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: Falco-Vulcano Szombathely vs. Maccabi Ramat-Gan - FOUL IN THE ACT OF SHOOTING
Blue #3 receives a pass in the low post guarded by Yellow #10. During the drive to the basket, the referee calls a foul in the act of shooting to Yellow #10.
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. The ball was resting in Blue #3’s right hand when the illegal contact by Yellow #10 occurred. Blue #3 shall be awarded two free throws.
TC2: Nanterre 92 vs. Filou Oostende - ILLEGAL SCREEN
Red #16 dives to the basket when a contact with White #8 occurs. The referee calls a blocking foul to White #8.
Article 33.7: Illegal screening is when the player who is screening an opponent:
Was moving when contact occurred.
Did not give sufficient distance in setting a screen outside the field of vision of a stationary opponent when contact occurred.
Did not respect the elements of time and distance of an opponent in motion when contact occurred.
If the opponent is in motion, the elements of time and distance shall apply. The screener must leave enough space so that the player who is being screened is able to avoid the screen by stopping or changing direction.
The distance required is never less than one and never more than two normal steps.
Outcome: Correct decision. White #8 did not respect the elements of time and distance when setting the screen on a moving opponent, Red #16. This is a blocking foul.
TC3: Falco-Vulcano Szombathely vs. Maccabi Ramat-Gan - TRAVELLING/CHARGE WITHOUT THE BALL
Yellow #5 receives a pass at the top of the key and starts a drive towards the basket. A contact with Blue #15 occurs, and the Lead referee calls a team control foul to Yellow #5 for charging with the ball, also canceling the basket.
After a short discussion, the referees decide that the charging foul occurred after releasing the ball for the shot, award two points to Yellow #5 and two free throws to Blue #15 as the Yellow team were in the team foul penalty situation.
Article 25.2.1: A player who catches the ball while standing with both feet on the court:
The moment one foot is lifted; the other foot becomes the pivot foot.
To start a dribble, the pivot foot may not be lifted before the ball is released from the hand(s).
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 10.4: The ball does not become dead and the goal counts if made when:
The ball is in flight on a shot for a goal and:
A referee blows the whistle.
Outcome: First, incorrect decision by the referees as Yellow #5 committed a travelling violation for lifting his pivot foot before releasing the ball to start a dribble.
Then, the contact created by Yellow #5 on Blue #15 torso, who had established a legal guarding position before Yellow #5 left the floor for the lay-up, is a charging foul. Correct decision by the referee.
Finally, after the communication amongst the referees, the final decision of awarding the basket to Yellow #5 and two free throws to Blue #15 was the correct one, since the ball had already been released for the shot and the Yellow team were in the team foul penalty situation.
TC4: Falco-Vulcano Szombathely vs. Maccabi Ramat-Gan - ILLEGAL SCREEN, THROW-IN FOUL
With 57.5 seconds to the end of the 2nd overtime, the Blue team takes a throw-in from behind the endline in their frontcourt. A contact between Yellow #5 and Blue #10 occurs, and the referee calls a pushing foul to Yellow #5 and awards two free throws to Blue #10 as the Yellow team were in the team foul penalty situation.
Article 33.7: Illegal screening is when the player who is screening an opponent:
Was moving when contact occurred.
Did not give sufficient distance in setting a screen outside the field of vision of a stationary opponent when contact occurred.
Did not respect the elements of time and distance of an opponent in motion when contact occurred.
If the opponent is in motion, the elements of time and distance shall apply. The screener must leave enough space so that the player who is being screened is able to avoid the screen by stopping or changing direction.
The distance required is never less than one and never more than two normal steps.
Article 34.1.2: A throw-in foul is a personal foul committed, when the game clock shows 2:00 minutes or less in the fourth quarter and in each overtime, by a defensive player on an opponent on the court when the ball is out-of-bounds for a throw-in and still in the hands of the referee or at the disposal of the thrower-in.
Article 34.2.3: If the foul is committed as a throw-in foul:
The player who was fouled shall be awarded only one free throw, regardless of whether the offending team is already in the team penalty situation. The game shall be resumed with a throw-in by the non-offending team from the place nearest to the infraction.
Outcome: First, incorrect decision by the referees. Blue #10 did not respect the elements of time and distance when setting the screen on a moving opponent, Yellow #5. A team control foul should have been called to Blue #10 for blocking.
Then, when the referees called the foul on Yellow #5, the ball was still in the hands of the thrower-in, Blue #11. Therefore, this is a throw-in foul. Blue #10 should have been awarded one free throw and the game resumed with a Blue team throw-in from the place nearest to where the foul occurred.