Guidelines FOR Referee Education
1. Post Play
Modern Basketball has become more of a perimeter and outside game due to the influence and value of the three point line and shot.
However, strong and powerful pivot and post play remain an integral part of the game.
Players must remember that both the offensive and defensive post players must respect each other’s right to position.
Point of Emphasis
Ø It is a foul by a defensive or offensive player in the post position to shoulder or hip the opponent out of position.
Ø Pushing or any other displaying an opponent from the position applies equally to with and off the ball play.
Ø It is a foul by an offensive or defensive player to interfere with the opponent’s freedom of movement using extended elbows, arms, knees or any other parts of the body.
2. Screening – Legal / Illegal
During a game, players often use screens as an attempt to delay or prevent an opponent from reaching a desired position on the court.
When a legal screen takes place – the offensive player is stationary and has both feet on the floor.
The officials must pay special attention to the actions of the defenders.
Point of Emphasis
Ø A player who is legally screened is responsible for any contact with a player who has set the screen.
Ø Illegal screening is when the player who is screening an opponent: is moving when contact occurred.
Ø Does not respect the elements of time and distance of an opponent in motion when contact occurred.
3. Blocking / Charging
When judging contact situations between two opponents the officials must apply the principles of establishing a legal guarding position by the defensive player.
a. Stationary position of the defensive player
b. Legal lateral or backwards movement
c. Principles of cylinder and verticality.
d. Regulations governing player in the air.
Point of Emphasis
Ø Charging is illegal personal contact by moving into an opponent’s body.
Ø Blocking is illegal personal contact which impedes the progress of an opponent.
Ø Charging/blocking principles equally apply to illegal personal contacts with out the ball.
Ø If a player has taken off and causes contact to an opponent who has established a legal guarding position, in a place that is free at the time of take off, then the jumper is responsible for contact.
Ø When deciding on a charging/blocking as personal contacts the officials should not interrupt the flow of the game unnecessarily.
4. Rebounds
In an average Basketball game, less than half of the field goal attempts are successful and play continues after the ball rebounds from the ring or the backboard.
The team that gains more rebounds often has a decisive advantage.
The judgment of play when there is a fight for rebounds must be made tasking into consideration the principles of cylinder vertically, illegal guarding from the rear and regulations governing a player who is in the air.
Point Emphasis
Ø If a player causes contact from behind he is normally responsible for that illegal contact.
Ø It is a foul to interfere with the opponent’s freedom of jumping using extended elbow, arm, knee or other part of the body.
Ø It is a foul to push-off to prevent an opponent from jumping vertically.
Ø If a player while jumping leaves the vertical position (cylinder) and body contact occurs with an opponent, that player is responsible for the contact.
5. UNSPORTSMANLIKE FOUL
Point of Emphasis
Ø An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact foul which is not a legitimate attempt to directly play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules.
Ø The foul shall also be judged to be unsportsmanlike if a player in an effort to play the ball causes an excessive contact.
Ø It is an unsportsmanlike foul if a player is making no effort to play the ball and contact occurs.
Ø The official must judge only the action.
6. ACT OF SHOOTING
When a personal foul is committed on a player who is attempting a shot for a field goal the penalty always consists of a free throw or free throws.
It is clear that the decision on whether the offensive player is in the act of shooting when a foul is called is one of the most important elements of officiating.
Point of Emphasis
Ø The act of shooting begins when the player starts a continuous movement normally preceding the release of the ball for a shot.
Ø A continuous movement in the act of shooting begins when a ball has come to rest in a player hand(s).
Ø A continuous movement in the act of shooting may include a player arm(s) and/or body movement in an attempt to shoot for a field goal.
7. FREE-THROW VIOLATIONS
Violations of the provisions for free throws by players in the free throw rebound places may lead to unfair advantages for their teams.
Point of Emphasis
Ø The players in the free throw rebound places shall not enter the restricted area until the ball has left the hand(s) of the free-throw shooter.
8. TRAVELING
Today, in basketball one of the serious problems in officiating is the inconsistency in calling violations or making wrong calls when a player while moving receives a pass or completes a dribble and continues to move.
Point Of Emphasis
Ø If a player starts a dribble while moving, the pivot foot may not be lifted before the ball is released from the hands.
Ø To shoot for a field goal the pivot foot may be lifted but may not returned to the floor before the ball is released from the hand(s).
Ø If a player who has established a pivot foot moves the other foot and jumps, neither foot may be returned to the floor before the ball is released from the hand(s).
Ø If a player while moving jumps off a pivot foot and lands on both feet neither foot may be lifted and returned back to the floor before the ball is released from hand(s) for a pass or shot.
Ø One more technical element needs the attention of officials. When a dribbler meeting the opponent infront of him tries to pass the defensive player by turning, spinning and reversing around them the same principles of movement of feet must apply.
9. 24- SECONDS
In basketball the rule determining the time that a team can control possession of the ball before attempting a shot for a field goal makes the game more spectacular and dynamic.
The correct application of this rule requires good cooperation between officials on the court and their Assistants.
Sometimes it seem that the game flow is unreasonably interrupted by officials.
Point Of Emphasis
Ø To constitute a shot for a field goal within 24 seconds the ball must leave the players hands before the device signal sounds.
Ø To constitute a shot for a field goal within 24 seconds the ball also must touch the ring or enter the basket.
Ø When a shot for a field goal is attempted and the 24 seconds signal sounds while the ball is in the air, if the ball enters the basket the goal shall count.
Ø When a shot for a field goal is attempted and the 24 second signal sounds while the ball is in the air if the ball touches the ring no violation has occurred, the signal shall be disregarded and the game shall continue.
Ø When a shot for a field goal is attempted and the 24 second signal sounds while the ball is in the air if the ball hits the backboard or misses the ring and the opponents have gained immediate and clear control of the ball the signal shall be disregarded and the game shall continue.
Ø When the opponents have not gained immediate and clear control of the ball the game must be stopped and 24 second violation must be penalized.
Ø If the 24 second device was reset in error the officials may stop the game as long as neither train is placed at a disadvantage. The 24 second device shall be corrected and possession of the ball shall be awarded to the team that previously had control of the ball.
10.GOAL TENDINg AND INTERFERENCE
For the right interpretation of goal tending and interference it is necessary for the Officials (mainly TRAIL) to move in time to the proper position and also have good reactions and complete knowledge of this article of the Rules.
Point Of Emphasis
Ø Goal tending occurs during a shot for a field goal when a player touches the ball while it is completely above the level of the ring and it is on its downward flight to the basket.
Ø Goal tending occurs during a shot for a field goal when a player touches the ball after it has hit a backboard.
Ø The goal tending restrictions apply until the ball has touched the ring.
Ø Interference occurs during a shot for a field goal when a player causes the backboard or the ring to vibrate in such a way that, in the judgment of the official, the ball has been prevented from entering the basket or has been caused to enter it.
Ø If the ball which is in flight on a shot for a filed goal is touched by a player after the game clock signal sounds for the end of the period the ball becomes dead.
11.TECHNICAL FOUL
A) Falling to fake a foul
During a game in which 10 players are moving at speed in a limited space, contact cannot be avoided, but not all contact is illegal, they are INCIDENTAL and NEGLIGIBLE.
The officials should give the players responsible an unfair advantage.
Sometimes players, try to exaggerate the contact as an opponent’s illegal actions to provide a foul call.
Such behaviors are not within the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play and demands reaction from the officials.
Point Of Emphasis
Ø A technical foul is a player foul of a behavioral nature including falling down to fake a foul.
B. Delaying the Game
Except for the last two minutes of a game, the time is not stopped after a successful field goal and many teams effectively use a tactic of “early offence”. When the ball is immediately throw-in and a fast attack to the opponent’s is organized.
Defensive players often catch or bat away the ball to impede this fast throw-in.
Point Of Emphasis
Ø A technical foul is a player foul of a behavioral nature including delaying the game by deliberately touching the ball after it has passed through the basket.
Ø The officials may prevent technical fouls by warning first if the technical infractions have no direct effect upon the game.
Ø If there is demonstrative delaying of the game by preventing a throw-in from being taken promptly, the player responsible for such delay should be charged with a technical foul.
Ø If there is a repetition of the same infraction after a warning, technical foul should be called.
H A P P Y O F F I C I A T I N G T O A L L . . . .
