BASKETBALL

OPENING TIP(S)

A Clean Jump Ball Sets Proper Tone

By Joshua Schroeder

If 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

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.

jump ball has yet to officially begin, assessing a penalty is not necessary. Simply instruct jumper A1 to adjust his or her foot to correct the situation (NFHS 6-3-1; NCAAM/W 6-2.4).

Play 2: After the referee sounds the whistle, U2 notices A2 and A3 standing next to each other, shoulder to shoulder, on the center restraining circle. Since it is the primary responsibility of U2 to watch for the position and action of the eight non-jumpers, U2 quickly blows the whistle to break the two apart. Ruling 2: This whistle is not needed because occupying adjacent positions around the center restraining circle is not illegal unless an opponent indicates a desire to have one of those positions. If there is no conflict between opposing players for the same spot on the circle, no correction is needed and interruption of the jump ball administration should be avoided (NFHS 6-3-3; NCAAM/W 6-2.8).

The referee removes the whistle from his or her mouth and is now ready to toss the ball, and according to the rule as it is written, it should be upward between the jumpers in a plane at right angles to the sidelines (NFHS 6-3-4; NCAAM/W 6-2.6). But what does that mean? Simply put, the toss needs to be straight up and not “leaning” closer to one side, favoring a closer position to the jumper on that side. If this does happen, either U1 or U2 should sound the whistle immediately and call the toss back to be readministered.

Play 3: Once the ball is tossed properly, U2 observes A5 move around the circle into a new position. U2 withholds the whistle and allows the action to continue: Ruling 3: Movement onto and around the center restraining circle is only illegal between the time the referee is ready to toss the ball to the time the ball has left the referee’s hand. Since the ball was tossed and in the air, it is legal for players to move into a new position, as long as it is not already occupied by another player and as long as the players do not break the plane of the circle before the ball is touched by a jumper (NFHS 6-3-2; NCAAM 6-2.9).

The ball, having left the referee’s hands, is now on its upward flight and U1, whose primary responsibility is to watch the toss and rule on its legality, is focusing on just that, because if the ball is touched by a jumper before it reaches its highest point, it is a violation on that jumper. But how do we know the ball has actually reached its highest point? The rules tell us by stating the ball is to be thrown to a height greater than either jumper can jump so the ball will drop between them (NFHS 6-3-4; NCAAM/W 6-2.6). In other words, if the tossed ball is touched before U1 sees the ball move downward toward the jumpers, it should be judged to have not reached its highest point and therefore should be ruled a violation.

What if after the ball reaches its highest point, jumper A1 and jumper B1 each tap the ball simultaneously, causing the ball to travel back upward? A1 then taps the ball again, successfully deflecting it away from the opponent. The ball then falls to the floor and bounces back up and into the hands of A1. The referee, being responsible for the action of the jumpers, quickly puts the whistle in his or her mouth and blows the play dead for a violation. But was it? Let us examine the four restrictions placed on the jumpers and find out.

As described earlier, we know the jumpers must allow the ball to reach its highest point before touching the ball. They are also required to stay in the center restraining circle until the ball is touched. These two restrictions were not violated and therefore not the reason the whistle was blown. The third restriction states the jumpers are not allowed to touch the ball more than twice and according to this scenario, this was not violated either. Lastly, neither jumper shall catch the ball before the jump ball ends.

Wait a moment. One of the jumpers did catch the ball, but did the jump ball end? A jump ball ends when the ball touches a nonjumper, an official, the playing court, a basket or backboard (NFHS 6-3-8; NCAAM/W 6-2.2. According to this rule, as soon as the tapped ball touched the floor, the jump ball ended and along with it all restrictions as

BY THE NUMBERS

The number of NBA Finals selections for the 14 officials assigned to work the 2021 Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns:

14 – Scott Foster 10 – Tony Brothers, James Capers, Marc Davis 8 – Zach Zarba 5 – John Goble 4 – David Guthrie 3 – Kane Fitzgerald, Eric Lewis 2 – Pat Fraher, Josh Tiven 1 – Courtney Kirkland, James Williams, Sean Wright

Tony Brown, a Finals official in 2020, was named an honorary referee after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in April.

DID YOU KNOW?

The NBA is the only basketball league that plays with a 100 percent leather ball. Every other league features a ball that is covered by a composite material.

SOURCE: THEUNDEFEATED.COM

THEY SAID IT

“Referee the games like they matter. You’re trying to get better. If you go to camp trying to get hired, you never referee well because of the pressure. If you go and put into practice the feedback that you get from evaluators — that’s what you want to do. Go to camp to learn and work hard; good things tend to happen to those people.”

— Jon Levinson, NCAAW secretary-rules editor

TEST YOURSELF

In each of the following, decide which answer or answers are correct for NFHS, NCAA men’s and NCAA women’s rules, which might vary. Solutions: p. 81.

1. How long does the head coach have to replace a disqualified player? a. 10 seconds. b. 15 seconds. c. 20 seconds. d. 30 seconds.

2. What is the result when a player makes incidental contact with the net while the ball is on the basket, and that contact with the net has no effect on whether the ball successfully enters the basket or not? a. No penalty. Play shall resume uninterrupted. b. Basket interference. c. Goaltending. d. Technical foul.

3. How far is the three-point line from the basket in the middle portion of the court? a. 19 feet, 9 inches. b. 20 feet, 9 inches. c. 22 feet, 1-3/4 inches. d. 23 feet, 9 inches.

4. What is the result if the home team does not have a proper red light or red LED lights mounted on the backboard? a. No penalty. b. Team technical foul. Two free throws awarded. c. Administrative technical foul. One free throw awarded. d. Administrative technical foul. Two free throws awarded.

5. The numbers on team A’s jersey are not centered horizontally on the front of the jersey, but instead are located on the left side on the front of the jersey. What penalty shall be assessed during the game for team A’s jerseys? a. No penalty as the jerseys are legal. b. One technical charged to team A. c. One technical for every team A team member that enters the game. d. No penalty is assessed during the game. The game officials should notify their conference coordinator about the illegalities, and it is up to the conference office to deal with the school and its uniforms. well. The fact that A1 caught the ball after it bounced back up is no longer relevant.

Knowing all the restrictions placed on jumpers and non-jumpers alike is important but knowing when these restrictions apply and when they do not is even more important to properly ruling on the legality of the jump ball. If you understand these restrictions in their totality, you should not find yourself in a situation having to explain to a coach why you missed or improperly ruled on a violation before the game even gets underway.

Officials are in complete control on how the game will start and the jump ball should be executed with total dedication and focus to ensure the tone of the game is set at the highest level of expectation. Joshua Schroeder, Schaumburg, Ill., is a certified state clinician and the founder of the Officials Institute, a nationwide online officials association and YouTube training channel for high school basketball officials. 

The NFHS, NCAAM and NCAAW rule codes all state that the toss on a jump ball must be tossed at a height greater than either jumper can jump so that it will drop between them.

Requests From Your Scorer

By Sarah Shartzer

If I told you I had injured myself keeping the official book at a basketball game, you’d probably think, “tiny papercut.” Or the very worst you could imagine might be, “knocked over by an errant ball or hustling player.” But nope — I’ve broken my ankle while keeping score. Admittedly, it’s not as exciting as it sounds, as it involves falling off a bleacher because an official was calling me over during halftime to check a foul. But I say this up front to prove that I’ve put blood, sweat, tears and even compound fractures into high school basketball scorekeeping during the last 20 years.

During this time, I’ve worked games with hundreds (possibly thousands) of high school officials, and many have handled the table in a way I truly appreciate. My dad is a high school official, so I know how hard officials work and how demanding the job is on the court. Through the procedures that require us to interact, casual conversations and actions that are likely indiscernible to anyone above court level, officials can make my job a lot easier and I can do the same for you. I try to run an efficient table and do everything literally “by the book,” so here are my requests for you:

• Get to the reporting area.

When communicating with the table, do so from the designated area (see MechaniGrams A and B on pg. 30) and at a complete stop (NFHS Officials Manual 4.4.2C, 5.4.2C). In a noisy gym, I’m often wholly reliant on your hand signals instead of what you are saying, and I need to be able to see you clearly.

• Be careful about your two-

handed foul calls. I much prefer onehanded number signals, but two hands have been the rule since 2017 (2-9-1). Please be aware of how and for how long you are signaling. Say the color first. Then I need the numbers to be in order (first digit on the right hand, second on the left hand) and I need you to hold them there long enough for me to see them. If you make a mistake and signal 42 while you say 24, that’s not a big deal, but take a moment to correct that with me rather than just assuming I’ll figure it out.

As a side note, the type of foul is not something I record — while players, coaches and spectators might want to know, I don’t mark whether it’s a handcheck or a block or a hold.

See “Scorer” p.28

CASEPLAYS

Correctable Error

Play: A1 is fouled while dribbling the ball. Team A is not in the bonus, but A1 is awarded bonus free throws. While A1’s first free throw is in flight, A2 contacts B2 in an excessive and unnecessary manner; the nearest official rules an intentional (NFHS and NCAAW) or flagrant 1 (NCAAM) foul. A1’s free-throw try is successful. At this point, the officials recognize team A is not in the bonus and A1 should not have been shooting free throws. Shall the free throw and foul be canceled? Ruling: Awarding an unmerited free throw is a correctable error. The last point at which to correct such an error is during the dead ball after the clock has been properly started. Since the error was recognized within that timeframe, it shall be corrected by canceling A1’s successful free throw. But an intentional (NFHS and NCAAW) or flagrant (NCAAM) foul that occurs during the unmerited free-throw attempt shall not be canceled. A2’s foul shall be assessed and play is resumed by awarding free throws to B2 (NFHS and NCAAM) or any team B player (NCAAW) (NFHS 2-10-1b, 2-102, 2-10-4, 4-19-3d, 10-7 Pen. 4; NCAAM 2-12.1.b, 2-12.2, 2-12.4, 4-15.2.c.1.a, 10-1 Pen. d.2; NCAAW 2-12.1.b, 2-12.2, 2-12.4, 10-13.1.e).

Incorrect Throw-in

Play: Following a traveling violation against A1 in team A’s freethrow lane, team B is to be awarded a designated-spot throw-in on the endline in team B’s backcourt. But the administering official informs thrower-in B2 that he or she may make the throw-in from any point along the endline and bounces the ball to B2. B2 leaves the designated spot and completes the throw-in by passing the ball to B3, who is inbounds. At this point, the officials realize team B should have had a designated-spot throw-in. Shall this mistake be corrected? Ruling: Awarding a non-designated-spot throw-in to a team when it should have had a designated-spot throwin is not a correctable error in all three rule codes. In NFHS and NCAAM, that mistake shall not be corrected and the throw-in stands. In NCAAW, the officials shall stop play and re-administer the throw-in (NFHS 2-10, 7-6-2; NCAAM 2-12, 7-6.5; NCAAW 2-12, 7-6.5, A.R. 25).

Clean, crisp signals delivered to the table from the proper location on the floor, as shown by Marcus Reed, Los Angeles, help ensure that the relationship between the game officials and the official scorer is a smooth one.

SCORER

continued from p.27 I obviously need to know if it’s a technical foul because that’s recorded differently, and if it’s an offensive foul, I will know that no free throws will be awarded. But otherwise, my focus is only on the color and number that you’re giving me. • Tell me what you want. While we’re having our pregame conference (NFHS Officials Manual, 1.7.1E) and you’re signing the book, feel free to list your expectations or even to test me a little so that you can be confident that I know what I’m doing. If you do something a little differently, I am happy to comply. When you come over at halftime to confirm the score and watch me change the arrow, keep me updated — I’m open to constructive criticism, but it’s easier when I have a few minutes to think about the adjustments I need to make before play resumes. • Hold your signals. Three-point signals are the only ones I have to see and record while the clock is running. Hold them for just a millisecond longer than you think necessary to be absolutely sure I’m recording the correct points and can confirm the visiting scorer saw the same thing. Additionally, many held ball calls are very quick — it’s helpful if you keep your thumbs up while you look for my arrow so that we can both acknowledge that I’m going to change the possession as soon as the ball is back in play.

• When you’re reporting to the table, look at the scorer — not the

timer and not the announcer. I’m your official scorer and I’m running the table. When you make a call, please make that call to me by making eye contact and pointing it in my direction. Even when I’ve introduced myself before the game and am wearing my striped shirt, many, many officials make their calls to the older men sitting at the table with me. Also, look to me for bonus signals, foul disqualifications and timeout counts — while anyone can hold up their fingers, I’m the only one with the official numbers.

• Help me manage substitutions.

NEW for 2021-22 ANNUAL EDITION EDITION built to get you back in action

We know you’re excited to get back on the court, and Prep Basketball has everything you need to be ready has everything you need to be ready Day 1. New and recent rule changes Day 1. New and recent rule changes broken down, Points of Emphasis broken down, Points of Emphasis clarifi ed and tough situations made clarifi ed and tough situations made simple – all in a full-color, magazinesimple – all in a full-color, magazinesized annual guide you’ll actually sized annual guide you’ll actually enjoy using to prepare.

HandPicked Articles

SIZE: 8”x11” PAGES: 104

Latest NFHS Rules & Mechanics Changes

100+ Caseplays and Test Q&As Full Color Photos & Diagrams

learn more at STORE. /basketball

DIGITAL PRINT $1795* $1895*

COMBO $2395

I’m doing my best to get players up to the “X” and ready to check in before telling the timer to buzz the horn to notify you (1-17). Please don’t wave players in from the bench/coach’s box or let them check in after the first horn of a timeout after I’ve said “no” (3-31a). After this happens once in a game, it becomes a bit of a free-for-all and gets chaotic for all of us.

• Listen for interactions at the

table. On a fairly regular basis, I have to tell someone to stop coaching or cheering from the table. Occasionally this is my own timer or announcer, but often it’s the visiting scorer or a statistician. Additionally, watch the way coaches are interacting with us — it’s rare, but I have been yelled at over a disputed possession arrow and had my timer berated while trying to correct points that he already knew he’d entered incorrectly. If you hear me ask someone to stop doing something more than once, I’d appreciate your help at the next opportunity.

• Rely on the game manager or athletic director for anything that doesn’t go into the book, or if you’re

desperate, ask the announcer. During a game, I am always on duty, just like you are. If you run by the table and ask me to get someone to deal with an unruly fan or find a mop or anything else, it means my attention is off the book. Even texting someone else to deal with it isn’t always feasible. Ideally, there will be a designated game manager nearby, and you can communicate any non-scoring concerns to them. But if you must have help from the table, the announcer is your go-to person because he or she is the only one with a role that isn’t absolutely necessary to continue the game.

• Remember that most of us are

volunteers. A few schools pay their table workers, but most do not. While officiating is probably a paying gig for you, we’re usually compensated in popcorn and soda at best. Most of us are there because we love the game or the school or the kids, and we really are trying our best! Sarah Shartzer, Louisville, Ky., has been the official basketball scorer and a math teacher at Kentucky Country Day School and Atherton High School for 20 years. 

A

B

T

HOME

FOUL REPORTING AREA

3

3

4

FOUL 4

L 1 1

2 2 T

5 5

L L

FOUL 3 3

2 2 4

4 5 5

1

1

FOUL REPORTING AREA

X

SCORER & TIMER

VISITOR

C C

HOME

SCORER & TIMER

FREE GIFT WITH every 2021 BASKETBALL ORDER WITH every 2021 BASKETBALL ORDER

Your partner asks, “Did that defender upset the ballhandler’s RSBQ?” Do you know what to say? We’ve decoded all the latest basketball jargon and slang here! Make sure you’re in the know!

DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT YOUR PARTNERS ARE SAYING?

free with every basketball order from 9/1 to 12/31