Game Management - Understanding the Ramifications of Your Whistle (3 seconds)

Watch the clip above.  #4 for North Carolina starts out in the lane at :01 of the video and continues to be in the lane at :06 when the ball is released for a successful 3-point try.

He's in the lane for a total of 5 seconds.  But wait, isn't it a 3-second violation if an offensive player remains in the lane for more than 3 seconds?  Did the officials miss this one?

As basketball officials, we need to understand the ramifications of our whistles.  Every time we decide to put air into the whistle, we are affecting the game.  Therefore, we should careful pick when we insert ourselves into the game.

In this clip, Duke had just scored a successful 3-point try to pull within 1 point of North Carolina with a little under 9 minutes to play in the 1st half.   

While #4 did satisfy the conditions for a 3-second violation, ask yourself these questions:

• If there is a good flow to the game (it is a fast-paced competitive game), is this the right opportunity to disrupt the flow with a 3-second call?
• Was #4 every involved in the play?
• Did #4 gain an advantage from being in the lane for a prolonged amount of time?

#4 was never involved in the play so never gained an advantage from being in the lane.  Making this call is not only a turnover at this point, but also taking potential points away from North Carolina.    The correct call in this situation would be a no-call.  

However, had the ball been passed to #4, then an advantage has been gained by #4 being in the lane for a prolonged amount of time.  Therefore, that would justify a 3-second call.

Just because a call is accurate, does not mean the call is right.

In this type of situation, if the coach asks: "Hey, can you keep an eye out in the lane for 3-seconds?"  The response should be: "Coach, I saw him in there, but he was not involved in the play."

This is a case study in game management: understand that there are ramifications for every whistle.  Coaches tend to get upset when officials (1) make a marginal call that gives the opposing team an opportunity to score points or (2) officials make a marginal call that takes points away from their team.