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Basketball

Wide Screen

Play: A1 is dribbling and is being guarded by B1. A2 sets a screen for A1 and does so three steps away from B1. A2 sets the screen with the player’s feet much wider apart than A2’s shoulders. As A1 is dribbling past screener A2, B1 makes contact (a) squarely in A2’s torso, or (b) with A2’s leg and foot. In both cases the contact is significant, and in (a), causes A2 to fall to the floor, or (b) causes B1 to spin down to the floor. As the contact is too much to ignore, what type of foul shall be called? Ruling: In (a), in NFHS, this is a common foul, as the illegal positioning of the feet are the determining factor in the screen being illegal. In NCAAM/W, because the contact by the defender was with the screener’s torso, and not with the screener’s legs and/or feet that were too wide, the screen shall be deemed legal, and B1 shall be assessed a personal foul for causing contact that sent A2 to the floor. In (b), since A2 set a screen with legs and feet that are beyond shoulder width, and the contact was with those legs and/or feet, which resulted in the defender being tripped, A2 shall be assessed a common (NFHS/NCAAM) or personal (NCAAW) foul for an illegal screen (NFHS 4-40-2, 4-40-5, 10-7-11; NCAAM 4-35.2, 4-35.3.c, 10-1, Appendix III 2.2 and 2.4; NCAAW 10-5.2, 10-5.3.c, 10-10, Appendix III 2.2 and 2.4).

Bumping Into Person Who Is Out of Bounds

Play: A1 is dribbling up the sideline, and while A1’s feet and the ball are completely inbounds, A1 inadvertently bumps into (a) an official, or (b) a coach, who was completely out of bounds when the contact occurs. The contact was with A1’s arm, and the ball did not touch the individual in either (a) or (b). Does this contact result in a violation of any sort? Ruling: No. A player shall be out of bounds when that player touches the floor or any object other than a person on or outside a boundary line. The ball shall be out of bounds when it touches a player who is out of bounds, any other person, the floor, or any object on or outside a boundary. Since the player touched a person who was (a) an official, or (b) a coach, and the ball never touched that person who was out of bounds, then no out-of-bounds violation has occurred, and play shall continue without a whistle (NFHS 7-1-1, 7-1-2a2; 7.1.1A; NCAAM 7-1.1, 7-1.2, AR 174; NCAAW 7-1.1, 7-1.2, AR 209).

Baseball

Justified Passing Play: With R1 on first, B2 hits for extra bases. R1 is obstructed before reaching second and falls down. B2 passes R1, realizes his error and allows R1 to pass. When playing action ends, R1 is on third and B2 on second. Ruling: In NFHS and NCAA, it’s possible for the play to stand. It is only an “automatic” out when the passed runner is unobstructed. The umpires will have to determine if the obstruction played a role in the passing of the runner. In pro, B1 is out for passing R1. There is no exclusion for passing an obstructed runner (NFHS 8-4-2m; NCAA 8-3e, 8-5m; pro 5.09b9).

Kicking Game

Play: With R2 on second, F1 throws a wild pitch to B2 for “ball four.” The pitch deflects off F2 and rolls toward the dugout. While chasing the ball, F2 inadvertently kicks the ball into the dugout. Ruling: In NFHS, the base award depends on whether or not the ball would have gone into the dugout without F2’s kick. If the umpire judges the pitch would have gone into dead-ball territory without the kick, one base is awarded from the time of the pitch. If the kick is judged to have caused the ball to go into dead-ball territory, two bases are awarded from the time of the kick. In NCAA and pro, B1 is awarded second and R2 is awarded home (NFHS 8-3-3d, 8.3.3K; NCAA 8-3o4; pro 5.06b4H AR).

Gone Too Far

Play: With R1 on first and one out, F1 balks as he attempts to pick off R1. F3 misses the throw and the ball rolls along the fence in live-ball territory. R1 is able to score on the play, but misses second. The ball is returned to the infield and F6 immediately makes an appeal at second. Ruling: In NFHS, the ball is immediately dead on the balk; the balk is enforced and R1 is returned to second. In NCAA and pro, the balk is ignored and R1 is out. R1 is considered to have advanced one base on the play (NFHS 2-3, 5-1-1k; NCAA 9-3 Pen. 1 Note, 8-6a3; pro 6.02a AR 1 & 2, 5.09c2).

Softball

Two Runners Between Same Bases

Play: R1 is on first base with no outs as B2 hits a pop up just over second base. R1 is unsure if the ball will be caught so only goes about halfway toward second base. The ball ends up landing between the second baseman and center fielder, who both converge on the ball, and R1 sprints toward second base. F8 picks up the ball and sees B2 has now rounded first base. F8 fires the ball to first, trying to get B2 going back toward first. The ball sails over F3’s head and goes into the dugout. At the moment F8 released the ball, both R1 and B2 were between first and second base. Ruling: In all codes, the ball is dead when it enters the dugout. R1 is awarded third base and B2 is awarded second base. While the award is two bases from the throw on this play, since two runners are between the same bases, the award is based on the position of the lead runner. R1 is awarded second and third and B2 is awarded second (NFHS 8-4-3e Pen.; NCAA 12.12.8.3 Eff.; USA Softball 8-5g Note; USSSA 8-14c-3 Note).

Runner Passing Runner?

Play: With R1 on first and no outs, B2 hits a fly ball down the right-field line. R1, believing the ball will be caught, retreats toward first base. B2, believing the ball will land and thinking a double is an option, sprints out of the box toward first. The ball ultimately drops in front of F9. B2 rounds first and sees R1 trying to stop and reverse direction to now head toward second. B2 ends up having her front foot and torso beyond R1, but has her back leg still behind R1. The base umpire rules B2 out for passing R1. Ruling: Incorrect in all codes. In order for a runner to be considered passing another runner, that runner must completely pass the preceding runner. In this instance, the trailing runner still had a leg that did not pass the preceding runner. The ball should remain live and play should continue. If the trailing runner completely passes the preceding runner, then the trailing runner is ruled out, but the ball remains live and play continues (NFHS 8-6-4 Pen., NCAA 12.4.3; USA Softball 8-7d; USSSA 8-18o).

Football

Backward Pass Gone Bad

Play: First and 10 from team A’s 30 yardline. A1 takes the snap and throws a backward pass to A2, who is at team A’s 28 yardline. The ball bounces off A2 and hits the ground at team A’s 32 yardline. Ruling: That is a backward pass that turned into a muff. The ball remains live. The initial direction of A1’s pass was backward; the ball retains that status until it is either caught or recovered. Either team A or team B could recover and advance the ball (NFHS 2-27, 2-31-5, 2-31-6; NCAA 2-112, 2-19-2a).

Runner’s Helmet

Play: If the runner is in the open field with no one to catch him when his helmet comes completely off, can the referee use discretion to award a touchdown? Ruling: No, the ball must be declared dead when that occurs. If the helmet came off due to a team B helmet-related foul, such as a facemask grasp and twist, the penalty would be added to the end of the run and the runner could remain in the game. If the helmet came off without benefit of a foul, the runner would have to leave for a timed down (NFHS 3-5-10d, 4-22k; NCAA 3-3-9a, 4-1-3q).

Volleyball

Libero Team Captain?

Play: Team A’s coach submits the starting lineup for the first set of the match and has indicated the libero as the game captain. The referees inform the coach that the libero may not serve as team or game captain because the libero is not always on the court. Ruling: Incorrect ruling in all codes. All three codes allow the libero to be a game captain. When the libero is not on the court, the coach or captain should designate another player to serve as the game captain until the original captain returns to the court (NFHS 6-4-2b; NCAA 12.1.1; USAV 5).

Net Contact

Play: Team A passes the ball into the body of the net (between the antennas), and the ball rolls down the net toward the floor. A1 attempts to play the ball out of the net and contacts the bottom of the net with her hands during that action. The referees allow play to continue.

Ruling: Under all rules codes, this is a fault. Players may not contact the net between the antennas in the act of making a play on the ball (NFHS 9-6-7a; NCAA 15.2.1; USAV 11.3.1).