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When a Foul is Not a Foul |
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Basketball Officiating
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Written by Billy Martin
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 While watching an NCAA Division I basketball game last week, I witnessed an interesting series of events that I've had numerous "energized" discussions with my colleagues about foul-calling philosophy.
It has to do with three common rule interpretations ... - Incidental Contact
- Intentional Fouls
- Fouling to Stop the Clock (toward the end of a game)
The game went something like this.
The visiting team (B) was ahead by a fourteen points with just around 1:30 left in the game. The home team (A) had just made a field goal to cut the score to a 12-point deficit and set up to employ a full court defensive press. Team B's plan was clear -- inbound the ball and play keep away -- as they preferred to run some time off the clock before being forced to the free throw line.
But Team A had other plans, and what happened is typical of what occurs at all levels of play. |
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Respect is a Two Way Street |
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Basketball Officiating
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Written by Al Battista
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As I come down the home stretch on my 35th season as a basketball official and step back to assess the state of our great game, I am concerned that the dial on boorish and unsportsmanlike behavior is being steadily turned up and doing tremendous damage to the sport we care deeply about... 
I've watched this bully mentality take place as a casual spectator at games of all levels, as well as in my role as a high school, college and professional league observer. And I have also been on the receiving end as an official of the often hostile attitude exhibited by players, coaches and fans... It has to stop! And until we can affect change at the source, it is up to us as referees -- the official gatekeepers for the game -- to hold the line and enforce the rules of conduct, both fairly and firmly. As the rewards for winning have trickled down into the youth levels of our games, what were once well-intended motives have now been blurred and win at all costs is becoming a dominating sentiment for AAU teams and travel team leagues across the country... The coddled middle-school player and the pampered high school player are growing in great numbers, thanks in large part to the grandiose expectations of unrealistic parents and the ulterior motives of coaches. And it is our job as officials to focus on bringing respect back into every game you work. |
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The Problem with Free Throws |
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Basketball Officiating
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Written by Billy Martin
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 After watching in person or on online (courtesy of YouTube and several scholastic websites) all or part of quite a few high school games, it was surprising to notice the alarming number of free throw lane violations that were either missed by the officials working the game, or the crew’s apparent decision to simply chose to ignore the infractions.
Now this is NOT referring to scenarios where players maybe step into the free throw lane area just a split second before the ball touches the rim (this not a discussion on making nit-picking calls); but rather the cases where a player clearly violates the marked lane space provisions and it is not penalized.
And this seems to be the case in about 90% of the games you’ll watch from the stands or on television.
When was the last game you watched, or worked, where there was a free throw violation called?
Is it really possible to go an entire game without ONE free throw violation?
Possible ... but more unlikely not. The reason may be is that good officials by nature strive to stay ‘in the background’ of each game they work and may see making this ruling as a ‘game interrupter.’ And officials are customer service oriented, meaning, “if the coach isn’t asking for it; we aren’t calling it.”
Whatever the root cause is for the lack of better enforcement of this infraction, REF 60 would like to offer a few tips to help clarify your understanding of illegal movement during free throws that will hopefully strengthen your resolve to call the obvious lane violations when they occur in your area.
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Coaching During a Timeout |
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Basketball Officiating
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Written by Tim Malloy
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When a team is granted a timeout, the coaches, players and bench personnel are 'restricted' to a designated timeout area inside an imaginary rectangle near their bench and are not permitted to go beyond this area to provide more detailed instruction.  Now you don't want to be an official that, "majors in the minor" and starts nitpicking about teams being out of their imaginary corral while standing during a 30-second timeout. Rather the point of this 60 Second tip is to know where a coach is legally permitted to be during a timeout so that he/she does not gain an unfair teaching advantage...
And where the coach is not allowed to be, is under the basket instructing front line players, or at the top of the key reviewing strategies with back court players. For NFHS and NCAA play, the timeout area is formed by the boundaries of the sideline (including their bench), the end line, and an imaginary line extended from the free throw lane line closest to the bench area, and intersecting with an imaginary line extended from the coaching box line. 
Quite often in crowded gyms where a visiting team may have to contend with boisterous home spectators sitting behind them, you will see a coach pull their team away from the bench area in order to communicate more effectively. However they must stay within the confines of the imaginary timeout rectangle. So, keep in mind the time for on-court teaching and coaching is at practice. During an in-game timeout, all instruction must be done in the timeout area rectangle. Rule References
NFHS: 1-13-3; NCAA 5-13-2 |
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Basketball Officiating
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Written by Tim Malloy
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 It would seem to be a fair statement to say that every official with at least a few games under his or her belt has experienced the chill of being called to the table during a dead ball by the time keeper or the person handling the score book.
As you make the walk to the table you can see the table crew has that "it's not my fault" expression on their faces.
"Take a deep breath and relax"
We at Ref 60 emphasize our fervent belief that rule competency breeds calmness and confidence in chaos. So if you digest this "60 Second" serving on the correct way to administer problems related to the score book, you will not be unduly stressed about what you may be presented with when you get to the table.
Just remember when dealing with the official score book you want to avoid being sidetracked by any explanation about "why" the player is not listed in the book...
You WOULD assess an Administrative Technical Foul
- To add a name and number to the team member list.
- To change the number of a player who is in the game or attempting to enter the game.
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