Officiating verticality plays is one of the big challenges facing high school basketball officials today. As players get bigger, faster, stronger and more skilled, officials must meet the challenge with better mobility, better looks, and a better understanding of the laws of verticality. The Georgia High School Activities Association made the video below to help officials have a better understanding of “verticality.”
SPIN TRAVEL
Allowing a player to pick up his pivot foot and then putting it back down again before passing or shooting the ball give that player a huge advantage over the defender. The key to adjudicating this play is to identify the pivot foot.
So ,I applaud the official in the video below for getting this illegal move and cancelling the tainted basket, but I am not sure this is the proper way to communicate the violation. Or, maybe it is.
OFFICIATING THE BLOCK CHARGE PLAY
While officiating the block charge play is sometimes challenging, it is not rocket science.
There are three major components to understand in officiating block-charge plays. The first component is for the defender to establish or gain legal guarding position. The defender does this by initially facing the offensive player with the ball and initially having two feet on the floor in bounds. There are no time and distance qualifications necessary in gaining a legal guarding position. The defender may establish LGP when the ball handler is 20 feet away or an instant before contact. Once established the defender does not have to continue to face the dribble driver, nor does he/she need to have two feet on the floor at the time of contact.
The second component, and the more difficult for the official to grasp, is that the defender can move to maintain his/her legal guarding position or defensive advantage on the ball handler. There are some qualifications, however, on that movement. Once LPG has been established and gained the defender may legally move laterally, obliquely backward or directly backward. The defender may not move and cause contact directly forward or obliquely forward.
The third component is where the contact takes place on the defenders body. If the defender has gained LGP and has moved obliquely backward to maintain the advantage and the contact by the dribble driver is on the defenders “torso” the dribble driver is guilty of “charging.” If the dribble driver gets his/her head and shoulders by the defender and then contact occurs the defender is guilty of “blocking.”
The official must find the defender, decide if LGP has been obtained, decide if the defender was moving laterally or backward and note if the contact was on the defenders torso. Obviously the official cannot make these determinations if he/she is looking at the ball handler. Officiate the defense!
See 4-23 “Guarding” for more detailed information on this critical play.
The video below is a good example of this play.
GRASPING THE RING
During the 2012 Colorado play-offs, a game’s outcome was affected by a Technical Foul called on a player who had “dunked” on a breakaway steal near the end of the game. Reportedly, this player’s momentum made him swing forward and then backward while grasping the ring as he checked to see if a pursuing defender was below him. The covering official called a technical foul on this dunking player that may have altered the outcome of the game.
Below you will find wording from the rule book that states it is illegal to grasp the ring except to prevent injury. I believe a player who dunks may not immediately know whether or not there are players beneath him or her. It may take them a second or two to see if it is safe for them to let go of the ring and return to the floor. I think common sense tell us as officials to give them those two seconds to find out that answer without penalizing them for grasping the ring. If we are going to error, let us error on the side of safety.
I am not suggesting we allow a player to do chin ups on the rim after a dunk to help them “shoot” themselves into the air nor hang on the rim with one hand and give a victory sign with the other. We probably should not allow players to hang on the rim for an extended time when it is clear they know that no one is beneath them. However, when there is any reasonable chance that they may think that they could get injured, common sense tells us to pass on the technical.
I was not in attendance at the game and neither have I seen video of the particular play, but I do have in my collection of video clips a play from Texas that appears similar to the account I was given. I have included that clip below. In it a player steals the ball and in full stride dunks and swings for a moment while he checks to see if he is safe to return to the floor. No chin ups, no demonstration in my view, but he is still charged with a “T.” Watch the video and see what you think.
Rule: 10-3-3
ART. 3
Grasp either basket at any time during the game except to prevent injury; dunk or stuff, or attempt to dunk or stuff a dead ball.
Casebook
Rule: 10.3.3
10.3.3 SITUATION C:
A1 dunks the ball, then grasps the ring: (a) to avoid possible injury as he/she has lost his/her balance; or (b) because A2 or B1 is lying on the floor directly under the basket.
RULING: Grasping the ring to prevent injury as in (a) or (b), is permitted without penalty.
THE COMPETITIVE SPIRIT
It has been my observation over the years that many of the basketball officials that I viewed as the best were also intensely competitive people. Great competitors have a lot of pride in what they do and in their performance. They compete against themselves, they compete against the game and whatever it throws at them and they also, in a sense, compete against other officials.
And, once a competitor always a competitor. Competitors believe that if they are not going forward they are losing ground, because they know that there are lots of other great competitors after the same games that they are after.
Below is one of my favorite stories about competing on the basketball court and in life.
Competitive Spirit
by Scott W. Biehl
While growing up I spent a lot of time at my Grandparents home. Yes, they would spoil my sister and I like most loving Grandparents with gifts and treats but the things I loved most was playing catch, having putting contests in the living room, and playing basketball with my “Grandpa.”
My Grandfather had a basketball hoop set up in his backyard and when I would come over we would always play a game of 21. The way it was scored was if you made a basket it was worth 2 points and then you could shoot free throws for 1 point a piece until you missed. My Grandfather who was a professional boxer in his younger days always stayed fit and was in great shape. As I got older, the basketball games became more competitive but he would never just let me win.
Then one day when I was about 12 years old I finally did it! I beat him at a game of 21. After all those years of playing I finally won. Then a couple of days later I called to see if he would be home so I could come by and visit and then took the bus across town to his house to see him. I couldn’t wait to play him again at 21. All those years of losing to him and now I knew I can beat him.
I arrived at his house and was greeted by my Grandmother and asked “where’s Grandpa”? As she turned to point out in the backyard I could see my Grandfather. He was practicing shooting free throws. My 70-year-old Grandfather was practicing shooting free throws. I then went out in the backyard with my confidence of just winning a few days prior, to play a game of 21 with Grandpa.
So, we start to play our usual game of 21 and I make the first basket for 2 points and then make only 1 free throw. My Grandfather then makes a basket and proceeds to make 19 free throws in a row and beats me 21-3. Game over!
I learned a lot of lessons from my Grandfather over the years but none that stand out like the lesson I received in his backyard that day. While he has since passed on, his competitive spirit still lives on through me today. Now I have a 6 year old son of my own and I know that there is a game of 21 in our future and many of life’s lessons to be learned playing it.
________________________________________
Scott Biehl is the General Manager of Mercedes Benz of Fresno.
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TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF TRAVELING
QUESTION …Traveling
A-1 receives the ball while in the air. A-1 lands simultaneously on both feet, and then pivots prior to passing to a teammate. The officials rules this a traveling violation. Is the official correct?
ANSWER: NO
This question seeks to test your knowledge of traveling.
RULE REFERENCE
4-44-2 a1
RULE HIGH LIGHTS
Picking up a foot up is establishing a pivot foot. Putting that foot down is a pivot.
A player may not travel during a dribble
A player who catches the ball with both feet on the floor may pivot using either foot.
If a player catches the ball with both feet off the floor and he/she lands:
Simultaneously on both feet, either foot may be pivot foot
On one foot followed by the other, first foot is the pivot foot.
On one foot, the player may jump off that foot and simultaneously land on both feet. Player may not pivot
If one foot is on the floor when the player catches the ball:
It is a pivot when the other foot touches the floor
The player may jump off that foot and simultaneously land on both. He/she may not pivot (JUMP STOP)
After coming to a stop when neither foot can be a pivot foot:
One or both may be lifted, but may not return to the floor before the ball is passed or shot
Neither foot may be lifted before the ball is released on the start of a dribble
A player holding the ball:
May not touch the floor with a knee or any other part of the body, other than a hand or foot, may not attempt to get up or stand
A player may side after gaining control of a loose ball on the floor.
After gaining control of the ball on the floor on the stomach or back, a player may not roll over
After gaining control of the ball on the floor a player may shoot, pass, start a dribble or call time out. May not set the ball down and stand up and pick up the ball again.
After gaining control on the floor on his/her back player may sit up
CASEBOOK
4.44 THROUGH 4.44.5 Situation d—All of these could be traveling question on test. Read them
OTHER QUESTIONS
While A–1 is in the air to try for goal, A–1 voluntarily drops the ball to the floor. A–1 is the first to touch the ball.
Official rules this a traveling violation. Is the official correct? YES
A–1 catches the ball in the air. A–1 lands on one foot, jumps off that foot and lands on both feet simultaneously. A–1 then pivots.
Official rules this a traveling violation. Is the official correct? YES
A–1 dives for a loose ball and slides after gaining control. After A–1’s momentum stops, A–1 rolls over.
Official rules this a legal play. Is the official correct? NO
A–1 catches the ball on one foot, jumps off that foot and lands on both feet simultaneously. A–1 then picks up one foot and starts to dribble.
Official rules this a legal play. Is the official correct? NO
A–1 receives the ball while one knee is touching the floor. A–1 stands up.
Official rules this a legal play. Is the official correct? NO
A–1 receives the ball while airborne. A–1 lands on the left foot, jumps off that foot and lands simultaneously on both feet.
Official rules this a traveling violation. Is the official correct? NO
Prior to releasing the ball in starting a dribble, A–1 lifts his/her pivot foot off the floor.
Official rules this a legal play. Is the official correct? NO
A–1, while holding the ball inbounds, touches a knee to the floor.
Official rules a traveling violation on A–1. Is the official correct? YES
A–1 dives for a loose ball. After gaining control, A–1 slides several feet on his/her stomach. After A–1 comes to a complete stop, A–1 rolls over.
Official rules this a traveling violation. Is the official correct? YES
OFFICIATE THE DEFENSE
By Jeff Kearney – University in Boston.
The block/charge is not the toughest call to make if you’re looking at the right things
“What is the toughest call in basketball … the block /charge?” Consider a multiple foul situation followed by technical fouls on both coaches and players leaving the bench for fight is the toughest call. Do you know how to administer that?
The block/charge is not difficult if you know what to look for. Let’s start by reviewing some basic ideas. When guarding a player with the ball, the player with the ball must be prepared to immediately stop or change direction when the defender appears in the player’s path and assumes a legal guarding position. The dribbler does not get any time or distance to stop or change direction in order to avoid contact.
What is a legal guarding position? The defender merely must have both feet on the floor, in bounds, and be facing the opponent. Once the defender obtains a legal guarding position, even if the defender beats the player with the ball to the spot by a split second, the burden then shifts to the player with the ball to stop or change direction in order to avoid contact.
Ask yourself: Was the defender at the spot first without illegally contacting an opponent? Was the defender facing the offensive player? Did the defender have both feet on the floor and in bounds when obtaining the legal guarding position? If you answered “yes” to all three questions, then the burden is on the player with the ball to stop or change direction in order to avoid contact.
The defensive player is then allowed to stay in the path of the player with the ball and move to maintain position after initially obtaining said legal guarding position. In that situation, the responsibility for contact is still on the player with the ball unless the defender is moving toward the player with the ball when contact occurs.
Remember, the defender is never allowed to move into the path of an airborne offensive player. If, however, the defender gets to a spot first and the offensive player then becomes airborne, the burden to avoid contact is on the airborne player.
Referee the Defense
After determining that the offensive player is dribbling straight to the basket, take your eyes off the dribbler and locate the defensive player. Where is the defensive player? Has the defensive player established a legal guarding position? Has the defensive player legally gotten to the spot first, initially facing the dribbler with both feet on the floor? If so, the offensive player has committed a foul if significant contact occurs.
Officiating Verticality Plays
Below is a good article that talks about the basics of officiating verticality plays. It is worth the read.
- UNDERSTANDING VERTICALITY May 8, 2012
- SPIN TRAVEL May 7, 2012
- OFFICIATING THE BLOCK CHARGE PLAY April 15, 2012
- GRASPING THE RING April 6, 2012
- THE COMPETITIVE SPIRIT April 4, 2012
- UNDERSTANDING VERTICALITY May 8, 2012
- OFFICIATE THE DEFENSE April 4, 2012
- Officiating Verticality Plays April 4, 2012
- TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF TRAVELING April 4, 2012
- THE COMPETITIVE SPIRIT April 4, 2012
