2007-2008 - Plays of the Week - Week 9
"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 NFHS 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 drives in for a layup and is fouled intentionally while in the act of shooting. The basket is good. What is the correct procedure?
Answer: A1 will be awarded two free throws for the intentional foul. After that Team A will be awarded the ball for a spot throw-in at the spot out of bounds nearest to the location of the foul. The fact that the try was good does not change the penalty for an intentional foul. (References: Rule 10.6 Penalties 4, Rule 7.5.4b)
Play #2 - B1 fouls A1 while A1 is dribbling the ball. The table indicates that Team A is in the bonus. A1 makes the 1st free throw and misses the second free throw. Team B rebounds the ball and heads to the other end of the court. The ball is passed out of bounds. Team A inbounds the ball and is called for a traveling violation. At this point the clock operator sounds the horn and the official scorer indicates that the previous foul by Team B was only the 6th team foul of the half. The Team B coach wants the point scored by A1 removed from Team A's score. What is the correct procedure?
Answer: While this is a correctable error situation (awarding of an unmerited free throw), by rule it is too late to correct the error since the first dead ball period after the clock started has ended. It ended when the ball was put at the disposal of the thrower for Team A after the ball was passed out of bounds. (References: Rule 2.10.1b, Rule 2.10.2)
Play #3 - 2.8 seconds left in 1st half. A throw-in is made followed by an immediate shot by A1. Official says clock started OK and ball was in the air at horn: good goal. At start of second half the officials are greeted by the coach of Team B with the statement that the video monitor showed that time had run out before the shot was released. Officials said "Sorry. No change" and assessed no penalty. Were the officials correct?
Answer: The officials were NOT correct. While the officials cannot use the monitor to make a decision on the coach's request for a correctable error, they can confer to see if any of them has information which would result in changing the decision which was made at the end of the 1st half. By rule it is not too late to correct a possible error. However, regardless of what decision they reach Team B will be charged with a technical foul for using video equipment during the game for coaching purposes. (References: Rule 2.10.2, Rule 10.1.3)
Play #4 - B1 is at the free throw line to attempt the second of two free throws. Just as B1 is starting his attempt, A3, in the 3rd lane space, yells "Open" to indicate to his teammates the offense they would be running when they got the ball. The free throw is unsuccessful. The covering official calls a disconcertion violation on A3 and awards a substitute free throw. Was the official correct?
Answer: The official was correct. The free thrower is entitled to attempt the free throw free of distraction by the opponents. An opponent shouting something while the free throw is being attempted creates a delayed dead ball situation which results in a substitute free throw being awarded if the attempt is unsuccessful. (References: Rule 9.1.3c, Rule 9.1 Penalties 2b)
2007-2008 Plays of the Week - Week #8
2007-2008 Plays of the Week - Week #7
2007-2008 Plays of the Week - Week #6
2007-2008 Plays of the Week - Week #5
2007-2008 Plays of the Week - Week #4
2007-2008 Plays of the Week - Week #3
2007-2008 Plays of the Week - Week #2
2007-2008 Plays of the Week - Week #1
