[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by mick

Adam,
If there is a defensive, or offensive, off-ball foul before the shot is released, ... call it, Dead Ball.
If there is a defensive, or offensive, off-ball foul after the shot is released ... call it, count the basket if it goes, forget it if it misses.
See Rules 4-40-4 and 6-7-9 (Exception 1)
These are the most important things to note as a first year official.
Later on, you may want to pass on an off-ball foul, in the interest of game flow, during a try to see if the foul is actually affecting the play or not. That is where Advantage/Disadvantage concepts are explored.

mick

On MIck's first point -- you need to allow for "continuous motion" on a defensive foul, but not on an offensive foul. If the foul is on the defense, treat it as in condition 2 (i.e., the ball doesn't become dead until the try ends). IF the offense commits the foul, the ball is dead immediately (if it hasn't been released).