"No Autopsy, No Foul" (Part 2)

(Image Source: ebablogs.com)

In Part 1 of "No Autopsy, No Foul", we discussed identifying and calling fouls committed against the dribbler.  We introduced the idea of RBSQ - that if any of these four qualities have been violated, then a foul has occurred.

What also needs to be mentioned is the idea that there are certain actions committed by a defender that affects RBSQ, but are more subtle than the average bumps and displacement fouls.  These actions are still fouls and should be enforced often and consistently.  They include actions such as:

• Defender placing two hands on the dribbler.
• Defender placing and holding one hand on the dribbler.
• Defender placing an extended arm bar on the dribbler.
• Defender (in an attempt to steal the ball), hitting/smacking the arm or body of the dribbler.

As officials, if we can consistently get the fouls committed against the dribbler correct, that will go a long way in cleaning up the game and ensuring that it does not get out of hand.  However, calling fouls against the dribbler is just a small part of the game.  What coaches/players/parents will gripe about is when we miss fouls committed against the shooter. 

Since the objective of the game is to put the ball in the basket (and do so more times than the other team), common sense dictates that there will be ample opportunity for the defense to foul the shooter. In this post, we will talk about identifying these fouls committed against the shooter by exploring these concepts:

• Refereeing the Defense
• The Cylinder Principle
• The Verticality Rule
• When Does the "Try" Start?

And tying them together in determining fouls committed against the shooter.

Refereeing the Defense

The idea of refereeing the defense is an aid in determining who we primarily focus on during a situation where a foul is likely to occur.  Ask yourself this question: "Who is more likely to commit a foul?"  The answer is the "defense" so as referees, we should focus on the defender.

Take the following situation: Player A1 sees an opening to the basketball, dribbles into the lane and BAM makes contact with Player B1 sending both players crashing to the floor.  Is it a charge?  Is it a block?  If we don't focus on Player B1 and determine if B1 established legal guarding position, then we do not have all of the information in making the correct call. 

This is why we referee the defense.  Know where the ball is and what the ball handler is doing, but focus on the defender in keeping an eye out on the contact.

Refereeing the defense will help in:

• Determining if the defender established legal guarding position
• Was the defense there first?
• Determining if the defender is violating the Cylinder Principle
• Is the defense playing outside the cylinder?
• Determining if the defender's body/hands/arms creates contact that violates RBSQ
• Is there a hit or hold on the arms or a bump on the body?

So as referees, know where the ball is, but focus on the defender and what the defender is doing.

The Cylinder Principle

The Cylinder Principle and Verticality Rule go hand in hand.  The Cylinder Principle is the idea that a player on the court is entitled to legal position in his "cylinder".

The area of the cylinder is defined by:

• Front: By the palms of the hands
• Rear: By the buttocks
• Sides: By the outer edge of the arms and legs

This is the area that the player is legally entitled to.  An easier way to think about where a player's cylinder is this: while standing, jump.  When we jump naturally, we will land with our feet in a neutral position...about shoulder width apart.  Now lift your hands up.  You have now established your "cylinder".  (See the image below).

(Image Source: www.bbk-ostwestfalen.de)

This means that a player who extends outside the cylinder and causes contact has committed a foul:

• Extending arms outside the cylinder (think: like an airplane)
• Extending the lower body (legs, knees) outside the cylinder
• Leaning with the upper body outside the cylinder

The Verticality Rule

A player has the right to establish position and the legal cylinder anywhere on the court not already occupied by an opponent.  Once a player has established legal position, that player may legally be entitled to jump up and down within his cylinder with his arms extended up.

If the offensive player causes contact and displaces a defender within the defender's cylinder, then an offensive foul has occurred.  Verticality should not be punished: if a defender jumps straight up with arms straight up and there is contact between the shooter and defender, then we have contact that is either an offensive foul or ignored as incidental/marginal.

However, if the defender violates the Verticality Rule by bring his arms down to stop the shooter, then we will always have a defensive foul (for a hold or hit).

This is why Roy Hibbert of the Indiana Pacers is so devastating as a defender.  He has mastered the Cylinder Principle and Verticality Rule perfectly to play solid defense while avoiding foul trouble.

SBNation has a good article on Roy Hibbert and the Verticality Rule here.

When Does the "Try" Start?

How do we determine when the dribbler becomes a shooter?  This is important in determining if we simply have a spot foul or if we are sending a player to the line. 

There are two situations to look at:

• A jump shot
• A layup attempt

For the jump shot, the "try" starts when the dribbler stops the dribble and starts the up motion for the jump shot.  Any contact here results in a shooting foul.

For a layup attempt, the "try" starts when in the official's judgement, the dribbler has started a continuous motion towards the basket.  In this situation, the dribbler has stopped the dribble and using up the 1 1/2 steps for the layup.

The "try" stops when the player releases the ball and lands back on the ground.  Any foul committed against the offensive player after the start of the try and until the player lands back on the floor should be called a shooting foul.

Fouls Committed Against the Shooter

As officials, we need to be extra dedicated to identifying and calling fouls committed against the shooter.  The reason is simple: a bump on the dribbler may be disadvantageous for the dribbler, but the dribbler has an opportunity to continue the dribble; a bump on an airborne shooter who is being pulled down by a gravitational force of 9.8 m/s^2 could be absolutely detrimental in the shot attempt.

We also need to keep in mind that the shooter must be allowed to land.  Defenders must establish their legal guarding position prior to the shooter leaving the floor and are not allowed to "undercut" the shooter.  This could be a dangerous situation, which could result in injuries.

Keep an eye for the following situations, where contact may result in a shooting foul:

• Defender hits the arms of the shooter
• If significant enough, we have either a hit or a hold
• Defender hits the body of the shooter with any part of the body or hands/arms
• Results in a holding foul
• Defender jumps into the shooter creating contact
• Results in a pushing foul
• Defender steps into the path of a dribbler in continuous motion
• Results in a blocking foul
• Defender steps under an airborne shooter creating contact
• Results in a blocking foul

Closing Thoughts

One additional note and an issue that less experienced officials struggle with: on a shot attempt, keep an eye on the shooter until the shooter returns to the floor.  Just because the shooter has released the ball does not mean that the opportunity for the defense to foul is over.  Remember that the shooter is still considered an airborne shooter until he/she returns to the floor.

Some officials tend to follow the shot to see if the ball goes in or not.  While this is good - the reaction of the players/crowd will tell you if the try is good.  We need to protect the airborne shooter until they are back on the ground.

Being able to distinguish between marginal contact and contact that should be called a foul is the difference between an okay official and a good official.  Being able to call it consistently is the difference between an good official and a great official.

We should always take pride in our work and strive to be the best official we can be.  That is why identifying fouls correctly is such an important responsibility for us and something that we should constantly work to get better at.