ALBERTA BASKETBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION

ABOA Members,
As we are just past the halfway point in the ACAC season and nearing the January exam
break in the ASAA season it is time for an update on some rule interpretations and mechanics
issues that have arisen since we started play this season.
ASAA
Uniforms: The FIBA rule prohibiting players from wearing T-shirts does NOT apply to high
school play.
FIBA RULE CHANGES – ALL LEVELS
We have received the most questions in regards to rule 36.1.4. The questions are in two
areas. The first question has to do with the situations related to an offensive player being
fouled during a fast break by the last Team B defender. If the contact is ruled to be a foul and
the player has not begun “the continuous movement normally preceding the release of the
ball … an attempt to score by throwing, tapping or dunking the ball towards the opponents’
basket” then the action is to be considered an unsportsmanlike foul.
If the offensive player has begun the continuous movement as described in rule 15.2 then the
action by the defender is to be considered a shooting foul and the normal penalties will apply.
This call shouldn’t be happening all that often and officials should be careful not to apply a
different standard when judging contact on a fast break then it other open floor situations.
Remember the principles of speed, balance, quickness and rhythm must be used when
evaluating contact on any dribbler.
The second part of rule 36.1.4 has to do with contact initiated by the defensive team during a
throw-in. If the ball has not left the inbounder’s hands and a foul is called then by rule it must
be an unsportsmanlike foul. This is an interpretation that can be found in the 2008 FIBA
interpretations. Officials must be prepared and see the whole play. The penalty here is quite
severe given the circumstances so officials need to have a patient whistle and not be too
quick to immediately blow the whistle. Make sure that the offensive team has been clearly
disadvantaged and the foul completely prevents the throw in from being released.
Please read Fred Horgan’s comments on some the other new rule changes. Fred is a member
of the FIBA technical commission and has a great deal of involvement in the writing of the
rules.
Art. 25.2.3: If a player who is holding the ball losses his/her balance and falls to the
floor and that player’s momentum causes that person to slide before coming to a stop,
no travel violation has been committed
The key to interpreting this change is the allusion to sliding. For some time it has been legal
in FIBA for a player who loses balance to fall to the floor. With the new rule, a player who
ends a dribble or receives the ball while quickly moving and then loses balance, falls
inadvertently and slides to a stop does not commit a violation.
ALBERTA BASKETBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION

Art. 28.1.3: If a player is dribbling from the backcourt to the frontcourt, the ball does
not enter the frontcourt until both feet of the player as well as the ball are touching the
frontcourt.
For a player who is holding the ball rather than dribbling it, there is no change in the rule
from previous years.
o If that person is touching the frontcourt only, then the ball is in the frontcourt.
o If he/she is touching the backcourt only, then the ball is in the backcourt.
o If the player is straddling the centre line (i.e., touching both courts), then the status of
the ball is determined by the direction it came from. If it came from the backcourt,
then it is now in the frontcourt, and vice versa.
The rule change only concerns a dribbler who is moving from backcourt to frontcourt.
Art. 30.1.2: Ball returned to backcourt
If a player establishes team control while airborne, that player’s status relative to the floor
(backcourt/frontcourt) will not be established until the player returns both feet to the floor.
Normally, a player who is airborne retains and who receives the ball is considered to have the
same status relative to the floor as when that last was touching the floor before jumping.
This generated two unfair situations.
o If a player were to leap into the air from his/her backcourt to intercept a break-out
pass by the opponents and then land so as to touch the backcourt, this was considered
an illegal return of the ball to the backcourt. A good defensive play was thereby
negated.
o If an airborne player, on the jump ball, were to jump from his/her frontcourt, establish
control of the legally tapped ball and then land in the backcourt, this too was
previously an illegal return of the ball to the backcourt.
The new rule now establishes these two situations as exceptions. The key to the change is
that the airborne player must be establishing team control. If, for example, team A had
already established team control and a team A player were to be involved in either of these
situations, a violation would occur.
MECHANICS - ALL LEVELS
Reporting numbers:
Officials are to use one hand when reporting numbers to the scorekeeper except for No.’s
6,7, 8 and 9. This would mean that if a team had numbers 10-15 the official would still use
one hand and report each digit separately.
Substitutions:
After the horn sounds for a substitution opportunity and prior to beckoning the players onto
the floor the administrating official will sound his/her whistle. If during the same dead ball
period other substitutes report to the table no further whistles are required. Remember during
a timeout or in the interval between quarters substitutes only need to report to the
scorekeeper to enter the game.
End of Quarter:
In two person the Trail and in three person the official facing the table will make the
decision on a last second shot attempt. If a shot occurs just prior to the horn then the calling
official will NOT sound the whistle until the shot has entered the basket or has clearly
missed. If the shot occurs after the horn then the calling official WILL IMMEDIATELY
ALBERTA BASKETBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION

sound the whistle and indicate that regardless of the outcome of the shot no points can be
scored. If the quarter ends with no scoring attempt or contested action then NO whistle is
required.
MECHANICS – ACAC
Some of provincial evaluators were in Calgary for the SAIT Christmas tournament and have
asked that the 3 person crews address the following areas during the remainder of the season.
Shot Clock Responsibilities:
The covering official on the play either Trail or Centre has the first responsibility. If missed,
the opposite official should make the call. If the ball is in the Lead’s primary then the Trail
should make the call. This must be discussed in the pregame.
Lead Positioning:
In transition, the new Lead needs to be aware of where ball is at and should set up according
to the best possible position to see primary coverage and still be aware of the ball. Find a
position where you can see spaces and “mirror” the ball with a more acute angle relative to
the hoop and scoring area on most set-ups. This prevents bleeding to the top into T & C
coverage. On C side drives pinching and drop-stepping off baseline gives help to the C if
they are screened or late getting into position. Strong side post action needs "tighter to paint
set-up" to see arm contact on a shot, push off by offence, etc but still should be slightly
'Outside - In' to be ready for dump to open player on weak side (avoiding a quick anticipation
whistle) and subsequent rebounding. Too many plays are missed if the Lead has head and
shoulders closed off to the scoring area by pinching and looking back, then having to turn
back in.
Timeout Positioning
Positioning during timeouts as well as the intervals between quarters 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 is
similar to the pregame positions. All three officials should be facing the table, one official in
the middle near the centre line and the remaining officials on opposite sides. The officials
may be on the floor between the centre circle and the sideline or on the sideline if there are
promotional activities occurring.
Communication With Coaches
In December I had the opportunity to attend the ACAC coaches meetings. The coaches did
offer many positive reports from the first half as well as some concerns. Without a doubt the
top of the list involves communication between coaches and officials.
I want to remind you of the necessity of maintaining a professional approach when speaking
with coaches. Some behaviours by coaches need to be penalized without any warnings.
Others may require a warning. If warnings are required they need to be direct and brief. A
warning is not designed to embarrass the coach but rather to offer him/her a chance to modify
their words and or behaviours. Finally remember that warnings need to be addressing
potential rule violations. Telling a coach to sit down is not acceptable as by rule a coach may
stand within the team bench area. Warning a coach that their words or actions have reached
the limit of tolerance is completely correct and the ABOA supports officials in these
situations if coaches choose to continue to test the limits by refusing to end the unsporting
behaviour.