2009-2010 - Plays of the Week - Week 6
"Working together, we will all get better."

The plays/questions described below occurred recently and are provided for your review and discussion. The rulings given are based on NFHS rules. NCAA rulings may be different.

Play #1 - After the horn sounds to end the 3rd quarter, B-3 slams the ball down and is assessed a technical foul. The AP arrow is pointing towards B's basket. The officials award Team A two free throws to start the 4th quarter. Then the officials use the AP arrow to award the ball to Team B for the throw-in at the division line. Were the officials correct?

Answer: The officials were NOT correct. By rule, in this situation the technical foul has occurred during the intermission between the 3rd and 4th quarter. As such, it is correct to award the free throws to start the 4th quarter. However, the penalty for a technical foul also includes awarding the ball out of bounds at the division line. Team A should have been awarded the ball for the throw-in with no change to the AP arrow. In addition, since the technical foul occurred during the intermission, it should also have been charged indirectly to the head coach since, by rule, everyone is bench personnel during this time. The coach should have lost his use of the coaching box. (References: Rule 4.34.2, 10.5.1a, 10.4 Penalty Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, Case Book Play 10.4.1 Situation B)

Play #2 - #13 of Team A reports to the scorer's table while play is going on. The scorer notices that there is no #13 in the scorebook and tells the coach. The whistle sounds. The coach decides not to have #13 enter the game to avoid a technical foul for having to change the scorebook and has #13 return to the bench. The officials order the number entered into the book and assess a technical foul on Team A. Were the officials correct?

Answer: The officials were NOT correct. By rule, the technical foul for this infraction occurs when the change is made to the scorebook. The coach is not required to have #13's number entered in the scorebook unless #13 enters the game. (References: Rule 3.2.2b, 10.1.2b, Case Book Play 3.2.2 Situation C)

Play #3 - A-1 drives to the basket and lays the ball up on the backboard. While the ball is on the ring, B-5 slaps the backboard causing the ring to shake and the ball rolls off the ring. The official rules this to be a technical foul on B-5. The coach asks if the slapping of the backboard is also basket interference. Is the coach correct?

Answer: The official was correct in ruling a technical foul on B-5 for slapping the backboard and causing it to vibrate. However, such action is never basket interference regardless of its effect on the ball. (References: Rule 10.3.4b, 4.6)

Play #4 - A-1 is dribbling the ball near the division line. The ball lands on the division line and A-1 ends the dribble by catching the ball. A-1 never contacts the backcourt in any way. The official rules this to be a backcourt violation. Was the official correct?

Answer: The official was correct. The location of A-1 is not relevant. While in team control Team A was the last to touch the ball before the ball went backcourt and the first to touch it after it went backcourt. (References: Rule 9.9.1)