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Referees / Fouls / Violations – The Basics The Referee (Official) The referee is the “official” judge of the game. All calls are usually final! Referees make good calls and some not so good calls, but it's very important to remember that being a referee is extremely difficult (they only have a “split second” to make the call). Referees are attempting to look at 10 players on the floor while having to listen to irate coaches and parents off the court. Coaches must not allow their players to lose focus because they are mad at the referees (this can take a player out of the game). Allow the Referees to do their job, and focus on your job as a coach. You will never see a Referee walk up to a coach and say “I made a bad call” and then stop the game to change the call. This will never happen! When a call is made, it is usually final (good or bad). There are “Fouls” and there are “Violations” Fouls are caused by physical contact (holding, pushing), or actions (acting out like you are going to hit another player but you don’t) or even extreme abusive yelling or cussing (technical foul). Violations are actions by players that break a basketball rule – such as travelling, stepping on the line, and back court.  | |  | Prior to each "Foul" call the referee will first perform this signal... | | Stop the Clock! Prior to each "Violation" the Ref will first perform this signal... |
“Fouls” Fouls are the act of making “illegal” physical contact with a player while the ball is in play. Fouls can occur from a defender bumping into a player dribbling the ball, reaching in and/or slapping the offensive player dribbling the ball, moving their body (bumping) into an offensive player, bumping or hitting a player taking a shot, elbowing a player. Players cannot elbow, grab / hold, punch, push, scratch at, or trip a player on the other team - these are all fouls. Offensive fouls can occur when the player dribbling the ball runs into a defender who has established position. Technical fouls can be called on players or coaches who are using unsportsmanlike conduct, too many players on the court, etc. Incidental Contact Incidental contact occurs when a defender makes contact with an offensive player and the contact is deemed insignificant (the referees do not call a foul). Incidental contact can also occur when two players are going for the ball at the same time, and they run into each other (it's very hard to determine which player ran into who first?). This type of contact is appropriate at times, but when allowed to continue for longer than it should, it can cause problems in the game (especially if left unchecked for too long). Holding Foul - A “Holding Foul” occurs when a defender holds, grabs, or pulls an offensive player (it doesn't matter if the offensive player has possession of the ball or not). Pushing Foul - A “Pushing Foul” occurs when a defender pushes an offensive player or bumps into the body of an offensive player. Illegal Use of Hands Foul - This is a foul called when a defender slaps, hacks, or smacks an offensive player with the ball. | IIIegal Use of Hands Signal |
Blocking Foul - A “Blocking Foul” occurs when a defender uses their body and makes contact with an offensive player with the ball (could be in the form of running into the player, or setting an illegal screen, etc). Charging Foul (Charge) / Player Control Foul - A “Charging Foul” occurs when an offensive player runs into (or over) a defensive player who already has position (the defender must first establish position). Other types of player control fouls are when a dribbler uses an elbow and hits a defender, or excessive physical contact by an offensive post player trying to gain position. See "team fouls" below for more information on how an offensive foul does (or does not) affect team foul totals when in a "1 in 1" situation (when a team reaches 7 fouls). | Player Control Foul Signal |
Flagrant Foul - A foul that is made with “extreme” contact (violent in nature), and appears to be in an “intentional” manner to hurt or injure a player (bumping, elbowing, kicking, pushing, etc). Ex: An offensive player is in the air (attempting a lay-up) and the defender pulls the players’ shirt (putting the offensive player in harms way). Note: At present time there is no specified signal for the Flagrant Foul (the ref uses the intentional foul call signal, then just verbally indicates that the foul was flagrant). Intentional Foul - A type of foul that is designed to “stop the clock.” Used mainly at the end of the game with the coach instructing players to “foul” in order to stop the clock - for a chance to gain possession of the ball. Remember, a coach should not yell out the word "foul" or the referee's can call this as an "intentional foul" (think about it - if you yell out "foul" and a player fouls, it is intentional, you verbally requested your players to intentionally foul). It's best to have some sort of signal or special word for this, I hold up my fist to signal the players to foul whenever the situation calls for it. Intentional fouls can also be called if there is “excessive” contact during a foul. Technical Foul - Fouls of unsportsmanlike conduct and / or non-game violations that referees feel are affecting the game. Misconduct of coaches, players, and spectators can also draw a technical foul if a referee feels it is necessary to keep the game under control. The penalty for a technical foul is usually one free throw and possession of the ball after the free throw is taken (made or missed). If a player or coach receives two technical fouls in a game it is an automatic disqualification for remainder of the game, and most high school leagues will suspend the coach or player for a game or two. Personal Foul Penalties: Shooting Foul (2 Point Shot) - If a player gets “fouled” while in the act of shooting (and the referee calls it), the player gets to shoot free throw(s). If the shot is made – the player gets to shoot 1 free throw, you will hear this called "And 1." If the shot is not made and a foul is called – the player gets to shoot 2 free throws. Shooting Foul (3 Point Shot) - If a player gets “fouled” while in the act of shooting a 3-point shot (and the referee calls it), the player gets to shoot free throw(s). If the shot is made – the player gets to shoot 1 free throw (which could turn out to be a 4-point play). If the shot is not made, and a foul is called – the player gets to shoot 3 free throws. | | | 3-Point Attempt Signal | | 3-Point Shot Good Signal |
Non-Shooting Fouls / Team Fouls: Non-Shooting Fouls: If an offensive player is fouled while not in the act of shooting the ball, the ball stays in possession with the team that the foul was committed on (they will get to inbound the ball out of bounds at the nearest sideline or baseline). When inbounding the ball the team with possession will have 5 seconds to pass the ball in to another teammate on the court. All fouls - including shooting fouls and non-shooting fouls add up and are counted as team fouls. Offensive fouls (player control fouls) do not count as a team foul. Team Fouls: Team fouls are the combined number of fouls that all the players on a team commit during one half of play. The fouls are totaled up and logged in by the scorekeeper in the official scorebook. When a team reaches 7 fouls, their opponent will get to shoot free throws – this is called a “one and one.” The player shooting the free throws gets to shoot 1 free throw, if they make it, they get to shoot another (one and one), if they miss the first free throw, they don’t get to shoot the second free throw. When a team reaches 7+ team fouls, their opponent is said to be in the "bonus" (and will start shooting free throws after getting fouled). When a team reaches 10 (or more) fouls, their opponent will automatically get to shoot 2 free throws. At half time the team fouls from the first half of the game are “zeroed” out, and team fouls are totaled all over again during the second half of the game. Important Note: Offensive fouls do not count towards team fouls (so when an offensive player happens to commit an offensive foul, the defense will not get to shoot free throws). I have seen many coaches complain during a game that when an offensive player commits a foul - why isn't his / her team shooting free throws (even if there are 7+ fouls, there are no free throws taken after an offensive foul).
Types of Violations: Traveling (also called Walking or Walk) - If a ball handler takes too many steps while dribbling the referee can call a violation (considered a turnover by the player and the possession of the ball goes to the other team). Also if a player has stopped dribbling and moves their pivot foot – this is also considered a traveling (or walking) violation. | Traveling Violation Signal |
Double Dribble (Illegal Dribble) - A dribbling violation occurs when a player stops dribbling and then attempts to dribble again or if a player attempts to dribble the ball with 2 hands.
 | Double Dribble (Illegal Dribble) Signal |
Carry (also called Palming) - A carry occurs when a player dribbles the ball with their hand too far under the ball (the dribble will look more like a carry than a dribble). Backcourt (Backcourt violation) - Once the Offensive team has passed the half court line, they cannot: a) dribble and/or b) pass back over the half court line. If this occurs, a “Backcourt” violation will be called by the referee and possession of the ball will go to the other team. | | Backcourt Violation Signal |
Inbound Pass Violation (5-Second Violation) - There are time restrictions that a player has when the ref hands them the ball to pass the ball into play. The player passing in the ball has five seconds to pass the ball in to another player. If the player fails to pass the ball in within 5 seconds, the ref will blow the whistle (5-second violation), and the ball is awarded to the other team.  | 5-Second Violation Signal |
10 Second Violation - When your opponent makes a basket, your team has 10 seconds to get the ball in play and past the half court line – if your team fails to do this within 10 seconds, the ball is awarded to the other team. | 10-Second Violation Signal |
Three Second Violation - An offensive player cannot remain in the "paint" area for more than 3-seconds, if the Ref happens to spot an offensive player in the paint area for more than 3 seconds, the whistle will blow, and the other team will get possession of the ball. | 3-Second Violation Signal |
Closely Guarded Violation - An offensive player cannot have possession of the ball for more than five seconds while being closely guarded by a defender. For example if an offensive player is dribbling the ball and is guarded closely by a defender for 5 seconds, the ref will blow the whistle, and the ball will be awarded to the other team. | Violation Counting Signal |
Jump Ball (also called Tie Up or Held Ball) - When an offensive player and a defensive player gain possession of the ball at the same time – the referee will blow the whistle. The referee will then look at the possession arrow (at the scorers table) and award possession to the team that the direction is pointing (possession is on a rotating basis). | Jump Ball / Tie Up Signal |
Out of Bounds Designation - When the ball goes out of bounds (for any reason), or a player with possession of the ball steps out of bounds - the referee will designate the spot where the ball went out of bounds. | Out of Bounds Designation Signal |
A Few Misunderstood Rules: a) Players can “recover” a fumbled ball, traveling does not occur during the time it takes the player to recover. A player must have control of the ball in order to travel, and a “fumbled“ ball is not considered having control of the ball. b) Players cannot travel while dribbling the basketball, traveling is considered taking one or more steps without dribbling. c) If a player attempts to set a screen and is moving, it is not considered a foul unless contact is made. d) The ball is not “out of bounds” if it rolls along the top edge of the backboard without touching the supports. Some Myths Regarding Common Basketball Rules: 1. “Reaching In” Foul – There is no foul called “reaching in” found in the rulebook. The act of simply “reaching in” is allowed unless contact is made. The referee can call a pushing or holding foul, but there is no “reaching in” violation. 2. A player dribbles the ball above their head – Dribbling the Ball above a players head line is not a violation, the only restrictions that pertain are: The ball cannot come to rest and/or the dribblers hand must stay on top of the ball. 3. “Over the Back” – Players are allowed to reach over the back of another player as long as no contact is made. A taller player simply reaching over the back of another player for the rebound (without making contact) has not committed a foul. Again, the referee can call pushing, holding, or illegal contact fouls, but there is no violation called “Over the Back” in the rule book. 4. Something to think about – If the out of bounds line is really “out of bounds” then why do referee’s call violations on players that step on this line (not over it) when in-bounding the ball? If this is truly “out of bounds” then it should be ok to step on it while passing in the ball? Stepping over the line is a violation, but stepping on the line from out of bounds?
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Refs / Fouls / Violations 
