MIES (Switzerland) - Each week, experts are analyzing 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.

Tough Call 1: PAOK mateco vs Unicaja - Wrong Free Throw Shooter

Green 3 turns and attempts a shot, which is not successful. On the rebound, the referee calls a personal foul to White 35 for pushing Green 6, who was tapping the ball, in an attempt, to score. After reporting the foul, Green 1 attempts the first free throw, which is successful. After meeting, the referees decide to use the IRS to check who the free shooter should be. After the review, the referees cancel the free throw and award a throw-in to the White team.

F.3.3  The following game situations may be reviewed at any time during the game:

• to identify the correct free-throw shooter.

Art. 44.1  Referees may correct an error if a rule is inadvertently disregarded in the following situations only:

• Permitting the wrong player to attempt a free throw(s).

Art. 44.3.3  The free throw(s) attempted, and the possession of the ball if part of the penalty, shall be cancelled and the ball shall be awarded to the opponents for a throw-in from the free-throw line extended, unless the game has continued and was stopped for the correction of the error or penalties for further infractions are to be administered, in which case the game shall be resumed from the place it was stopped to correct the error.

Outcome: First, incorrect decision from the referees, since White 18 committed a foul on shooter Green 3. Then, correct decision during the rebound, since White 35 pushed Green 6 on his act of shooting, whilst tapping the ball towards the opponents’ basket. Two free throws should be awarded to Green 6.

However, it was Green 1 who attempted the first free throw. The control by the referees was not properly carried out. According to the Official Basketball Rules this situation is amongst the correctable errors. The referees followed this special procedure: as the game had not resumed yet, they cancelled the free throws and awarded the ball for a throw-in to the opponents. The throw-in should have been administered at the free throw line extended, not behind the endline.

Tough Call 2: MHP RIESEN vs Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem - Charge

Red 35 sets a pick and rolls to the basket. He receives the ball, passes it to a teammate in the corner and crashes against Yellow 23, who is outside the no-charge semicircle area.

Art. 33.3  A defensive player has established an initial legal guarding position when:
• He is facing his/her opponent, and
• He has both feet on the court.

Art. 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.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. Yellow 23 occupied a place on the court, outside of the no-charge semicircle area, before Red 35 jumped for the pass. After the pass, a contact against Yellow 23’s torso occurred. This is a charging foul without the ball.

Tough Call 3: ERA Nymburk vs Igokea m:tel - Blocking

 Blue 45 dives to the basket after the pick and receives the ball. A contact with White 7 occurs and the referees call a blocking foul.

Art. 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.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. White 7 is responsible for a blocking foul as the contact didn’t occur on his torso. Blue 45 shall be awarded 2 free throws.

Tough Call 4: Rytas Vilnius vs Bnei Ofek Dist Herzliya - Foul not in the act of shooting

White 21 attempts a 3 point-shot. The ball does not enter the basket. The referee calls a personal foul to Blue 23 for pushing and awards 2 free throws to White 21.

Art. 15.1.2  The act of shooting ends when the ball has left the player’s hand(s) and, in case of an airborne shooter, both feet have returned to the floor.

Art. 41.2.1  When a team is in the team foul penalty situation, all following player personal fouls committed on a player not in the act of shooting shall be penalized by 2 free throws, instead of a throw-in. The player on whom the foul was committed shall attempt the free throws.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. White 21 ended his act of shooting when both feet returned to the floor. After that, Blue 23 pushed him and the personal foul was called. White 21 was awarded 2 free throws because the Blue team was already in the team foul penalty situation, as this was their sixth foul in the quarter.