2007-2008 - Plays of the Week - Week 1
"Working together, we will all get better."
The plays/questions described below occurred recently and are provided for your review and discussion. The rulings given are based on Federation rules. NCAA rulings may be different. Have you seen an unusual play? Let all officials benefit from it by sending it to Plays of the Week
Play #1 - A1, who is in the frontcourt near the division line, attempts to pass the ball to A2 on the wing. B1 deflects the pass into the air. The ball is headed toward the backcourt. A1 jumps from his frontcourt, catches the ball while airborne and lands in the backcourt. The official rules this a legal play. Was the official correct?
Answer: The official was NOT correct. By rule we know that an airborne player's status with respect to frontcourt and backcourt is dependent on where he/she last touched the floor. A1 has frontcourt status. Therefore, when A1 secured control in the air, the ball continued to have frontcourt status. Team control did not end with the deflection by B1. So when A1 lands in backcourt, a backcourt violation has occurred since Team A was the last to touch the ball in frontcourt and the 1st to touch the ball in backcourt during a situation where team control existed for Team A. (References: Rule 9.9.1, Rule 4.35.3, Rule 4.4.2, Rule 4.12.3)
Play #2 - Team A is leading 62-60 as the horn sounds to end the 4th period. As soon as the horn sounds, A1 removes his jersey while the officials are still on the court. The officials charge A1 with a technical foul and award Team B with two free throws. Since these free throws could make a difference in the outcome of the game, they were attempted immediately. Were the officials correct?
Answer: The officials were correct. By rule the officials' jurisdiction does not end until all officials have left the visual confines of the court. When the rules committee changed the rule for the 2005-2006 season to make removal of the jersey a technical foul, they made it clear that the rule was to be applied in all situations. No discretion was left to the official. Since the free throws could make a difference in the outcome of the game, by rule, they are attempted immediately. If the game should go into overtime as a result of the free throws, the coach will have lost the use of the coaching box. (References: Rule 2.2.4, Rule 10.4.1h, Rule 5.6.2 Exception 4, Comments on 2005-06 Rules Revisions, Pg. 71-72)
