Tripping in Basketball
 

Team A Point Guard is dribbling down court on a fast break. Team B defender
is running up behind him and trips him. 2 questions here, First what foul do you
have kicking, blocking, make up your own? Second what signal is used again
kicking, blocking, make up your own? I saw this happen in the Varsity Game and
nothing was called. Was nothing called because we down have a signal or the
defense never gained a advantage because Team A recovered the loose ball.
What would be your call and signal.

Thanks for your time
Third year Referee

Probably any player that make a dribbler fall and they are behind, I am probably going to go with a push call. College mechanics actually have the "tripping" signal and you could use that appropriately. But because this sounded like a HS game that might not go over very well.

Also I have no idea why there was not a call, I was not there. Maybe the official felt there was no contact. Or maybe the official missed it. That does happen you know. ;)

Peace

B should be called for a foul here. Just because you're not sure what signal to use, you still have to call it. A push I would call.

As for why there was no whistle, I can't say as I did not talk to the officials on the game.

If it's a blatant trip, wouldn't you call that an intentional foul as well? A regular trip I would just call a push as well...

You can call an intentional foul on all kinds of things (heck, why not a flagrant foul). But let us not go that far without having some idea as to what actually happen. We are not going to get that answer by reading about it on a discussion board. :)

Peace

Knowing there is no "trip" call in HS, I always use the "push" signal. Obviously, an advantage was created, and I feel you have to call something as it usually is very obvious.

4-7-1: Blocking is illegal personal contact which impedes the progress of an opponent with or without the ball.

Tripping someone impedes his progress. Works for me.

Yea, I usually call tripping a block, but if it's from behind and there's any body contact at all, a push would work just as well. But it's a foul on the defender, even if it's just an "accident" with the feet getting inadvertently tangled. Gotta call it, though not actually seeing the OP, I can't comment on that particular play.

Personally, I'd use either the "over the back" or the "reach" mechanic. :p

Or my favorite, the creeping death mechanic I see our JV officials use when they say "over the back."

Personally, I'd eliminate all of the mechanics and just give them all 2 minutes in the penalty box for cheating.

Or...you could call a balk. :rolleyes:

A little twist
 

A1 has the ball and is dribbling up court. He dribbles past B2 who is jogging up the court and makes no real attempt at stopping A1. As A1 goes past B2 he dribbles into the direct line that B2 is jogging. As he cuts in, B2 and A1s feet obviously touch as A1 goes down to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Coach of A is crying murder! Says, "That's a call every time ref!" Foul on B2 for tripping? Or, no call as A1 was primarily responsible for the contact? We had this in a recent game and had no call. I was the trail and could not see the contact as I was screened by B2. At the next TO, we discussed and both the C and L said they didn't see the play, just heard the kid hit the court. Trip? Push? No call?

I'm sure you realize this is one of those "you'd have to be there" decisions, but on the surface, this is what it sounds like to me:

http://www.z-news.com/archives/12010...im-no_call.gif

No call ... but, what about a foul on A1? Maybe not with the way the contact was described, but what if he plows into the side of B2?

If he goes to the floor with ball in possesion - you could have a travel!

This is an easy call. Under both NFHS, NCAA, and FIBA rules this is a blocking foul by A1 for not giving time and distance in setting a screen against a moving B2. The foul is a player control foul.

MTD, Sr.