Happy 2012!  I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday break and was able to spend time with family and friends.  The weather has been outstanding so far this season – let’s hope it stays this way through March!  Below are a few items that have come to my attention and that I have observed at games I’ve attended so far this season.

TRAVELING

The traveling rule continues to be one of the most misunderstood rules in basketball.  To start a dribble, the ball must be released before the pivot foot is lifted.   On a pass or shot, the pivot foot may be lifted, but may not return to the floor before the ball is released.   A player may slide on the floor while trying to secure a loose ball until the player’s momentum stops.  At that point, the player cannot attempt to get up or rollover.  A player securing a ball while on the floor cannot attempt to stand up unless that player first starts a dribble.   A player in this situation may also pass, shoot, or request a timeout.  If the player is flat on her back, that player may sit up without violating.  There is no pivot foot when a player is on her back or sitting up, so simply moving one or both feet while laying or sitting on the floor does not constitute traveling.

Officials need to work hard to identify the pivot foot and remember that just because a play might look ugly, doesn’t mean it’s illegal.  Also, the step-through, Euro-step, and crossover moves are legal WHEN EXECUTED PROPERLY.  Officials must determine when the player gathered the ball to determine which foot is the pivot foot to further determine whether the play is legal.

Consider the following plays: A1 receives a pass 10 feet from team A's basket.  A1 jumps to shoot but fear the shot may be blocked and lets go of the ball prior to returning to the floor.  After returning to the floor, A1 (a) recovers the ball, or (b) dribbles it.  Legal?

Ruling: It is a violation in both (a) and (b).  Since A1 touched the ball again after releasing it, A1's initial release of the ball while in the air (not on a try) constituted the start of a dribble.  A player may not begin a dribble after her pivot foot has left the floor.  Since A1's pivot foot was off the ground when the dribble effectively began, a traveling violation results.  Had A1 not touched the ball after returning to the floor, the play would be legal.

A1 attempts a try for goal that is an air ball.  A1 follows the shot and recovers the ball.  Legal?

Ruling: If the official judges the try for goal to be a legitimate shot attempt, then the action is legal.  If the official judges A1's actions to not be a sincere try for goal, then traveling should be called.

A1 drives to the basket for a lay-up attempt.  While A1 is in the air, B1 (a) knocks the ball out of A1's hands, A1 returns to the floor and recovers the ball, which did not touch the floor, (b) places a hand on the ball preventing A1 from releasing the try, A1 returns to the floor holding the ball, (c) touches the ball and A1 returns to the floor holding the ball. 

Ruling: In (a), the ball remains live and play continues.  In (b), a held ball should be called as soon as the official judges that the opponent's hand on the ball prevented A1 from releasing it on a try.  In (c), if the official judges that B1's touching of the ball did not prevent A1 from releasing the ball on a try, A1 has traveled.

TECHNICAL FOULS

Officials, when you have assessed a technical foul to the head coach, I highly recommend you rotate across the court to avoid any possible confrontation with the coach near the bench.  If you assess a technical foul to a player or bench personnel, please be certain of what is said, and in most cases officials need to be certain of to whom it is said.  There are of course those instances when certain magic words and phrases are spoken that are automatic technical fouls no matter to whom they are spoken (or yelled).  If a technical foul is assessed to someone other than the head coach, I recommend the calling official explain to the head coach what happened.  If for whatever reason the calling official is unable or unwilling to explain the situation to the head coach, that official needs to be sure one of his/her partners does tell the coach what behavior or actions led to the technical foul.  It is the officials' responsibility to inform the coach what happened in these situations.  This is part of being a good communicator on the court.

BENCH CONDUCT RULE

Remember that our bench conduct rule allows for ONE coach to stand and coach his/her players when the clock is not running.  ANY coach may stand – not just the head coach.  In the games I have observed, coaches are doing a very nice job of abiding by this rule.  Keep up the good work!

BEHAVIOR AND RESPONSIBILITY OF BENCH PERSONNEL

Head coaches are responsible for the behavior of the personnel on their team bench, including assistant coaches, players (during intermissions), substitutes, managers, statisticians, trainers, etc.  If they are on your team bench, they are your responsibility.  I witnessed a game before the holiday break where a "fan" was sitting at the end of a team bench acting like a fool - stomping around, screaming at the officials, flailing his arms, "coaching" the players, standing at the edge of the court engaging in stare-downs with the officials during timeouts - more than once, this person was so mad, he left the bench to go to the corner of the gym to cool down, and then returned.  I was appalled at this behavior, which went unaddressed by the officials, the head coach, or game management.  At first, I thought this person was an assistant coach, but I learned after the game that he was a "fan." This person should have been removed from the gym on at least four separate occasions.

This "fan" was lucky that he was able to see the entire game.  I certainly hope this behavior is not being repeated statewide.  If it is, it MUST be addressed.  Coaches, if one of your fans is going to sit on the end of your bench and engage in inappropriate behavior, it behooves you to at the very least ask that person to sit somewhere else.  The officials may or may not ask whether the person is truly bench personnel and a technical foul in this situation is not going to make anyone happy.  Game management, please pay attention to and address these situations.  If each school's administration manages their own crowd, many problems can be averted.  Officials, if you have to address this type of situation, first try to assess with the head coach whether or not the unruly person truly is bench personnel, so the head coach has a chance to address the situation.  If that doesn't work, or if the behavior is totally inappropriate, simply assess a technical foul (and eject if warranted) if the person is bench personnel, or find game management so they can take care of the situation. 

Athletic Directors, if an official requests that a spectator be removed, that means removed from the school building - not out in the hall or to a different spot in the gym.  If the spectator's behavior has reached the point that the official requests their removal - remove the spectator.  It is within the authority of the officials not to continue the contest until this request is granted.  Please don't let it get to that point!

COACHES CONFRONTING OFFICIALS AFTER GAMES

I have had a handful of reports of coaches confronting and berating officials after games.  That is not the time or the place.  Talk to your athletic director, your conference assignor, or me if you have concerns.  We're all in this together for positive outcomes for our student-athletes.  Post-game confrontations have no place in high school activities.

OFFICIALS BREAKING CONTRACTS

I have also had a handful of reports of officials not honoring contracts (written, emailed, accepted on website) and often "trading up" for perceived "better" high school games or college games.  If the school, assignor, commissioner, etc. is willing to let you out of your original contract and suitable replacements are available, this practice is acceptable.  Many assignors and schools want to see you move up and better your officiating career.  But taking this action on your own when a school is expecting you or your crew and other officials show up is unacceptable and can have consequences on your officiating license.  Be honest and professional and communicate with the appropriate parties involved.  If a trade or replacement is not available, you may just have to work the game to which you originally committed.

NUMBERING ON UNIFORMS

A reminder that this is the final season in which the numbers 01, 02, 03, 04, and 05 will be legal.  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 0 or 00 will still be permissible in the future.  Also, remember that we did away with the numbering adaptation that required home uniforms to have even numbers and road uniforms to have odd numbers.  The digits 6, 7, 8, 9, and any number higher than 55 are illegal basketball numbers and are never permissible in junior high or high school – in Pink Out games or otherwise.  Please keep this information in mind when ordering new uniforms.

CASTS/BRACES/SPLINTS/ETC.

A guard, cast, or brace made of a hard and unyielding substance, such as but not limited to, leather, plaster, plastic, or metal shall not be worn on the elbow, hand, finger/thumb, wrist, or forearm – even though covered with soft padding.  A player may use a soft wrap, athletic tape, soft brace, soft sleeve, etc. to support and protect an injury at or below the elbow.  Hard and unyielding items (guards, casts, braces, etc.) on the upper arm or shoulder must be padded with a closed-cell, slow-recovery foam padding no less than one half inch thick.  Knee and ankle braces which are unaltered from the manufacturer’s original design/production are permitted and do not require any additional padding/covering.  A protective face mask may be worn and be made of hard material, but must be worn molded to the face with no protrusions.  All of these items must be worn for medical reasons, but a doctor’s note is NOT required.  When the coach verifies to you that his/her players are legally equipped, he/she is also verifying to you that his/her players are wearing any of this equipment for medical reasons.

REGIONAL PAIRINGS/OFFICIALS ASSIGNMENTS

Regional basketball pairings will be released Monday, Jan. 23, and regional basketball officiating assignments will be released Monday, Jan. 30.

Overall, the season really is going well.  The items in this memo are just a few things we can all work together to improve on.  Keep working hard to stay focused throughout the entire game, be a good communicator, and always be professional.  Please feel free to call or email anytime, and I’ll be in touch again soon.

Joel Oswald

Assistant Director