2009-2010 - Plays of the Week - Week 0
"Working together, we will all get better."

The plays/questions described below occurred since the end of last season and are provided for your review and discussion. The rulings given are based on NFHS rules. NCAA rulings may be different.

Play #1 - A-1 is dribbling and is fouled by B-1. It is team B's 9th team foul of the half. B-1 objects to the ruling and is whistled for a technical foul. What is the correct procedure?

Answer: Although Team B has now committed 10 team fouls for the half, the common foul committed by B-1 was Team B's 9th of the half. As such, A-1 is entitled to a one and one bonus free throw situation. No players will line up. Following this, any player or eligible substitute for Team A will attempt the free throws for the technical foul. Team A will then be awarded the ball for a throw-in at the division line opposite the table. (References: Rule 8.7, 8.1.3, 8.3)

Play #2 - B-2 fouls A-2 while A-2 is dribbling the ball. It is the 10th team foul of the half against Team B. The official awards a 1 plus 1 bonus free throw opportunity. The 1st free throw is missed and both teams go for the rebound which is tapped into the basket. B-1 is unable to get the ball inbounds after the score and requests a timeout. At this point the table notifies the officials that Team A was entitled to two free throws instead of one plus one. The officials award A-2 the second free throw with no one along the lane and then resume play at the point of interruption which was a throw-in for Team B. Was the official correct?

Answer: The official was NOT correct. When the live ball was tapped during the rebound, the clock started. When the ball passed through the goal, the ball became dead. When B-1 stepped out of bounds to attempt the throw-in after the goal, the ball became live again. It is now too late to correct the error of not awarding the 2nd free throw. (References: Rule 2.10.2, 6.7.1, 6.1.2b)

Play #3 - A-1 is on a drive to the basket, picks up his dribble and starts his motion for the layup. He is fouled on the arm by B-1. A-1 then lets the ball go and while airborne swings his elbow and intentionally fouls B-5 who is in a legal guarding position in front of him. The ball goes through the basket. The officials rule that the basket counts, award A-1 one free throw, award B-5 two free throws and award Team B the ball for a designated spot throw-in at the spot nearest the foul. Were the officials correct?

Answer: The officials were correct. Although airborne shooter A-1 has fouled B-5, the foul was intentional. Therefore, it cannot be a player control foul. It is part of a false double foul sequence. Penalize each infraction. The basket counts since there is no player control foul. Award A-1 one free throw for being fouled in the act of a shooting a successful goal. Award B-5 two free throws for the intentional foul and award Team B the ball at the spot nearest the foul. (References: Rule 4.19.9, 4.19.2, 4.19.6, 7.5.7b)

Play #4 - A-1 is fouled attempting a desperation three point attempt as time expires in the 2nd quarter. The try is unsuccessful. Then the coach of Team B utters a profanity and is whistled for a technical foul. Team B has the arrow. What is the correct procedure?

Answer: A-1 will attempt three free throws for the unsuccessful three point try. Then any Team A player or eligible substitute will attempt the free throws for the technical foul. This will all occur before the half-time intermission since the fouls are part of the 2nd quarter. The 3rd quarter will begin with an AP throw-in for Team B since penalties do not carry over from one quarter to the next. (References: Rule 5.6.2 Exception 3)