BASKETBALL

TRAVEL PLANS

Pivot Foot Vital to Any Footwork Discussion

By Vladimir Figueroa

How many times have you seen a great move by a ballhandler, heard a fan or a coach yell, “That’s a travel!” and you react and rule it a traveling violation?

Every official has likely been guilty of this on some occasion. And when it happens, it means we are guessing on these plays and might be penalizing a great play just because it looked ugly or funny. A good mentor once told me, “There is no rule for ugly.” As such, we can’t whistle traveling violations on a play just because it’s ugly or atypical.

In order to correctly officiate a traveling violation, we must first know what the traveling definition is by rule. In all three rulebooks, traveling occurs when a player moves a foot or feet in any direction in excess of prescribed limits while holding the ball (NFHS 4-44; NCAAM/W 9-5.2). If a player catches the ball with both feet on the playing court, either foot can be the pivot foot; when one foot is lifted, the foot that remains on the floor becomes the pivot foot (NFHS 4-44-1; NCAAM/W 9-5.3). This principle also applies when an airborne player catches the ball and lands on the playing court with both feet simultaneously.

However, if we have an airborne player who lands on the playing court with one foot, the principle is not the same. When both feet are off the floor and the player lands with one foot followed by the other, the pivot foot would be the one he or she first landed on (NFHS 4-44-2a2; NCAAM/W 9-5.4.a.2). When the player lands on one foot, he or she is allowed to jump off that foot and then land simultaneously on both, in which

Being able to identify a ballhandler’s pivot foot is the biggest factor in allowing Clayton Brooks, Paris, Ky., to accurately rule on traveling violations.

case neither foot can then be the pivot foot (NFHS 4-44-2a3; NCAAM/W 9-5.4.a.3).

It’s very important we know these key points about traveling violations because it will help us get rulings involving footwork correct. If we can quickly identify the pivot foot in any of these situations, we more than likely are going to get the call right. It is a lot easier said than done, and it takes a lot of self-training and selftalking.

Missing these types of calls, like any others, puts one team at a disadvantage. If we call a travel on a legal move just because we’ve never seen it before or it looked ugly, as noted earlier, we take away the chance for a player of that team to beat his or her opponent to the hoop with a great play and potentially put points on the board. Conversely, if we let a ballhandler drag the pivot foot, lift it and return it to the playing court, or give that offensive player an illegal extra step to attack, that player is taking advantage with a move that can’t be defended by the opponent, potentially costing points to the defending team. Either way, we must do our very best to identify that pivot foot early and penalize it when it’s warranted and not call it when it’s a legal move.

Will we still miss these plays occasionally? Yes. Players move quickly and officials are human. If you believe you missed a traveling violation, the most important thing you can do in the moment is understand why that happened, whether you misapplied the rule itself or were not in a good position from a mechanics standpoint, and move on to the next play determined to not repeat the mistake. That’s the first step in improvement on how to officiate these plays.

The next step comes away from the playing court. If you know you have trouble identifying legal footwork, you should be committed to watching film and finding another official whom you trust to sit down and break down plays with you. Whether it’s game film of a contest you worked or from a game featuring other officials, video work provides a great opportunity to watch plays in real time and then slow them down to take a more detailed look at the items you need to be observing to properly officiate these plays. The more plays you watch and the more virtual repetitions you complete, the more you learn and the more you will improve.

Have your trusted advisor quiz you while you are breaking down these game films and use rulebook language to defend your rulings. Do this throughout the season and during each offseason and you will find yourself becoming more comfortable finding the pivot foot and officiating footwork plays.

Again, will all of this film study translate into oncourt perfection? No. But it will put you in position to become the best official you can be. Vladimir Figueroa, Orlando, Fla., officiates college women’s and high school basketball, and high school football. He has worked both the Florida High School Athletic Association and Georgia High School Association state basketball tournaments. *

Identifying a player’s pivot foot is key to accurately ruling on potential traveling violations.

BY THE NUMBERS

With Haywoode Workman no longer employed by the NBA after a 12-year stint as a staff official, Leon Wood becomes the lone former NBA player on the current officiating staff. Wood played six seasons in the NBA and is now in his 27th season as an official, having worked close to 1,500 regularseason and 25 playoff games.

DID YOU KNOW?

Other than games at UNLV, college hoop officials used to steer clear of Las Vegas to avoid the appearance of impropriety associated with sports betting.

Now, the pendulum has swung completely in the opposite direction, with the 2028 NCAA Men’s Final Four slated for Sin City’s Allegiant Stadium.

The four newest sites announced by the NCAA in November: 2027 — Detroit 2028 — Las Vegas 2029 — Indianapolis 2030 — Arlington, Texas

The NCAA also announced five new sites for the Women’s Final Four: 2027 — Columbus, Ohio 2028 — Indianapolis 2029 — San Antonio 2030 — Portland, Ore. 2031 — Dallas

QUICKTIP

All high school and youth level officials should make sure

the pregame and halftime discussions with their partners in the locker room include these three topics: pregame technical fouls, stateadopted “mercy rules” (if applicable) and overtime

procedures. Nothing looks worse than a crew that is not prepared to handle these administrative situations and has to have one of the officials go darting off to the locker room to grab a rulebook and seek additional guidance. Understanding each of these situations is essential for good game management and will make your crew appear educated and prepared when they occur.

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. 85.

1. A team’s uniform consists of all of the following, except which? a. Game jersey. b. Game shorts. c. Socks. d. All of the above are part of the uniform.

2. Which of the following items in a player’s hair are legal if they are securely fastened to the head and do not present a safety risk? a. Barrettes. b. Bobby pins. c. Beads. d. All of the above. e. None of the above, as all are illegal.

3. A1 is fouled while dribbling, and team A is in the bonus. B2 is replaced by substitute B6. When is B2 allowed to re-enter the game? a. Before A1’s first free throw. b. After A1’s first free throw, if successful. c. After A1’s second free throw, if successful. d. After A1’s first or second successful free throw, and only if team B calls a timeout. e. During the first opportunity to substitute after the game clock has properly started.

4. A1 commits a player-control foul (NFHS, NCAAM) or offensive foul (NCAAW) in team A’s backcourt. Which is true of the throw-in spot and shot clock? a. Team B shall be awarded a throw-in nearest one of the four designated spots, and the shot clock is set to 20 seconds. b. Team B shall be awarded a throw-in nearest one of the four designated spots, and the shot clock is set to 30 seconds. c. Team B shall be awarded a throw-in nearest the spot of the foul, and the shot clock is set to 20 seconds. d. Team B shall be awarded a throw-in nearest the spot of the foul, and the shot clock is set to 30 seconds. e. Team B shall be awarded a throw-in nearest the spot of the foul, and the shot clock is set to 35 seconds.

THE HARDEST RULES

SEE FEATURE ON PAGE 12

Officials like Gary West, Lompoc, Calif., must know all the parameters for correcting an error, including the allowable time window and how to resume play.

Correct Correction

By Tim Sloan

Alot of experienced basketball officials hope they never have to apply the correctable errors rule (NFHS 2-10; NCAAM/W 2-12). It rarely comes up and, when it does, it’s because the crew and/or the scorer have made a mistake. So, in addition to fessing up to the mistake for all to see, repairing the damage can be anywhere from simple to game-changing. The way the rule is written doesn’t help much and the average official might have trouble sorting it out, leading to the wrong decision.

Let’s start by distinguishing a mistake from an error. Officials and the table can make mistakes in a game. The referee can report the wrong number for a foul, or the table can add a foul to the wrong team’s total, for example. These are bookkeeping issues that can be fixed without incident for the most part and there’s generally no time limit to do so. The errors that we’re referring to are cases where points are incorrectly put on or taken off the board. In these cases, the officials must fix the problem within a set time frame so it doesn’t change the course of the game.

When it comes to points scored being incorrect, there are two basic correctable errors: failure to award or shoot free throws properly and failure to award the correct number of points for a goal. Most of the time, the freethrow issue comes up when officials don’t recognize the seventh (NFHS, NCAAM) or fifth (NCAAW) team foul and restart play by a throw-in. They can also not catch the 10th team foul (NFHS, NCAAM) and erroneously let play go on after a miss on the first throw.

There is also the possibility of taking “unmerited” throws, like shooting the bonus on the sixth team foul or allowing the double bonus for the 10th foul when there were only nine (NFHS, NCAAM): No problem there; just take the points off the board for the unjustified throws. So far so good, but the rule also provides for the wrong player shooting merited throws

or merited throws somehow being taken at the wrong basket. When that happens, it’s a do-over, done properly.

The more likely correctable error is awarding the incorrect number of points for a goal. It usually boils down to the covering official witnessing a shooter’s foot on the three-point arc or not and signaling the incorrect score. It can also involve awarding baskets incorrectly, such as allowing a three-point goal on a throw-in going directly into the basket. Where things get hairy is the official signaling the correct number of points, but the scorer recording the wrong number of points. A simple error by the scorer can be corrected any time up until the officials leave the floor after the game. The error by the official, like the free-throw errors, must be corrected within the allowable window. When is that?

Despite the complicated wording of the rule, the officials have until the end of the next play to solve the problem. The rules address whether or not the clock is running, but we just need to remember the clock is always running when tries and taps are being attempted and always stopped when a free throw is being administered. So, the rules add up to the same ending: The error is made, the ball is put in play and then becomes dead — through the officials stopping play or by a violation, foul or score being made. The officials must recognize and fix the error by the end of that dead ball before it becomes live again.

So, then what? After the error is corrected, how is play restarted? Again, the rule uses a lot of words to describe a simple concept: The ball is put in play at the point of interruption. Let’s say the error is realized after team B has gone down the floor and scored a basket. If team A shot unmerited free throws, any points are canceled and the game resumes where it was stopped. If a score is corrected from a three to a two, it’s the same outcome. If free throws are to be taken or retaken, it’s the same deal with one exception because using the point of interruption is designed to minimize disruption to the flow of the game: If team A is denied a merited free throw, team B gains control (by throw-in or rebound)

Clock is stopped

Dead ball Clock starts Dead ball Live ball

A Error occurs B C Error correctable to this point

When an error occurs with the ball dead and the clock stopped (point A), applying this sequence will help in determining if the error is still correctable.

See “Correct Correction” p.31

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CASEPLAYS

Foul After Three-Point Try

Play: A1 attempts a threepoint try on the wing. Clearly after shooter A1 has released the ball and returned to the floor, A1 is fouled by B2. The ball strikes the ring, but the try is not successful. Team A is not in the bonus. Where is the ensuing throw-in, and how much time shall be put on the shot clock? Ruling: Since A1 had released the ball and had clearly returned to the floor prior to the illegal contact by B2, A1 is no longer an airborne shooter, and the foul is not a foul during an unsuccessful try for goal. Since team A is not in the bonus, they shall receive a throw-in. In NFHS, the throw-in shall be at the outof-bounds spot nearest the foul, and the shot clock shall be set to 35 seconds (7-4-6, 7-5-4a, Shot Clock Operator Guidelines #6.b.i). In NCAAM, the throwin shall be at one of the four designated spots as in rule 7-3.2, and the shot clock shall be set to 20 seconds (2-11.6.d.2, 7-3.1.g, 7-3.2). In NCAAW, the throw-in shall be at the out-of-bounds spot nearest the foul, and the shot clock shall be set to 20 seconds (2-11.6.d.2.a, 7-3.2.b).

Out of Bounds During Interrupted Dribble

Play: A1 is dribbling the ball near the sideline in team A’s frontcourt. A1 dribbles the ball off his or her foot, it rolls away from the player and remains inbounds rolling along the sideline. A1 runs after the loose ball and while doing so steps on the boundary line while not touching the ball. A1 steps back inbounds and is the first to touch and pick up the basketball. Has a violation occurred? Ruling: When A1 momentarily lost control of the basketball while dribbling, an interrupted dribble has occurred, and A1 does not have player control of the ball. When A1 stepped on the sideline while not in control of the ball and not in the midst of a dribble, A1 may do so without violating. A1 is furthermore allowed to re-establish position inbounds and recover the interrupted dribble. Therefore, no violation has occurred, and play shall resume uninterrupted (NFHS 4-15-5, 4-15-6d, 9-3-1; NCAAM 4-13.5, 7-1.2, 9-2.1; NCAAW 4-12.5, 7-1.2, 9-2.1).

Pass and Crash

Good officiating crews discuss how to handle pass-and-crash scenarios during their pregame. Great officiating crews understand these types of plays can happen anywhere on the floor, not just when a ballhandler drives into the lane, and understand how to adjudicate them.

Take the play shown in the accompanying MechaniGram — a situation every official has encountered and one that can catch an unprepared and undisciplined crew by surprise. On this play, as the offensive team secures a rebound and begins a fast-break transition up the court, a wily defender (as indicated by the number two in the MechaniGram) steps in front of a ballhandler who has just made a backcourt pass.

Which official is responsible for the ballhandler? Who is taking the pass and who is taking the crash?

From a primary coverage area standpoint, the new trail official will have responsibility for the ballhandler, whom the trail is following up the court, and will stay with the play to rule on the crash. Just one problem: This is a ripe scenario for the trail to become straightlined, as the quick nature of this transition up the floor prevents the official from being able to reach the sideline and advance far enough up the court to see through the play.

This is where an alert center official can earn his or her paycheck for the evening and make a crew-saving ruling. As shown in the MechaniGram, if the center identifies a potential pass-and-crash transition scenario, this is a great time to make a position adjustment, close down a few steps from the sideline onto the court and create a strong viewing angle to help rule on the play.

If nothing develops that requires the center official’s attention, another quick position adjustment puts that official back on the sideline in preparation for advancing toward the free-throw line extended to observe action in the center’s new primary coverage area. *

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CORRECT CORRECTION

continued from p.33 and still has control of the ball when the error is detected, the merited free throw is taken and play resumes normally per the result of the throw, as if nothing happened.

The final piece of the puzzle is what to do about fouls and points scored during the detection period. If fouls occur during an unmerited free throw, they’re canceled unless technical, intentional or flagrant. In any other case, all fouls, points and time consumed stand.

Play: Team B commits its 10th team foul of the half, but it is mistaken by the officials as the ninth. A1 attempts the first free throw and misses. Instead of the ball becoming dead, B1 rebounds the ball and dribbles down the floor. The officials recognize the error and stop the game (a) when B1 is dribbling, (b) after B1 has made a goal and the ball is rolling on the floor, or (c)after A2 picks up the ball to make a throw-in. Ruling: In (a), since there has been a change of possession since the error was made, A1 attempts the second throw with the lane cleared, followed by a throw-in awarded to team B at the point of interruption. In (b), B1 has made a basket and the ball was dead in no team’s control while rolling on the floor. The error is correctable and A1 will attempt the second throw, but with the lane cleared because team B was not in control of the ball at the stoppage. Play restarts with team A’s non-designated spot endline throw-in after B1’s score. In (c), the error is not correctable because the ball became live again when it was at A2’s disposal. B1’s score counts in (b)and (c) and the elapsed time on the clock is gone forever. If B1 had been fouled in the act of shooting, that foul would have counted with B1 taking two free throws at the point of interruption after everything else.

Affirmative communication among the crew and with the table is vital and good crew mechanics always involve one member auditing all the transactions we’ve addressed. Tim Sloan, Davenport, Iowa, is a high school football, basketball and volleyball official, and former college football and soccer official. *

5 MINUTES WITH JASON NICKLEBY

MSHSL director of officials discusses use of restricted area.

Age: 41 | Hometown: Lake Elmo, Minn. Officiating experience: Coordinator of Officiating Services with the Minnesota State High School League. Responsible for the educational development and eligibility of 6,000 high school game officials. 20-year NCAA Division II and III men’s basketball official. Football center judge in the Big Ten Conference.

REFEREE: When was the restricted area (RA) rule first implemented? Was there a time period of planning prior to putting it into action?

NICKLEBY: The rule was initiated for the 2017-18 season. It was a discussion for a period of about two years leading up to implementation of the rule.

REFEREE: Was there resistance from the officials in enforcing the new rule?

NICKLEBY: There was minimal pushback from the officials, but it was a very steep learning curve for those officials that had no experience working NCAA ball. Over the years, there have been adjustments made to both NCAAM and NCAAW rules that make it difficult for the novice official to “pick right up with the college rules.” The RA is one of those rules. While the RA was not a foreign concept — everyone has seen it on TV for years — it was still challenging for those who had not experienced it during live game action. Seeing something on TV and then actually implementing it is a totally different animal.

REFEREE: Did you realize any additional challenges with the implementation of the rule other than the normal “learning curve”?

NICKLEBY: You have to admit, the RA is a challenging rule — it is always going to be puzzling at first. The high school official now has to take into account the double team, the offensive rebound and the fast break. And then there are the officials who are already working college ball. There are different interpretations when you are working men’s ball and women’s ball and then adjusting to the high school level as it pertains to the spirit of the rule.

REFEREE: Any advice for the official that is new to the adjudication of the rule?

NICKLEBY: It is like any other rule change or mechanics change — you just have to experience it in live game action and see as many plays as you can. The good thing these days is that there are video libraries everywhere so you really can “see plays” a lot. Realizing that, especially with the implementation of a new rule, you are not going to be perfect at first. It takes work. Even the NCAA officials are not perfect all the time. We teach our officials that if they are ever in doubt, call it a block without a grounded secondary defender. Most likely, that is the case anyway.

REFEREE: What was the biggest argument against having the RA?

NICKLEBY: The major argument is that it is not an NFHS rule. Many of the other states are hesitant to adopt the rule because they want to be in compliance with the NFHS. Between having the RA and running games with two halves, instead of four quarters, we are different in that we are not NFHS aligned. … I view it like any other rule change. If you can demonstrate the positive outweighs the negative, we are in good shape.

REFEREE: What was the best reason for having the RA?

NICKLEBY: We liked the idea that it was a big rule for player safety. We didn’t want to incentivize pileups by taking charges under the basket. Without the RA, some officials called the contact plays by the book while others used their personal philosophies. That made it hard to be consistent. By adding the RA rule, we cleaned up that inconsistency and eliminated the philosophy disconnect.

REFEREE: How does having the RA improve the game?

NICKLEBY: Observationwise, I have looked at every state tournament game each year as I gather clips. We have seen the overall number of major crashes in the paint have dwindled dramatically. From seeing a crash one seeing a crash one or two times a game or two times a game before to seeing a before to seeing a crash one or two crash one or two times a day now. times a day now. What has been the What has been the major impact is the major impact is the players policing players policing themselves. They themselves. They have figured out the have figured out the rule and they are rule and they are very conscious very conscious of where they of where they are on the court.