Patient Whistle?
 

I was L, A1 shoots a 3, with the ball in the air, I clearly see B2 push A2 about five feet across the lane. I immediately call the foul, and as I do so, the ball goes in the basket. Coach B upset (duh, lol). Do I need a more patient whistle there, and only call the foul if the shot misses, since no advantage was gained?

In general, yes -- but, (a) five feet is a lot; (b) if the game (or those two players) had been rough and you were trying to rein it in, then call it.

Do you mean you saw it from five feet away, or that the push caused A2 to travel five feet? Because each version will have a different answer from me.

The player was displaced five feet, and I was not trying to rein anything in, it was in the opening minute of the game.

In the opening minute... call it. If you don't, you'll see it happen again and again until you do call it, or you'll see some retaliation.

+1

Or not call it, but communicate to the player that you saw it and.....

Call all major or rough play contact that easily can be seen. If it was marginal, that is when you might be more patient.

I had a situation this year where on the FT a defender pushed down the FT shooter. I tried to wait, but they both ended up on the floor. I had to make the call, but I was not aware at the time of the ball status. I went to my partner and we determined that I had a dead ball technical. It was not controversial at all. The coach understood and everyone saw the play. Normally I would have liked to have not made that call as there would not have been a violation because the ball was scored.

Moral of the story, call what everyone can see. Because if you do not make that call, then you might have harder contact on the other end or later in the game and it will have to be called and dealt with.

Peace

To me, that says it all. I think everyone will agree that if they "clearly see B2 push A2" then they will call the foul.

Not at all.

The statement is necessary, but not sufficient.

I know, thus my tagline.

I am confused. "B2 pushes A2" is not a rule -- so it can't be enforced or ignored, so I'm not sure what it has to do with your tagline.

Respectfully, therein lies the disagreement. I find the act of a push or pushing in many places within the rule book.

It's not one of the "automatics" so it's only a foul when it creates an advantage (or causes a disadvantage)

(now we are off topic but...)

Point me in the direction of the rule book where advantage/dis is in regards to fouls again? I forgot where that was and an immediate electronic search returned nothing.