Multiple foul?

[BayStateRef]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

Or, near the end of the game, with Team A trailing 55-52, everyone in the gym knows that Team A is going to try to get the ball to A1 (their best shooter) for a 3 to tie. A1 is triple-teamed, but gets the ball and attempts a 3-point try. B1, B2 and B3 all foul A1 at the same time, trying to prevent the try. The try is unsuccessful. A1 will get 6 free throws, to tie or win the game!! Try selling that one.

I had this play in a Rec game (8th grade boys) in my first year officiating. Team A was down by 3 points at the end of the game. Its best shooter attempts a 3-point shot as the clock runs out and two defenders foul him at the same time. I called only one foul, the kid missed one of the foul shots and the game ended.

Since it was my first year, I was not certain of the penalty for the multiple foul. Now that I know it, I would probably call the multiple foul. I say "probably" because I have discussed this play with many officials and I am still looking for one to say the "right" call is the multiple foul. They all tell me that no matter what the rule says ("approximately the same time"), I should pick only one player for the foul.

As for why it is not called on more conventional shots (when two defenders foul someone under the basket, for example), I think it is because the penalty is two shots total (one for each foul.) While the rule book call does increase the foul count for the team and both players, only the multiple foul on a 3-point try actually can give a team the chance for any "extra" points for the proper call.