2007-2008 - Plays of the Week - Week 10
"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 on a path parallel with the end line and attempts a lay-up. The ball never touches the backboard or basket and A1 catches the ball before it hits the floor on the other side of the basket. A1 bounces the ball once and attempts another lay-up which is successful. A1 is fouled by B2 while in the process of attempting the second lay-up. The official rules A1's actions as legal play and awards A1 one free throw. Is the official correct?
Answer: The official is correct. While many fans and some coaches may be yelling for a traveling violation, the fact is that once a try is released, any player including the shooter is entitled to rebound the ball whether or not it hits the backboard or basket. Team and player control ended with the release of the try. Therefore, by rule, the shooter is entitled to dribble again. (References: Rule 9.5.1, Rule 4.12.3a)
Play #2 - A1 is awarded the ball out of bounds for a designated spot throw-in on the endline. B1 is defending. A1 backs up until she is 5 feet behind the end line. A1 then releases a pass towards A2 who is inbounds. After the pass has been released and before the ball crosses the boundary line, B1 steps through the boundary line and deflects the ball. The official calls a technical foul on B1 and awards Team A two free throws and the ball out of bounds at the division line. Was the official correct?
Answer: The official was NOT correct. In this situation once the ball is released on a throw-in pass, the restrictions on the defender end. Therefore, by rule, this is merely an out of bounds violation by B1. The ball should be awarded to Team A for a spot throw-in at the spot where B1 touched the ball. (References: Rule 9.2.10)
Play #3 - A1 is dribbling the ball in the frontcourt when B1 commits a blocking foul on him. Just before the ball is put at the disposal of A3 for a throw-in, the table indicates that it is the 7th team foul of the half. When the players line up for the free throw, A2 steps to the line and accepts the ball from the lead offiicial. After the 1st free throw is successful, the officials detect that the wrong player attempted the free throw. What is the correct procedure?
Answer: This is a correctable error situation. The made free throw by A2 will be cancelled. Unless there was confusion about who should attempt the free throw (in this situation A1 should have known he was the shooter), A2 will be charged with a technical foul for knowingly attempting a free throw to which he was not entitled. A1 will attempt the bonus free throw situation to which he was entitled. Then any player or eligible subsititute on Team B will attempt the two free throws for the technical foul. Team B will be awarded the ball for a spot throw-in at the division line. (References: Rule 2.10.1c, Rule 2.10.2, Rule 10.3.7f)
2007-2008 Plays of the Week - Week #9
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
