Why won't they call the intentional?

[JRutledge]

I think in general officials are afraid to pull the trigger to make this call. Not sure why, but I have noticed in the last 3 seasons I have called almost all the intentional fouls in my games when they took place. I had a game where it happened to be on TV and there was a call during a transition period and in my opinion a pretty obvious intentional foul, but it was not called. I was so far away and second on the whistle so I let my partner take it. I was asked later by one of my mentors was I thinking intentional and in his opinion based on what he saw it was a clear intentional foul. I just think guys are afraid they might play a bigger role in a game than they want to. So you do not get a lot of intentional foul calls as a result.

Peace

[crazy voyager]

I agree, the intentional foul (and sometimes the Technical) is not used properly. I don't think we should ever be afraid to call the intentional fouls if we see them. But I often look at games and se fouls I belive should be intentional. Swedish referees are usually very good at calling the holding of jerseys. Mainly becuse we were told to call this harder a few years ago.

[Jway44]

Yeah, I don't understand the reluctance to call the IF either. Easpecially when you know that they are fouling to stop the clock and the player does something that is obviously not making a play on the basketball. I have yet to understand why this call is so "taboo".

[Ref Daddy]

Intentional. Does it have equal "weight" if
1) defensive player is aggressive when opponent trying to score
2) defensive player wants to stop the clock aginst an opponent that wants it running.

The rules are clear. The determination is the extent the defender goes/does not go - for the ball