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Writer's pictureMāris Noviks

Tough calls: October 28, 2024

Updated: Oct 31




The Tough Calls are sponsored by Fiziocentrs – a well known physiotherapy clinic in Latvia. The videos shown below will help to understand the game, referees and rules.



  1. White 15 drives to basket, begin to perform a two-step move and lifts the ball up. In a moment, when White 15 lifts the ball up, he contacted defender Red 77, face. Defender Red 77 fell down. Referees call a personal offense foul to White 15.


    FIBA OBRI 33.2. The offensive player, whether on the floor or airborne, shall not cause contact with the defensive player in a legal guarding position by:

    Using his arms to create more space for himself (pushing off).

    FIBA OBRI 33.3. A defensive player has established an initial legal guarding position when:

    1. He is facing his opponent, and

    2. He has both feet on the floor.


    FIBA OBRI 33.4. When judging a charge/block situation involving a player with the ball, a referee shall use the following principles :

    Contact must occur on the torso, in which case the defensive player would be considered as having been at the place of contact first.


    Outcome: correct decision from the referees. Red 77 has a legal guarding position, when White 15 makes contact. As White 15 lifts the ball up vertically, it`s considered as an Offense Charge Personal foul.




2. White 55 goes from the back court to the front court. When he passes the center line, Shot clock shows 15 seconds. No call from referee’s side.


  1. FIBA OBRI 28.1.3. The 8-second period shall continue with any time remaining when the same team that previously had control of the ball is awarded a throw-in in the backcourt, as a result of:

    1. A ball having gone out-of-bounds.


    FIBA OBRI 33.8. The team has caused the ball to go into its frontcourt whenever:

    During a dribble from the backcourt to the frontcourt, the ball and both feet of the dribbler are completely in contact with the frontcourt.


    Outcome: incorrect decision from the referees. When Shot clock shows 15.0 seconds, White 55 with only one foot was completely within the front court. It’s illegal and referees must call an 8.0 second violation.





3. End of the third quarter, White 6 makes a shot. Defender Green 4 steps under shooter. Ball goes in a basket. Referees call an act of shooting foul by Green 4, count basket and award one additional free throw by White 6.


FIBA OBRI 15.1.2. The act of shooting on a shot:

Begins when the player starts, in the judgement of a referee, to move the ball upwards towards the opponents’ basket.

Ends when the ball has left the player’s hand(s), or if an entirely new act of shooting is made and, in case of an airborne shooter, both feet have returned to the floor.


FIBA OBRI 34.2.2. If the foul is committed on a player in the act of shooting, that player shall be awarded a number of free throws as follows:

If the shot released from the 3-point field goal area is successful, 1 free throw.


Outcome: correct decision from the referees. Green 4 stepped under White 6, before he landed with both feet on the floor, made an act of shooting landing personal foul.




4. End of game, in white team offense, White 3 drives to the basket and makes a shot, defender Green 1, guard close to him. Before White 3 made a shot, Green 1 shows a contact by White 3. Referees call offensive foul by White 3, cancel basket.


FIBA OBRI 33.16. Fake being fouled

Fake is any action by a player to simulate that he has been fouled or to make theatrical exaggerated movements in order to create an opinion of being fouled and therefore gaining an advantage.


  1. FIBA OBRI 36.2.1. A technical foul is a player non-contact foul of a behavioural nature including, but not limited to:

    1. Fake being fouled.


    Outcome: incorrect decision from the referees. White 3 correctly moves to the basket, Green 1 only simulates that he has been fouled and makes a theatrical exaggerated movement. Basket must count, and official warning by Fake must give Green team.




5. End of the second quarter, Green 0 drives to the basket, makes a shot. Defender Yellow 21 jumps and contacts shooter. Ball miss a basket. Referees call an act of shooting foul by Yellow 21, count basket and award one additional free throw by Green 0. Referees use IRS, to rewatch- foul was on time or no.


FIBA OBRI 15.1.2. The act of shooting on a shot:

Begins when the player starts, in the judgement of a referee, to move the ball upwards towards the opponents’ basket.

Ends when the ball has left the player’s hand(s), or if an entirely new act of shooting is made and, in case of an airborne shooter, both feet have returned to the floor.


FIBA OBRI 34.2.2. If the foul is committed on a player in the act of shooting, that player shall be awarded a number of free throws as follows:

If the shot released from the 2-point field goal area is successful, 1 free throw.


FIBA OBRI F.3. Instant Replay System:

The following game situations may be reviewed:

  1. FIBA OBRI F.3.1. At the end of the quarter or overtime,

    1. whether and how much time shall be displayed on the game clock, if:

    A foul was committed before the end of the quarter or overtime


    Outcome: correct decision from the referees. Yellow 21 made an act of shooting foul to Green 0, when the Game clock shows 0.02 seconds. Referees correct Game clock and game re-starts with two free throws for Green 0.





Author: Oskars Lucis, ENBL Head of referees

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