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: Manisa Basket vs. FMP SoccerBet - GOALTENDING
Red #3 makes a layup and the ball is blocked by White #9. The referees let the play continue.
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, or
After it has touched the backboard.
Outcome: Correct decision by the referees. The ball was still on its upward flight to the basket. Legal play.
TC2: Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball vs. Karsiyaka - CHARGE
Red #16 receives a pass and drives towards the opponents' basket. White #1 comes into Red #16's path and a contact occurs. The referee calls a blocking foul to White #1.
Article 33.3: A defensive player has established an initial legal guarding position when
facing the opponent, and
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 referees. White #1 had established an initial legal guarding position, moved laterally and the contact occurred on his torso. Therefore, a team control foul to Red #16, for charging, should have been called.
TC3: Pallacanestro Reggiana vs. Falco-Vulcano Szombathely - BACKCOURT VIOLATION
White #11, who is in the paint, passes the ball to White #5, close to the centre line. White #5 tries to control the ball with his right hand, but the ball bounces on the floor and is then controlled by White #5. The referee calls a violation; ball illegally returned to the backcourt.
Article 30.2: A team which is in control of a live ball in its frontcourt may not cause the ball to be illegally returned to its backcourt.
Article 30.1.2: A team in control of a live ball in the frontcourt has illegally returned the ball to its backcourt, if a player of that team is the last to touch the ball in the frontcourt and the ball is then first touched by a player of that team:
Who has part of the body in contact with the backcourt, or
After the ball has touched the backcourt of that team
Outcome: Incorrect decision by the referees. The ball never touched the White team backcourt and when White #5 came in contact with the ball again, no part of his body was in contact with his backcourt. Therefore, the game should have continued.
TC4: SL Benfica vs. NINERS Chemnitz - CHARGE WITHOUT THE BALL
Black #7 drives to the basket and passes the ball. Then, a contact with defender White #15 occurs. The referees call a team control foul to Black #7 for charging an opponent.
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: Correct decision by the referees. White #15 had established an initial legal guarding position, with both feet on the floor and facing his opponent when the contact on his torso occurred. This is a charge without the ball.
TC5: AEK Betsson BC vs. Telekom Baskets Bonn - FOUL IN THE ACT OF SHOOTING
Yellow #77 attempts a three-point shot. Pink #54 tries to block the shot and a contact occurs. The ball enters the basket, and the referees call a foul to Pink #54, awarding one free throw to Yellow #77.
Article 33.2: Principle of verticality
During the game, each player has the right to occupy any position (cylinder) on the court not already occupied by an opponent.
This principle protects the space on the court which the player occupies and the space above when jumping vertically within that space.
When the player leaves the vertical position (cylinder) and body contact occurs with an opponent who had already established that player’s own vertical position (cylinder), the player who left the vertical position (cylinder) is responsible for the contact.
Article 33.1: The boundaries of the cylinder of the offensive player with the ball are:
The front; by their feet, bent knees and arms, holding the ball above the hips.
The rear; by the buttocks.
The sides; by the outer edge of elbows and legs.
Outcome: Correct decision by the referees. Pink #54 jumped forward and invaded the shooter's cylinder, creating a contact on his left leg. The basket is valid, and the game shall be resumed with one free throw attempted by Yellow #77.