MIES (Switzerland) - Experts analyze all Basketball Champions League, powered by Ameresco SUNEL games each week. In order to improve the understanding of referees' decisions and to increase transparency, we publish some of those Tough Calls, along with an explanation.
TC1: Trapani Shark vs. Bnei Penlink Herzliya - Offensive foul
Blue #16 drives towards the opponents' basket, stops and attempts a shot. A contact with White #3 occurs and the referee calls an offensive foul to Blue #16.
Article 33.1: Cylinder principle
The cylinder principle is defined as the space within an imaginary cylinder occupied by a player on the court.
The dimensions, and the distance between the player's feet, shall vary according to the height and size of the player.
It includes the space above the player and is limited to the boundaries of the cylinder of the defensive player or the offensive player without the ball which are:
The front by the palms of the hands.
The rear by the buttocks.
The sides by the outer edge of the arms and legs.
Article 33.2: Principle of verticality
During the game, each player has the right to occupy any position (cylinder) on the court not already occupied by an opponent.
This principle protects the space on the court which the player occupies and the space above when jumping vertically within that space.
When the player leaves the vertical position (cylinder) and body contact occurs with an opponent who had already established that player's own vertical position (cylinder), the player who left the vertical position (cylinder) is responsible for the contact.
Outcome: Correct decision by the referee. White #3 was inside his own cylinder and the contact was created by Blue #16, with his right arm to the defender's face.
TC2: Mersin Sports Club vs. Unicaja - Foul not in the act of shooting
Yellow #7 drives towards the opponents' basket and Green #27 creates an illegal contact on the offensive player, who releases the ball after the contact. The referee calls the foul and awards two points to Yellow #7.
Article 15.1.3: The act of shooting in a continuous movement on a drive to the basket or other moving shot starts when the ball has come to rest in the player's hand(s), upon completion of a dribble or a catch in the air and the player begins the shooting motion preceding the release of the ball for a goal.
Outcome: Incorrect decision by the referee.
The illegal contact occurred before the ball came to rest in Yellow #7 hands, so the foul was committed not in the act of shooting.
The basket should not be valid, and the game should be resumed with a throw-in for the Yellow team.
TC3: ERA Nymburk vs. ALBA BERLIN - Unsportsmanlike foul
Black #40 secures a rebound and on his approach to the basket creates a contact on the face of Purple #34. The referee calls an offensive foul to Black #40.
Article 37.1.1: An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact which is:
Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent.
Outcome: The contact created by Black #40 is an illegal contact.
However, this contact met one of the criteria to be considered an unsportsmanlike foul. The game should resume with two free throws for Purple #34 and a throw-in for the Purple team at the throw-in line in their frontcourt, opposite the scorers' table and 14 seconds on the shot clock.
TC4: Mersin Sports Club vs. Unicaja - Offensive foul
Yellow #7 makes a lay-up and a contact occurs on the face of Green #27. The referee calls an offensive foul to Yellow #7.
Article 33.1: The offensive player cannot spread the legs or arms outside of the cylinder and cause an illegal contact with the defensive player in order to gain an additional space.
Article 41.2.2: If a personal foul is committed by a player of the team in control of the live ball or of the team entitled to the ball, such a foul shall be penalized by a throw-in for the opponents.
Outcome: Correct decision by the referee.
The ball was still in the hand of Yellow #7 when the contact occurred, so it is an offensive foul. Even if the Yellow team were in the team foul penalty, no free throws shall be granted, and the game shall be resumed with a throw-in for the Green team.