November 2007

The results of the refresher test, which we use to meet our obligation to NJSIAA to recertify all our officials, are in. Over 200 of you got question 74 wrong. This is more than five times the world record for wrong answers to any single question. Even the guys who got together in groups to discuss the questions got it wrong. How could that be when on page 3 of the case book the exact play is discussed and the correct answer given? Well, the official answer sheet for the test had the wrong answer for question 74. Draw your own conclusions.

            There were a number of questions on the test concerned with finding the point of interruption (POI). Some of these may not have been thoroughly analyzed, so I will summarize some of the logic here…

Question 18 was the simplest case. The throw-in is behind the semi circle because that’s where the ball was when the double foul was committed.

            For question 5 the POI is that B was entitled to a throw-in after being scored upon. The arrow position had nothing to do with the play.

            Questions 16 and 26 are essentially the same question. Team A had control at the time of the interruption so the POI is to give A the ball back. Try not to have any inadvertent whistles.

            Question 44 goes back to the definition of POI. This says that if a throw-in is in progress when the interruption occurs, that’s the POI.

            Question 63 requires a little thought. The ball stays alive until the foul try is ended because it was in flight. The try ends with the violation for missing the rim. Thus, the POI is B gets a throw-in for the violation.

            Question 70 is another POI question. After the double foul is charged, we give A-1 his second shot. It does not matter whether the first is made or missed.

            A number of people got question 11 wrong. The answer is yes. See case book play 3.4.15C on page 20.   

            Questions 20 and 55 were the same with one exception which made the answers different. In question 20 the screw-up is discovered too late to correct. See case book play 10.1.8 on page 78. Note that if you conclude that this action was due to confusion, say after a timeout, you would do everything listed except charge the technical. Obviously one wants to avoid this situation.

            Question 41 required some research. The book (9.4.penalty 4c) says a disconcerted shooter gets a substitute shot if he/she violates. A shooter who violates cannot score, but A-1 gets a sub throw because of the disconcertion.

            Question 43 is a cutie. No throw-in ends until the player RELEASES the pass and the ball is touched legally on the court. Thus, when A holds the ball through the boundary plane on an AP throw-in and B grabs it for a held ball, the AP throw-in has not ended. So A has not used its AP chance. Consequently A will get a “do over” AP throw-in. See case book play 6.4.5 B on p.50.

            In question 52 the point is that B’s lane violation before A takes a time out is not forgiven because of the time out. When A misses he gets a substitute shot.

            Question 51 has to do with the new rule that says a dribble ends when the D touches or is touched by the ball PROVIDED the dribbler loses control. That didn’t happen in this situation so A could not dribble a second time.

            Questions 6 and 69 are two sides of the same rule. All team members (even those in the game at the time) are bench personnel during all intermissions, BUT not during time outs. So bad action by a player during a time out does not require an indirect T to the coach, but during the intermission between quarters it does.

              Questions 53 and 68 require a little thought about how to resume play after the foul is charged. In both cases A has committed a team control foul. Penalty is a throw-in for B. To continue play, the lane will be cleared for A’s foul shots. B will then be awarded the throw-in. If the last shot is good, B can run the end line.

            A lot of people got question 66 wrong, which is disturbing. There is no team control during a throw-in. If B is in the bonus, they get 1+1 or 2 shots, not a throw-in. (See case book 4.19.7 C)

            Questions 37 and 46 are reminders that the resuming play procedure applies only after a time out or intermission ends provided both teams are on the court (not still in the locker room). Delaying the administration of a foul shot by huddling or high fiving gets a warning, and any repeat of ANY of the four cited delaying action merits a technical.

            Despite announcements at 2 meetings directing you folks to answer questions 2 and 56 according to the book, about 90 of you answered them according to how we will be calling them in NJ. The latter were the instructions given by the folks in Board 33. We and they should have gotten on the same page. My apologies for that, but no one was flunked on the test for giving the wrong answers on 2 and/or 56. Of course 56 said nothing about calling technical fouls and only quoted the rule, so I expected more correct answers to that one. Please remember that if you run into a VARSITY home team without white shirts you are to contact Carol Parsons at NJSIAA and let them handle it.

            The NFHS put out a couple of clarifications on the exemption from back court violations for players who are the first to gain possession of a jump ball or a throw-in while leaping from front court and landing in back court. If the throw-in of gumball has ended because it was touched, the exemption is cancelled and we have the violation.

            I have been told that PA. is going to enforce the white shirt rule with technical fouls. They told our guys that all states are doing it. Not so. So far I know that NJ and S. Carolina are not calling any T’s and for some reason the NY City public league is limiting technical fouls to 2 for the whole team.

            Have a great season and please feel free to contact me with any questions or strange plays. AS things come up we will post them (anonymously) on the web site for the edification of all. 

From time to time, I will be posting other plays of interest in Tip's, Tap, or Try section of the web site. I encourage you to call me or email (Interpreter@NWNJBOARD168.ORG). with your experiences, strange plays, and questions so that all members can learn from the experience of others. I assure you that all situations will remain anonymous. I hope to hear from many of you as the season progresses.  Have a great year.

Bill Kenney

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