MIES (Switzerland) - Each week, experts are analysing the games. In order to improve the understanding of referees' decisions and to increase the transparency towards our fans, we publish some of those "tough calls", together with an explanation.

Please find below last week's "tough calls":

Tough Call 1: Nizhny Novgorod vs Pszczólka Start Lublin - Held Ball

Black 9 starts a drive to the basket and two defenders try to prevent the score, with defender White 24 jumping to try to block the shot. The referee calls a held ball resulting in a jump ball situation.

Article 33.2 Each player has the right to occupy any position (cylinder) on the playing court not already occupied by an opponent. This principle protects the space on the floor which he occupies and the space above him when he jumps vertically within that space. As soon as the player leaves his vertical position (cylinder) and body contact occurs with an opponent who had already established his own vertical position (cylinder), the player who left his vertical position (cylinder) is responsible for the contact. 

Article 33.15 Pushing is illegal personal contact with any part of the body where a player forcibly moves or attempts to move an opponent with or without the ball.

Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees. Once that Black 9 had returned to the floor after the unsuccessful attempt to score, White 24 created an illegal contact against him by invading his cylinder from behind and a personal foul for pushing should have been called.

 

Tough Call 2: Peristeri vs SIG Strasbourg - Offensive Foul

Yellow 71 is dribbling the ball. After a screen by Yellow 24, defender Blue 15 switches and moves closer to the dribbler. A contact occurs and the referee calls an offensive foul to Yellow 71. 

Article 33.11 It is a foul by an offensive player with the ball to:

• ‘Hook’ or wrap an arm or an elbow around a defensive player in order to obtain an advantage. 

Article 34.1.1 A player shall not hold, block, push, charge, trip or impede the progress of an opponent by extending his hand, arm, elbow, shoulder, hip, leg, knee or feet, nor by bending his body into an ‘abnormal’ position (outside his cylinder), nor shall he indulge in any rough or violent play.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. Blue 15 didn't create any illegal contact with his opponent. It was Yellow 71 who created the illegal contact by wrapping up his opponent’s arm. The ball shall be awarded to the Blue team for a throw-in from the place closest to where the foul was committed.

 

Tough Call 3: Igokea vs Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem - Fake Being Fouled

White 23 is dribbling the ball and Black 35 tries to stop his progress by moving into his path. The referee calls a technical foul to White 23 for faking being fouled. 

Article 33.4 The guarding (defensive) player must establish an initial legal guarding position without causing contact before taking his position.

Once the defensive player has established an initial legal guarding position, he may move to guard his opponent, but he may not extend his arms, shoulders, hips or legs to prevent the dribbler from passing by him. 

Article 33.9 Blocking is illegal personal contact which impedes the progress of an opponent with or without the ball.

A player who is attempting to screen is committing a blocking foul if contact occurs when he is moving and his opponent is stationary or retreating from him.

Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees. Black 35 was late and blocked the dribbler with his knee. A personal foul should have been called and White 23 should have been awarded 2 free throws as the Black team was already in team fouls penalty in that quarter.

 

Tough Call 4: Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem vs Igokea - UF

During the rebound after an unsuccessful last free throw, Blue 32 pushes an opponent and the referee calls a personal foul. The referees decide to use the IRS to check if the foul should be upgraded to unsportsmanlike. After the review, the referees decide that the contact created by Blue 32 should be called as an unsportsmanlike foul. 

Appendix F 3.3

The following game situations may be reviewed:

• During any time of the game:
  • whether a personal, unsportsmanlike or disqualifying foul met the criteria for such a foul or shall be upgraded or downgraded or shall be considered as a technical foul. 

Article 37.1.1 An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact which, in the judgement of a referee is:

• Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. The contact created by Blue 32 against White 17 met one of the 5 criteria to be considered an unsportsmanlike foul. White 17 shall attempt 2 free throws with no line-up and the White team shall be awarded a throw-in from the throw-in line in their front court and 14 seconds on the shot clock.

 

Tough Call 5: Limoges CSP vs Türk Telekom - UF

Near to the end of the fourth period, Blue 5 secures a rebound. Defender Yellow 10 creates a contact and the referees call a personal foul. As the Yellow team was already in team fouls penalty in that quarter, Blue 5 was awarded 2 free throws. 

Article 37.1.1 An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact which, in the judgement of a referee is:

• Contact with an opponent and not legitimately attempting to directly play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules.

Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees. The contact created by Yellow 10 cannot be considered as legitimately attempting to directly play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules and therefore an unsportsmanlike foul should have been called. 

Blue 5 should have been awarded 2 free throws with no line-up and the Blue team should have been awarded a throw-in from the throw-in line in their front court. The shot clock should have been switched off as fewer than 14 seconds were remaining to the end of the game.

 

Tough Call 6: Peristeri vs SIG Strasbourg - UF

After Yellow 32 last successful free throw, Blue 24 makes a long pass. Blue 8 gets the ball and a contact occurs. The referee calls an unsportsmanlike foul to Yellow 15.  The referees decide to use the IRS to check if the foul should be downgraded to a personal foul. Finally, the referees decide that the contact created by Yellow 15 should be called as an unsportsmanlike foul. 

Appendix F 3.3

The following game situations may be reviewed:

• During any time of the game:
  • whether a personal, unsportsmanlike or disqualifying foul met the criteria for such a foul or shall be upgraded or downgraded or shall be considered as a technical foul. 

Article 37.1.1 An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact which, in the judgement of a referee is: 

• An illegal contact caused by the player from behind or laterally on an opponent, who is progressing towards the opponent’s basket and there are no other players between the progressing player, the ball and the basket. This applies until the offensive player begins his act of shooting

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. The contact created by Yellow 15 was illegal (illegal use of hands), it was committed from behind and there was no other Yellow player between Blue 8, the ball and the basket. The last condition was also met, as Blue 8 had not started the act of shooting yet.

Blue 8 shall attempt 2 free throws with no line-up and the Blue team shall be awarded a throw-in from the throw-in line in their front court and 14 seconds on the shot clock.