure near the throw-in spot, A1 takes several steps (a) directly backward, but keeps one foot on or over the designated area prior to releasing the ball on a throw-in pass; or (b) to the left or right.

RULING: In (a), legal throw-in. It is permissible for the thrower to move backward or forward within the 3-foot-wide designated area without violating. In (b), A1 may move laterally if at least one foot is kept on or over the designated area until the ball is released, if not, a violation has occurred. The thrower may also jump vertically and pass from the designated throw-in spot. COMMENT: Pivot-foot restrictions and the traveling rule are not in effect for a throw-in. The thrower must keep one foot on or over the spot until the ball is released.

PLAY B: A1, out of bounds for a designated spot throw-in: (a) muffs the pass from the official and it rolls forward; or (b) after receiving the ball from the official, fumbles the ball and leaves the designated spot to retrieve the fumble.

RULING: In (a), the official should sound the whistle to prevent any violations and then start the throw-in procedure again. No throw-in violation should be called in this situation. In (b), a throw-in violation shall be called on A1 for leaving the designated spot.

Good Communication Between Basketball Officials and Coaches Is Key

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 13:02:18 GMT

Good Communication Between Basketball Officials and Coaches Is Key

As our season moves to the midway point, I thought I would forward the following info on coach/official communications. With that, enjoy working the upcoming Holiday Tourneys . . .

Frank Sinatra's hit song, "I've Got You Under My Skin," describes perfectly the conflicted feelings officials and coaches have towards each other. Their mutual passion for the game is rivaled only by their intense wariness towards each other.

While they may not see eye to eye very often, and have different goals - the coach in winning the game, and officials in managing it - they should be able to agree on at least one thing: that those goals can best achieved by creating and maintaining the flow of the game

As a Guideline, here are four bullet points of official-coach communication and expectations that both should follow to achieve game flow:

Keep a respectful tone. As simple as this sounds, some coaches and officials find this challenging. Speaking to each other in a professional and respectful tone, instead of yelling, sarcasm, or condescension, can go a long way in keeping heads cool and reducing the chances of flare ups by coaches, which often result in technical fouls. Officials need to take the initiative and set the tenor of communication before the game when they greet the coaches before tip.

Officials explain calls, not rules. Even the most experienced officials and coaches will often disagree on calls. The rules are, well, the rules. Officials should not be asked to explain a rule, nor should the coach expect them to. Explaining a rule takes attention away from the players on the court, which is the priority for both parties. Coaches should, however, expect officials to acknowledge their question or comment about a particular call and address it at the appropriate time, usually during a dead ball.

Officials' calls are final (at least most of the time). When an official calls a foul and report it to the scorers' table, thet call is final and cannot be overturned. No official has the authority to overrule another official. If a crew has a double whistle, where two or more officials see a foul or violation or both, they will come together to discuss and agree on the call before anything is reported to the table. One of the few situations where call intervention might be appropriate is on an out-of-bounds. A crew member may have a different, and perhaps better, angle to see which team last touched the ball before it went out of bounds that the calling official who "owns" (i.e. is responsible for) that boundary line. In some cases, the calling official may ask his partners for the point of view. Crews should discuss how to handle these situations during their pre-game meeting before they even come on to the court in order to ensure that when they arise, their response is fluid and keeps the game flowing.

The timer and scorekeepers are officials, too. Very often, the home team assigns a student or parent to operate the scoreboard clock and keep the master scorebook. Even though they are from the home team, during the game they become part of the officiating crew. Coaches should remind the table volunteers that inappropriate cheering or jeering of a team may result in their removal from the table. The person operating the clock, in particular, is even more important to the officials than the scorer, because starting and stopping the clock actuallly affects the flow of the game and may affect its outcome. As a result, many schools request that the official's association provide a timer who is also an official.

Rule of the Day - 10 seconds

Sat, 16 Dec 2017 11:30:00 GMT

PLAY A: A1 is in A’s backcourt and has dribbled for nine seconds and then passes the ball forward towards A2 in the frontcourt. While the ball is in the air traveling from backcourt to frontcourt, the 10-second count is reached.

RULING: Violation by Team A as the ball has not gained frontcourt location. It is B’s ball for a throw-in from the out-of-bounds spot closest to where A1 released the ball on the pass toward A2. (4-3; 7-5-2)

PLAY B: Team A has control of the ball for eight seconds in A’s backcourt when A1 passes the ball toward Team A’s frontcourt. The official’s count continues. The ball strikes the floor in A’s frontcourt and stays there without being touched by any player. Should the count continue after the ball touches in frontcourt?

RULING: No. The backcourt count should be terminated as soon as the ball has frontcourt location by touching the floor in Team A’s frontcourt. (4-4-1; 4-4-2)

PLAY C: After A1 has dribbled for nine seconds in A’s backcourt: (a) A1 requests a time-out; or (b) B1 deflects the ball out of bounds.

RULING: In both (a) and (b), Team A will have 10 seconds to advance the ball to frontcourt following the throw-in if a player of Team A gains control in A’s backcourt.

PLAY D: Team A is in control in its backcourt for seven seconds. A1 throws the ball toward A2 in the frontcourt. B1 jumps from Team A’s: (a) frontcourt; or (b) backcourt and while in the air bats the ball back to A1 in A’s backcourt. Does this give Team A 10 more seconds to get the ball to the frontcourt?

RULING: Yes, in (a), a new count starts because B1 had frontcourt location when touching the ball thus giving the ball frontcourt location. In (b), the original count continues as Team A is still in control and the ball has not gone to frontcourt. (4-4-2; 4-3; 4-35-1)

Rule of the Day - 3 seconds

Wed, 13 Dec 2017 12:30:00 GMT

PLAY A: A1 rebounds the ball off Team B’s backboard. A2 is in Team A’s three-second restricted area when the rebound occurs and A2 remains there while A1 is dribbling in Team A’s backcourt. Three seconds expire without the ball being in the frontcourt of Team A.

RULING: This is not a violation. The three-second lane restriction is not in effect until Team A is in control of the ball in Team A’s front-court.

PLAY B: A1 is standing with one foot inside and the other outside the three-second restricted area. A1 lifts the foot “from the restricted area and returns it there without touching it first to the nonrestricted area".

RULING: Violation. This action does not terminate the three-second count. The count goes on since merely lifting the foot from the restricted space is interpreted as an attempt to evade the rule and avoid its purpose. However, there is no three-second count during rebounding action or during a throw-in. The count on a player in the restricted area is suspended when that player begins a try for goal.

3-For-1 Rule of the Day

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 14:19:00 GMT

_{_{Rule of the Day - 3-for-1 - dave f

It is a long season - keep up the focus, most games now are conference games, and take time-out to take care of your body. Here are a couple of Misc RODs}}

Defensive Deflection

Play: B1 deflects the bal' away from A1, who is dribbling in the front-court. The ball is rolling toward the backcourt and is picked up by A2, who is straddling the division line. A backcourt violation is ruled.

Ruling: In NFHS, a backcourt violation is correct. Even though the defender deflected the ball, backcourt status was never achieved. A2 is the first to touch the ball in the backcourt with team A having last been in team control in the front-court. The ball gains backcourt status when it touches a player in the backcourt after having last been touched by a team B player (NFHS 9-9-1).

Airborne Deflection

Play: B1 deflects the ball away from dribbling A1 in team A’s front-court toward the backcourt. In the backcourt A2 catches the ball prior to it touching the floor.

Ruling: In NFHS, this is a backcourt violation. Frontcourt status remains until the ball touches the backcourt or out of bounds. It would be legal, had A2 allowed the ball to contact the backcourt and then caught the ball. In NCAA, the play is legal since the ball was last touched by team B in the frontcourt (NFHS 4-4-1, 4-4-3, 4-12-3, 9-9-1).

From One or Both Knees

Play: After catching a pass from A2, A1 is on both knees and A1 lifts the left knee then places the left foot on the floor while the right knee remains on the floor. A1 does not make any attempt to stand up. A traveling violation is ruled.

Ruling: A traveling violation is correct. When a player picks up one of their knees and places that foot on the court, the player by rule has attempted to stand up and therefore has committed a traveling violation (NFHS 4-44,4.44.5)

Dr. James Naismith's Original 13 Rules of Basketball

Tue, 31 Jan 2017 11:00:00 GMT

Dr. James Naismith's Original 13 Rules of Basketball

1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.

2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (never with the fist).

3. 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 who catches the ball when running at a good speed if he tries to stop.

4. The ball must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body must not be used for holding it.

5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the person of an opponent shall be allowed; the first infringement of this rule by any player 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 substitute allowed.

6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of Rules 3,4, and such as described in Rule 5.

7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count a goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the mean time making a foul).

8. 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 not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.

9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field of play by the person first touching it. In case of a 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 that side.

10. The umpire shall be 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.

11. 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.

12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves, with five minutes' rest between.

13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In case of a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is made.

Note: Basketball was originally two words and these original rules were published January 15, 1892 in the Springfield College school newspaper, The Triangle.