MIES (Switzerland) - Experts analyze all BCL games each week. In order to improve the understanding of referees' decisions and to increase transparency, we publish some of those Tough Calls, along with an explanation.
TC1: Galatasaray vs. Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball - CHARGE
White #61 drives to the basket and a contact occurs with Blue #3, as he passes the ball to his teammate White #0 in the corner. The referee calls a blocking foul to Blue #3.
Article 33.3: A defensive player has established an initial legal guarding position when
facing the opponent.
having both feet on the court.
Article 33.4: When judging a charge/block situation involving a player with the ball, a referee shall use the following principles:
The defensive player must establish an initial legal guarding position by facing the player with the ball and having both feet on the court.
The defensive player may remain stationary, jump vertically, move laterally or backwards in order to maintain the initial legal guarding position.
When moving to maintain the initial legal guarding position, one foot or both feet may be off the court for an instant, as long as the movement is lateral or backwards, but not towards the player with the ball.
Contact must occur on the torso; in which case the defensive player would be considered as having been at the place of contact first.
Having established a legal guarding position, the defensive player may turn within the cylinder to avoid injury.
Outcome: Incorrect decision by the referee. Blue #3 had established an initial legal guarding position, moved laterally and the contact occurred on his torso. A team control foul, for charging, should have been called to White #61.
TC2: Bertram Derthona Basket vs. Peristeri Domino's - UNSPORTSMANLIKE FOUL
After the initial jump ball, the Blue team gets control of the ball. During the first offense, and while Blue #31 has the ball, a contact occurs away from the ball. The referee calls a personal foul to White #12 on Blue #22. The referees are unsure to whether the contact created by White #12 met the criteria to be considered an Unsportsmanlike Foul and decide to check the IRS. After the review, the foul is upgraded to an unsportsmanlike foul.
Article 37.1.1: An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact which is:
Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent.
Outcome: Incorrect initial decision by the referees, personal foul, corrected after the IRS review. The IRS review can be used at any time to check whether a personal, unsportsmanlike or disqualifying foul met the criteria for such a foul, or shall be upgraded or downgraded, or shall be considered as a technical foul.
The contact created by White #12 met one of the criteria to be considered an unsportsmanlike foul. Blue #22 shall be awarded two free throws and the game shall be resumed with a Blue team throw-in, from the throw-in line in the Blue teams frontcourt opposite the scorers' table, and 14 seconds on the shot clock.
TC3: Karsiyaka vs. Promitheas Patras BC Vikos Cola - GOALTENDING
Black #11 attempts a hook shot near the basket and the ball is blocked by White #77. The referee calls a goaltending violation and awards two points to Black #11.
Article 31.2.1: Goaltending occurs during a shot for goal, when a player touches the ball whilst it is completely above the level of the ring and:
It is on its downward flight to the basket.
After it has touched the backboard.
Outcome: Correct decision by the referee. The ball was on its downward flight to the basket when touched by White #77.
TC4: Falco-Vulcano Szombathely vs. Maccabi Ramat-Gan - BLOCKING FOUL
Yellow #5 receives the ball and starts to dribble towards the opponents' basket. A contact with Blue #11 occurs and the referee calls a blocking foul to the defender. Afterwards, the referee says that the basket is valid.
Article 33.3: A defensive player has established an initial legal guarding position when
facing the opponent.
having both feet on the court.
Article 33.4: When judging a charge/block situation involving a player with the ball, a referee shall use the following principles:
The defensive player must establish an initial legal guarding position by facing the player with the ball and having both feet on the court.
The defensive player may remain stationary, jump vertically, move laterally or backwards in order to maintain the initial legal guarding position.
When moving to maintain the initial legal guarding position, one foot or both feet may be off the court for an instant, as long as the movement is lateral or backwards, but not towards the player with the ball.
Contact must occur on the torso; in which case the defensive player would be considered as having been at the place of contact first.
Having established a legal guarding position, the defensive player may turn within the cylinder to avoid injury.
Article 15.1.3: The act of shooting in a continuous movement on a drive to the basket or other moving shot:
Starts when the ball has come to rest in the player’s hand(s), upon completion of a dribble or a catch in the air and the player begins the shooting motion preceding the release of the ball for a goal.
Outcome: Correct decision by the referee. First, the contact created by Blue #11 did not occur on his torso, so he is not considered to have been at the place of contact first. Therefore, he committed a blocking foul. Then, Yellow #5 had already finished his dribble and the ball was already resting in his right hand when the contact occurred, so the act of shooting has already begun and the basket, if made, shall count. The game shall be resumed with one free throw for Yellow #5.
TC5: Manisa Basket vs. NINERS Chemnitz - TEAM CONTROL FOUL
White #25 receives the ball and starts a dribble towards the opponents' basket, guarded by Black #33. The referee calls a personal foul to Black #33.
Article 33.14: Holding is an illegal personal contact with an opponent that interferes with an opponent's freedom of movement. This contact, holding, can occur with any part of the body.
Outcome: Incorrect decision by the referee. It was White #25 who created the illegal contact by clamping the defender and interfering with his freedom of movement to play defence. A team control foul should have been called and a throw-in awarded to the Black #33.