Continuous Motion

[Kevzebra]

Originally Posted by just another ref

This is one of those things I have been doing so long, I don't remember starting it. I blow the whistle, then, all in the same breath, spit the whistle out and say, emphatically, "No shot!" My idea was, if I do this quickly, no one can accuse me of waiting to see if it was going in before making the call.
Now I learn, in that other thread, that whether it goes in or not is significant to some in whether it was a foul or not. I still don't get that one.

That is part of knowing the difference between a foul and just a touch. Sometimes just a touch can throw off a shot and sometimes it does not. I hate seeing people reward players (and slowing the flow of a game down) on little touch fouls that can be avoided. Do not get me wrong, there are "and one" times that have to be called (heavy contact, hit to the head, ect.), the ones I am talking about are the avoidable calls.

Sometimes I do let the play finish and call a foul late if it does not go in. If that is wrong (and according to some people it is), so be it. I think it makes the game flow better.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by Kevzebra

That is part of knowing the difference between a foul and just a touch.

The difference between a foul and a touch is not the difference between the shot going in or not. A player may get hit hard, then throw it up, hoping for 2 free throws, nothing more. Some of these shots go in, too.

In deciding what is a foul and what is not, what I try to see is the trajectory of the ball as it leaves the hand, the shooter's follow through, sometimes even the shooter's facial expression. Sometimes none of these things are visible or helpful, but whether the shot is good or not has very little to do with it for me.