Intentional Fouls?

[GFS-1]

I went to a College Basketball game today and one of the Ref's called a
Intentional Foul on Team B pulling on Team A's jersey. In all of my years
calling games, I've never made that call or seen someone else make that call.
I guess my question is have any of you made that call. To me it's just holding?

Thanks,
GFS-1

[BktBallRef]

Not simply for pulling the jersey but for pulling the jersey to prevent a player from gaining an advantageous position, YES.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by GFS-1

I guess my question is have any of you made that call.

If the defender is trying to play defense and just gets caught off-guard and grabs a handful of shirt, it's just holding. If the defender is making no effort to "play basketball", then it's intentional.

And yes, I've called it once.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by GFS-1

I guess my question is have any of you made that call.

Yes.

[NathanRT]

I had this happen this past Friday night during a 9th boys game. A1 drove to the basket and B1 grabbed hold of the shoulder of his jersey and pulled him down as he tried to go up for the short jump-shot in the middle of the lane. I called the intentional as I felt it was a completely unnecessary and could easily get someone hurt.

[mplagrow]

Originally Posted by NathanRT

I had this happen this past Friday night during a 9th boys game. A1 drove to the basket and B1 grabbed hold of the shoulder of his jersey and pulled him down as he tried to go up for the short jump-shot in the middle of the lane. I called the intentional as I felt it was a completely unnecessary and could easily get someone hurt.

Welcome to the board, NathanRT. Just keep in mind that those two factors are not prerequisites to calling an intentional foul. There may be a situation where the foul is "necessary" from the fouling team's perspective, and is not a hard enough foul to hurt anyone, but the foul is still intentional. Looks like you called one in a good situation for it.

[crazy voyager]

I've seen this call a handfull of times the last years. Mostly becuse officials were told to always call holding a jersey an unsportsmanlike foul a few years ago. The reason was becuse holding jersey were becoming common and we didn't want to end up like handball

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by GFS-1

I went to a College Basketball game today and one of the Ref's called a
Intentional Foul on Team B pulling on Team A's jersey. In all of my years
calling games, I've never made that call or seen someone else make that call.
I guess my question is have any of you made that call. To me it's just holding?

Thanks,
GFS-1

Well your opinion has not been in line with that of the NFHS since 2000-01 when the Fed wrote the following in a POE on intentional fouls:

An intentional foul has occurred when a team has obviously committed a foul, late in the game, to stop the clock and force the opponent into a throw-in or free throw situation. Acts that must be deemed intentional include:
- grabbing a player from behind
- wrapping the arms around a player
- grabbing a player away from the ball
- grabbing or shoving a player from behind when an easy basket may be made
- excessive contact on a player attempting a shot
- grabbing/holding a player by the jersey in order to impede their progress

(as posted on this forum by JR in this old thread)
Intentional Foul at End of Game

[imaref]

Originally Posted by GFS-1

I've never made that call or seen someone else make that call.
I guess my question is have any of you made that call?

Yes....specifically when it involves judgement on "intent".

[NathanRT]

In the same game I mentioned above, I had another intentional foul with about a minute left. Just after B1 passed the ball to a team mate, A1 grabbed him around the waist and hauled him down. After the game my partner said that I should have just called a regular foul as it was good "game management." He claimed that since the other team was trying to foul (which I disagreed with as they didn't foul again and were down 10 with about a minute left) I shouldn't call the intentional. Anyone else think it's a good idea to overlook something like that just because you thought a team was trying to foul? I think there was a POE about this a couple of years ago...

[mplagrow]

Originally Posted by NathanRT

In the same game I mentioned above, I had another intentional foul with about a minute left. Just after B1 passed the ball to a team mate, A1 grabbed him around the waist and hauled him down. After the game my partner said that I should have just called a regular foul as it was good "game management." He claimed that since the other team was trying to foul (which I disagreed with as they didn't foul again and were down 10 with about a minute left) I shouldn't call the intentional. Anyone else think it's a good idea to overlook something like that just because you thought a team was trying to foul? I think there was a POE about this a couple of years ago...

"Grabbed and hauled" sounds pretty close to flagrant to me.

[NathanRT]

Originally Posted by mplagrow

"Grabbed and hauled" sounds pretty close to flagrant to me.

I thought about it for a second. It wasn't really as violent as it sounded. I think the offensive player caught himself and let up before really dragging him all the way down.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by crazy voyager

I've seen this call a handfull of times the last years.

Pun intended? Good job. Misspelled handful, though.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by NathanRT

In the same game I mentioned above, I had another intentional foul with about a minute left. Just after B1 passed the ball to a team mate, A1 grabbed him around the waist and hauled him down. After the game my partner said that I should have just called a regular foul as it was good "game management."

Sigh. It's either "good game management" or it's because it's a game interrupter. They'll find any reason not to make the right call.

I'm surprised that he didn't recommend that you use a stop sign first.

A defender grabbed a player without the ball around the waist and hauled him down? With a minute left? Good call, Nathan.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by NathanRT

In the same game I mentioned above, I had another intentional foul with about a minute left. Just after B1 passed the ball to a team mate, A1 grabbed him around the waist and hauled him down. After the game my partner said that I should have just called a regular foul as it was good "game management." He claimed that since the other team was trying to foul (which I disagreed with as they didn't foul again and were down 10 with about a minute left) I shouldn't call the intentional. Anyone else think it's a good idea to overlook something like that just because you thought a team was trying to foul? I think there was a POE about this a couple of years ago...

Great call, Nathan! Keep up the good work.

Evidently your partner missed all of the recent POEs on this.

From the 2006-07 POE:
Far too often, officials do not call fouls as intentional when the act clearly meets the criteria.
From the 2005-06 POE:
Anytime in the game. Acts that neutralize an opponent's obvious advantageous position and must be deemed intentional include:
• Excessive contact on any player attempting a shot
• Grabbing or shoving a player from behind when an easy basket may be scored
• Grabbing and holding a player from behind or away from the ball
These are "non-basketball" plays and must be considered intentional fouls anytime they occur during a game.
...
With that, officials must have the courage to enforce the intentional foul rule. Far too often, officials do not whistle fouls as intentional when the act clearly meets the criteria. Officiating philosophies should not change because of the time remaining in the game or the score differential. The correct call should be made – not the popular one.


From the 2003-04 POE:
When a player fouls and the opponent is clearly not playing the ball, an intentional foul must be called.