February 2006

MID-SEASON PLAYS

Team Control foul situations

There is NO TEAM CONTROL on a throw-in, during a try, or a rebound until someone gains possession. Shoot the bonus if it applies.

There is TEAM CONTROL during passing activity, and during a loose ball (fumble, muff, defensive bat of ball away from a player in control), and during an interrupted dribble. If the offense fouls there should be no shots.

Unless a try has been released, an illegal screen is team control, as is as push by offensive pivot player. A pass followed by a charge is also team control. A foul, by the team that has control, while its players are scuffling around on the floor chasing a loose ball (not a rebound) is also a team control foul.

TO GET IT RIGHT:  Know when the bonus is about to kick in; have a red light go off in your brain when one of the above type fouls occurs; and take the time to think about it before announcing the penalty. You will probably have to explain it to the coaches.

Other plays

1) A-1 fouls B-1 on an unsuccessful try. During the report the coach merits a technical foul. The officials let any team B player shoot the technical foul shots and then have B-1 shoot the personal foul shots, leaving the rebound in play. Were the officials correct?

RULING: Absolutely %#*@ NOT.  Penalties are ALWAYS shot in the order of occurrence. The personal fouls should have been shot first with no one on the lane and then the T’s followed by a throw-in for B.

A reliable witness told me this screw up happened last weekend by a couple of well respected officials. The lesson is this: Unless you spend some time every week to keep refreshing your rules knowledge you run the risk of getting something wrong even if you are top notch.

 2) A-1 is fouled by B-1 on an unsuccessful try.  A-1 and B-1 start mouthing off at each other and a double technical foul is called. The officials report all the fouls and then let A-1 shoot, leaving the ball in play on the rebound Right?

RULING: That’s right. We go back to the point of interruption this year.

3) There is a collision in the lane. The trail calls a player control foul, but simultaneously, the lead calls a block. A double personal foul is decided upon and the officials use the AP arrow to administer the throw-in. Right?

RULING: No. Since one team had possession when the fouls occurred, we have to give the ball back to that team because it was the point of interruption when the double foul occurred. (This happened in a SHU game and the officials got it wrong.)

I encourage you folks to get in touch with me with any questions or strange plays, either by phone or email (Interpreter@NWNJBOARD168.ORG). I’m usually around in the mornings. but a phone call at a reasonable hour is fine. Have a great season.

Bill Kenney

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