Points of Emphasis
Officiating and Teaching Guidelines

A. Rough Play

• Point of Emphasis Last “7” Years
• Balance offense/defense
• Keep skill/technique vital part
• Physical play dominates finesse
• Cannot accept “That's the way the game is played”
• Cannot accept “That's the way the game is coached”
• Yes-Coaches have a major rule - - as players play the way they're coached
• But-Officials are Responsible:

1. Enforcing rules within spirit intended

• Trend in officiating has been to caution/warn

1. It is obvious this falls on "Deaf Ears"
2. Cautions/warnings are not enforcement
3. Tempo/flow are generated by "enforcement" not "talk"

1 Hand Checking:

1. Places an opponent at a disadvantage.
2. It is not incidental contact - it is a foul.
3. Not curtailed it can lead to rough play.
4. When a player keeps a hand or forearm on an opponent it impedes progress, it is a foul.
5. When a player puts two hands on an opponent, it is a foul.
6. When a player continually jabs a hand or forearm on an opponent, it is a foul.
7. Bumping/riding with belly, chest and/or forearm while opponent is cutting, it is a foul.
8. Applies to off the ball play as well.
9. Addressing hand checking early in the game curtails it.
10. Ruling hand checking fouls consistently throughout the game curtails it.
11. Always apply incidental contact rule to each contact situation.

1. Observe the entire play, especially when responsible for off-ball coverage.
2. Anticipate the play but not the call when post players are in "fronting" situations.
3. When the defensive player pushes a leg or knee into the rear of the offensive player, it is a foul on the defender.
4. When the offensive player dislodges a defensive player from an established position by pushing or "backing in", it is a foul on the offensive player.
5. If a player uses the "swim stroke" arm movement to lower the
   arm of an opponent, it is a foul.
6. If either post player uses hands, forearms or elbows to prevent an opponent from maintaining a legal position, it is a foul.
7. Always apply incidental contact rule to each contact situation.

3. Screenings:

1. When a player uses arms, hands, hips or shoulders to force
   through a screen or to hold or push screener, it is a foul.
2. When contact results because a player sets a screen while moving, the screener commits a foul.
3. When a screener takes a position so close to a moving opponent that this opponent cannot avoid contact by stopping or changing direction, it is a foul.
4. When a player sets a screen outside the visual field of a stationary opponent and does not allow this opponent a normal step to move, it is a foul.
5. The player with the ball may be a screener. That player is held
   to the same requirements as the screener without the ball.
6. See the whole play - - observe off the ball play - - don't get
   caught by surprise.
7. Always apply the incidental contact rule to each contact situation.

4. Rebounding:

1. See the whole play - - positioning must be obtained by legal means.
2. The "boxing out"/"blocking out" concept is fine provided obtaining and maintaining the position is by legal means.
3. Placing a rear into and moving back into a potential rebounder or shooter is a foul.
4. Apply the Block/Charge, Guarding and Verticality principles.
5. The player in the inside position must maintain or better his or her position by legal means only.
6. Trail official move toward end line a step or two and get involved in rebound coverage.
7. Always apply the incidental contact rule to each contact situation.
   *Every contact let go encourages/leads to more contact*

B. Other

1. Block/Charge:

1. Locate the Defense and "Officiate the Defense" - - see the whole play.
2. Defense must initially obtain legal position by being in the opponent's path facing him or her with both feet on the floor.
3. Defense may move backward, laterally, vertically and need not be in contact with the floor.
4. Defense remains established and legal until "beaten" by the opponent.
5. The opponent "beats" the defense by getting head and shoulders past the front of the torso of the defensive player.
6. Moving opponent without the ball - time and distance to stop are factors. Requirement is never more than two steps.
7. Opponent with the ball - - time and distance to stop is not a requirement. Defense needs only to obtain legal position.
8. Offensive player with less than three feet of space between defense and sideline/end line or in trapping situations is very responsible for contact.

2. Traveling:

1. Determine the pivot foot immediately.
2. At start of dribble, ball must be released before pivot foot is lifted.
3. After dribble has ended, player may lift pivot foot but must release ball on pass or shot before pivot foot returns to floor.
4. Player may never take two steps while in possession of the ball.
5. Legal jump stop requires
   • catching the ball white moving or ending a dribble on one foot.
   • landing on both feet simultaneously.
   • Player may not pivot after a jump stop.
6. While dribbling, if the ball comes to rest/stops in or on the hand, the dribble has ended.
   • To further dribble is a violation - double dribble.
   • To move the pivot foot and return it to the floor with the ball resting/stopped in or on the hand is a violation - - traveling.
   • To allow either of the above gives the dribbler a distinct advantage not intended by the rule.
7. Do not "split hairs while monitoring and ruling pivot foot/traveling situations.

3. Continuous Motion:

1. Requirement is that the “shooter” has merely begun the motion.
2. If a try has begun, the “shooter” is entitled to complete the act legally.
3. The "shooter" does not have to be in the final stage of the shooting motion for continuous motion to apply.
4. The "shooter" does not have to be off the floor/ air born.
5. The whistle only stops the clock and indicates a foul - - it does not stop the try and play.
6. Don't reward the player/team who fouled!
7. Award the goal if it is attempted within the rule.
8. See the whole play.

4. Intentional Foul:

1. "Playing the ball” no longer exempts a player from committing an intentional foul.
2. Examples of an intentional foul:
   1. Designed to stop the clock.
   2. Designed to keep the clock from starting.
   3. To neutralize an obvious advantageous position of an Opponent.
   4. Contact away from the ball.
   5. Contact when not playing the bail.
   6. Excessive contact (hard foul) when playing the ball.
3. Officials must recognize when an intentional foul occurs - - and call it.

5. Player Appearance, Coach and Player Conduct:

1. Demand the proper wearing of the uniform, as per rule, and education/school expectation.
2. Demand proper conduct, as per rule, aid education/school expectation.
3. Coaches are expected to do their part in maintaining the dignity and integrity of the game.
4. Coaches must expect players to “look” and “act" like players.
5. The coaching box is the "Maine" rule.
6. The first coach technical results in the low of the coaching box privileges.

6. Grasping the Basket:

1. Dunking is legal
2. Grasping the ring/basket is a Technical Fad (exception - prevention of injury)

7. Objectionable Visible Body Markings and Decorations:

1. Officials can have Objectionable markings covered.
2. Referee has authority to rule on all matters not specifically covered in the rule (2.3).
3. Coaches and school administrators must take control of player appearance and conduct