WHAT THE CALL

This is NOT a travel.

Based on Article 25.2.1 in the FIBA rulebook it states:

• •A player who catches the ball while he is progressing, or upon completion of a dribble, may take two steps in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball: 
• If, after receiving the ball, a player shall release the ball to start his dribble before his second step. 
• The first step occurs when one foot or both feet touch the floor after gaining control of the ball. 
• The second step occurs after the first step when the other foot touches the floor or both feet touch the floor simultaneously.  

A few years ago this would have been a travel.

But remember when the player is in motion then they have a gather step, allowed one step and then a 2nd step.

I know it looks weird sometimes but this is where the Individual Officiating Techniques (IOTs) of staying with the play is important – so you can see the beginning, middle and end of each play. So slow down your whistle before you make your ruling.

This is called a “bang bang” play. It happens quickly and often surprises us.

This is a blocking foul and this is why: 

From Article 33.6 (page 40) in the FIBA rule book it states: 

A player who has jumped into the air from a place on the playing court has the right to land again at the same place.  He has the right to land on another place on the playing court provided that the landing place and the direct path between the take-off and landing place is not already occupied by an opponent(s) at the time of take-off.

If a player has taken off and landed but his momentum causes him to contact an opponent who has taken a legal guarding position beyond the landing place, the jumper is responsible for the contact. An opponent may not move into the path of a player after that player has jumped into the air. 

• in this clip the offensive player is already airborne and is entitled to land in the space in which he naturally would but the defensive player occupies that space after the offensive player is airborne
• this results in a blocking foul
• the ball goes in so this should be an “AND 1”

If you watched this clip with the audio on – it is clear it is an unsportsmanlike foul.

Now under what criteria would it fall?

This would be a C1 or C2. 

An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact foul which, in the judgement of an official is:  

• Not a legitimate attempt to directly play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules. 
• •Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent.

This is a backcourt violation.

Rationale and ruling Article 30 (page 34) in the FIBA rule book:
30.1.2 A team in control of a live ball in the frontcourt has caused the ball to be illegally returned to its backcourt, if a player of that team is the last to touch the ball in his frontcourt and the ball is then first touched by a player of that team: 
Who has part of his body in contact with the backcourt, or 
After the ball has touched the backcourt of that team. 

This restriction applies to all situations in a team’s frontcourt, including throw-ins. However, it does not apply to a player who jumps from his frontcourt, establishes a new team control while still airborne and then lands with the ball in his team’s backcourt.

Player 7 white actually dribbles the ball in the front court once and his momentum carries him to the back court. Despite red touching the ball for an interception pass and almost causing a steal, white was still the last one to touch the ball in the front court and the first to touch in the back court. Had he left the ball alone and picked it up after it bounced once in the back court it would be a no call. In this case the official does not make a call which is incorrect

This is an Offensive foul.

I got some mixed messages from members on this one. I heard everything – no call, offensive and defensive.

First ask yourself, regardless of the semi-circle – what did the defender do wrong?

9 White establishes legal guarding position with both feet on the ground facing the ball handler with arms straight up in their cylinder (verticality).

Now how does the semi-circle come into the play? The NO charge semi-circle applies only to players that are airborne as a passer or shooter.

In this case 0 Blue is not air borne. Hence the correct call would be offensive since he connects with 9 white directly in the torso impacting RSBQ (rhythm, speed, balance and quickness – balance being the main point here).

There is no perfect play for us as officials. We are expected to see and call the game to the best of our abilities. In this play – a lot is happening.

If you watch carefully, White 33 holds 44 Black as the shot goes up. Since 44 Black is able to make it by him fairly easily – an official could suspend this call as they do in this clip. As 44 Black approaches the rim – 9 White is also approaching the rim with inside position.

A few have argued (me included) that 9 White is actually jumping backwards a bit since he overshot the distance of the rebound. And then 44 Black is moving forward to get the rebound and causes displacement to 9 White.

The call on the floor was Black 44 for a pushing foul. That call is correct based on the play and the level of RSBQ impacted despite 9 White jumping slightly outside of his cylinder.

If the level of contact was a lot less sever- I would be happy with a no call myself. Again – it is important to note that officiating and call selection is subjective. The idea of looking at plays like this is to ensure we are as consistent as possible.