International Referees

[Bobby]

Bobby,
Possession arrow to start overtime? Is this new for 2004-2005 because last year the OT started with a Jump Ball.

Yes. New FIBA rule effective October 1.

Time Outs: First half 2, Second half 3, Overtimes 1. Remember time-outs are granted only when the ball is dead or when the calling team has conceded a field goal. The procedure is similar to the NBA's mandatory time-outs which are granted during dead balls, except that a team MUST call the time-out to the scorer (not official). Once the time-out is called, once the team is scored against or the ball is dead, the period begins.

In some FIBA-sanctioned leagues, a media time out is permissable at the halfway mark of a period on the next dead ball.

Note that the Euroleague, televised in the US by NBA TV, does NOT play by NBA rules, but by ULEB (Union of European Basketball Leagues) rules, which are mostly FIBA but have a few NBA differences -- jump balls (no arrow, and players not jumping are allowed in motion during jump balls as to equalise a shorter player by having his team send two players in motion during the jump to "steal" the tap), procedure to start periods 2-4 and overtime (NBA procedure), block/charge arc in the trapezoid ("no charge zone"), time outs (FIBA with a difference -- one can also be called if the last or only free throw is successful), and in the final two minutes, a timeout granted once the ball is dead in the backcourt or called by a team after conceding a basket can result in the ball moved to the centerline, facing the scorer's table. The ball can be advanced to the front or back court in such a time out.

[Edited by Bobby on Aug 16th, 2004 at 10:56 PM]