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.
White 32 runs in a fast break, starts an act of shooting, while being caught by defender Blue 1, who kicks the ball out. The ball goes out of bounds. Referees stop the game, calling out of bounds violation and give the ball to the White team. Blue team head coach disagrees with referees decision about direction of ball, and chooses a Head coach challenge. Referees use Instant replay system, decide, that White 32 was last to touch the ball, and change direction.
FIBA OBRI 33.3. The legal guarding position extends vertically above him (cylinder) from the floor to the ceiling. He may raise his arms and hands above his head or jump vertically but he must maintain them in a vertical position inside the imaginary cylinder.
FIBA OBRI 33.4. The player with the ball must expect to be guarded and must be prepared to stop or change his direction whenever an opponent takes an initial legal guarding position in front of him, even if this is done within a fraction of a second.
FIBA OBRI F.3.2. When the game clock shows 2:00 minutes or less in the fourth quarter and in each overtime, - to identify the player who has caused the ball to go out-of-bounds.
FIBA OBRI F.4.2. For the HCC, the following procedura shall apply:
The Head Coach shall be granted only one HCC in a game, regardless of whether the challenge is successful or not.
Only the game situations as in the Appendix F.3.may be challenged.
The time restrictions within Appendix F.3.2., F3.3. do not apply. The HCC may be requested at any time of the game.
Outcome: correct decision from the referees. First- Blue 1 touched a ball when White 32 starts an act of shooting, the ball goes out of bounds. Second- correct process of HCC and change direction of play, as White 32 was last to touch the ball.
Black 8 in offense starts an act of shooting. After he released the ball, his palm was touched by defender White 25. Referees call White 25 a foul in act of shooting.
FIBA OBRI 33.2. The defensive player must not be penalised for leaving the floor vertically (within his cylinder) or having his hands and arms extended above him within his own cylinder.
FIBA OBRI 33.11. The touching of an opponent with the hand(s) is, in itself, not necessarily a foul.
Outcome: incorrect decision from the referees. White 25 was in a legal guarding position, jumps vertically, barely touches shooters fingers after he releases a ball. It is counted as a High five and No call situation.
White team steal a ball and start a fast break. During fast break Black 0 caughts White 7 from back, grabs the dribbler's arm. Referees stop the game calling an Unsportsmanlike foul by Black 0.
FIBA OBRI 37.1.1. An unsportsmanlike foul is a player in the judgement of a referee is:
to directly play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules.
An unnecessary contact caused by the defensive player in order to stop the progress of the offensive team in transition. This applies until the offensive player begins his act of shooting.
Outcome: correct decision from the referees. When Black 0 grabbed a dribbler’s hand while White 7 hadn’t start an act of shooting yet, contact occurred from behind, not directly. There was an Unsportsmanlike foul by Black 0, two free throws shall be awarded to White 7, followed by a throw-in from the throw-in line in the White team’s frontcourt.
End of the game, Black 32 receives a pass close to the basket and starts an act of shooting. Contact with White 7 occurs. The shot was successful. Referees call a defence blocking foul by White 7, count a basket and award a one free throw for Black 32.
FIBA OBRI 33.1. The defensive player may not enter the cylinder of the offensive player with the ball and cause an illegal contact when the offensive player is attempting a normal basketball play within his cylinder. The boundaries of the cylinder of the offensive player with the ball are:
• The front by the feet, bent knees and arms, holding the ball above the hips,
FIBA OBRI 33.4.. When judging a charge/block situation involving a player with the ball, a referee shall use the following principles:
When moving to maintain the initial legal guarding position, one foot or both feet may be off the floor for an instant, as long as the movement is lateral or backwards, but not towards the player with the ball.
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.
Outcome: correct decision from the referees. Defender White 7 moves forward, creates illegal contact with shooter Black 32. Personal act of shooting foul by White 7, basket counts and there is an additional free throw for Black 32.
Black team offense, Black 21 sets a screen, contact with defender White 4 occurs, creates a space for Black 1 for open shot. Referees call an offense illegal screen foul by Black 21.
FIBA OBRI 33.7. Screening is an attempt to delay or prevent an opponent without the ball from reaching a desired position on the playing court.
Legal screening is when the player who is screening an opponent:
Was stationary (inside his cylinder) when contact occurred.
Had both feet on the floor when contact occurred.
Illegal screening is when the player who is screening an opponent:
Was moving when contact occurred.
Outcome: correct decision from the referees. When Black 21 was trying to set a screen, he was moving directly to defender White 4 and never stayed stationary. Personal foul by Black 21 for illegal moving screen.
Author: Oskars Lucis, ENBL Head of referees
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