ASK THE REF #4

December, 2009 - 2010 SEASON

Ten Basics

It's time to review a few basics, don't you think?  You don't want to be watching all those games and be having questions about some of the calls if you don't know what you're talking about, right?  Here are ten basics you really ought to know.

1.  There's no such thing as "over the back."  No matter how many times you hear it yelled from the crowd, there's nothing wrong with a player coming from behind and athletically going OVER the back of an opponent.  But, if the player comes ON the back of his opponent, then there could be a foul called.

2.  Three seconds isn't just "1-2-3-tweet!"  That's too fast a count.  It's more like "one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three....." and then let's see if the call is really there.  If the player in the lane has the ball and is making a move to the hoop, the count is off.  If the player is clearly attempting to get out of the lane, the violation may be ignored.  If the player is a little slow and not gaining an advantage because the ball is out in the mid-court area, the official may just talk him out of the lane rather than disrupt the action. 

3.  Slapping the backboard is not a technical foul.  If, in the opinion of the official, the defensive player makes a legitimate attempt to block a shot and, in the process, makes contact (sometimes loud) with the backboard, it's nothing.  A technical foul could be called for causing the backboard to vibrate (very unlikely with the backstops in use these days) or for "hot dogging" (slapping the backboard without making a legitimate attempt to block the shot) but, again, it's up to the official to make that determination.

4.  Leaving a designated spot on a throw in.   You already know a player can "run the endline" during a throw-in that follows a score by the opposing team.  You also know that all other throw-ins are from a "designated spot."  But, most people don't realize that's it not really a "spot."  It's actually a 3 foot wide lane.  And, as long as the player making the throw-in has one foot "on or over" any part of that 3 foot lane, it's okay.

5.  A slap is a foul?  Not necessarily.  If the defender hits the hand of an offensive player while that hand is in contact with the ball, it's a nothing.  Generally speaking, "the hand is part of the ball" and slapping that hand, even if it's LOUD, is usually ruled a "no call."  And, in all cases, if the slap is judged not to have caused an advantage, it would also be ignored.

6.  Travelling.  Let's get this one straight.  It is IMPOSSIBLE to travel if the player is not holding the ball or if the ball has not "come to rest" in the player's hand(s).  Look very carefully before you make your decision on this one.  Sometimes the ball handlers do some amazingly athletic things that seem like they must be traveling, but try to zero in on when the player actually catches the ball or has the ball come to rest in his hand(s).  Up until that happens, it doesn't matter how many steps the player takes.

7.  Sliding on the floor.  Let's imagine the ball is loose and player A-1 goes running after it.  He dives on the ball and his momentum causes him to slide on his sweaty jersey a good 10 feet or more before coming to rest.  It is NOT traveling.  But, after coming to rest, if the player then rolls over, that would be traveling.

8.  Back court.  No rule causes more confusion than this one.  Think of it this way.  In all cases, it's the location of the BALL that is the primary consideration.  Since this is most often in combination with a player, it's important to know how to determine the player's status.  A player who is DRIBBLING the ball is not in his front court until BOTH FEET AND THE BALL are clearly over (not on) the mid-court line.  A player who is HOLDING the ball is in the front court the moment one foot is over the mid-court line and the other foot is lifted from the back court.  In all cases, however, it's the location of the ball that is most important.  Hope this helps.

9.  Ball hits the sides or top of backboard.  This one is easy.  ALL four sides of a backboard are in play.  But if a ball hits any of the pipes or frames that support the backboard or if the ball sails over the top of the backboard, then it is out of bounds.

10.  Shirt rule.  By rule, players are required to keep their shirts tucked in.  It's that simple.  Most officials will allow some leeway during the heat of the action, but in general, those shirts are supposed to be tucked in.  If an individual player has a problem with this, the officials will direct the player to leave the game so the problem can be corrected.

Any questions?  Send them in and we'll try to deal with them!

Do you have a question? Have you seen a play you didn't understand? Was there a controversy you'd like clarified?  Send your questions in and I'll do my best to get you an answer.

Skip Yutzler

IAABO Board 127

40 Years High School and Junior College Official

5 Times NY State HS Championships - Glens Falls

# 65

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