BASKETBALL
EDITOR: SCOTT TITTRINGTON
stittrington@referee.com
RULES, MECHANICS, PHILOSOPHY
OPENING TIP(S)
A Clean Jump Ball Sets Proper Tone By Joshua Schroeder
I
A lot can go wrong during the jump ball to start a game. While referee Chuck Gonzalez, Huntington Beach, Calif., must be aware of the jumpers’ actions, his partner(s) must pay attention to the remaining eight players to make sure they are not doing anything illegal.
24 | REFEREE October 2021
DALE GARVEY
f you ask anyone how a basketball game starts, most everyone would probably tell you it begins with a jump ball. Unfortunately for officials, since this procedure routinely happens every game, barring any uncommon situations preventing it, it is almost always glossed over as standard operating procedure. But what if it is not? What if something uncommon does happen? Knowing what is legal and what is not could be the difference between starting your game cleanly or setting your crew up for continual unfocused complications down the line. So, what can you do to ensure you are ready? Let us simulate the beginning of a game and find out. Play 1: As the players enter the floor to start the game, the referee (or the official designated by the referee) stands with the ball at the division line, and the two remaining officials stand on opposite sides of the court at their respective 28-foot mark. After the jumpers enter the center restraining circle, the official making the toss begins to walk toward them to toss the ball. This is when the official notices jumper A1 only has one foot in the circle with the other foot completely outside the circle, and jumper B1 is turned around, facing the opponent’s basket. Is this legal? Ruling 1: A jumper is not required to face his or her own basket, but each jumper is required to have both feet inside the center restraining circle. Even though jumper A’s position is in violation of the rule, since the
