Please Help ...

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by walter

In the next to last paragraph, you have the word "chard" instead of "charged". Spell checker would have missed this so I thought I'd help you out.

Now why didn't you think chard belonged there? Haven't you ever heard of Swiss Chard? Obviously spell checker must be a gardener.

Thanks. I will correct it in my final draft.

[SCalScoreKeeper]

Well done BillyMac! I hope the officials in your unit find this as good a read as I did.

[mbyron]

Can you shorten it to 25 words?

Or maybe add an anecdote. It's a little dry.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Add an anecdote. It's a little dry.

Wrong Number In Book ???

[BillyMac]

Here's my final draft. Much thanks to Bad Zebra, Walter, ChuckElias, and especially Bainsey, for their suggestions.

It's not too late to offer suggestions for improvement.

ADMINISTRATIVE INFRACTION TECHNICAL FOUL PENALTIES

Basketball officials will do everything in their power to prevent administrative infraction technical fouls. The crew arrives on the court at least fifteen minutes prior to game time. The referee meets with the table crew and reviews table responsibilities with the home scorekeeper, the visiting scorekeeper, and the timer. The referee reviews the scorebook, looking for duplicate numbers, illegal numbers, and that the number of players on each roster coincides with the number of players warming up. Officials look for illegal uniforms and illegal numbers during pregame warm-ups. Once the game starts, substitutes eager to enter the game are given the “stop sign” and are only beckoned when allowed by rule. Officials are very careful to count players after each substitution to ensure that there are only five players from each team participating before allowing the ball to be put into play. Officials notify teams, and their coaches, whenever a team is granted its final allotted charged timeout.

Yet, despite officials doing everything in their power to prevent administrative infraction technical fouls, these types of infractions still occur. All of a sudden, it’s realized that there are eleven players participating. The horn sounds at an odd time, and the officials are informed that a player’s number is not recorded in the official scorebook. Excess timeouts are requested, and granted. When these administrative infractions occur, officials must be prepared to deal with them, and penalize them, in the proper manner, within the proper time frame.

Some administrative infraction technical foul situations can occur before the jump ball is even tossed. If a team fails to supply the official scorer with its roster, and/or designate its five starting players at least ten minutes before the scheduled starting time, then a team technical foul is charged. This team technical foul is charged when it occurs: after the ten minute time limit. A maximum of one technical foul is charged for both requirements (roster and starters).

If a team changes a designated starter (with exceptions) after the ten minute time limit, then a team technical foul is charged. If a player starts, and that player was not designated to be a starter, the infraction has to be discovered, and penalized, before the ball becomes live to start the game. Once the ball becomes live, it is too late to penalize this specific infraction, and no penalty can be assessed. As a reminder, the ball becomes live when: on a jump ball, the tossed ball leaves the referee’s hand; on a throw-in, it is at the disposal of the thrower; and on a free throw, it is at the disposal of the free thrower.

Many administrative infractions can involve the scorebook and rosters. If a team adds a name to the team roster after the ten minute time limit, then a team technical foul is charged. When such a player legally enters the court, the player’s name, and number, must be entered into the official scorebook. In order to penalize this infraction, the offending team member must be one of the five players currently in the game. In addition, if a team requires the official scorer to change a team member, or player number in the official scorebook (with exception), after the ten minute time limit, then a team technical foul is charged. If there is no request for change, or if a team member does not become a player, thus avoiding the change, there is no penalty.

Similarly, if a team requires a player to change to a number in the official scorebook after the ten minute time limit, then a team technical foul is charged. A maximum of one team technical foul is charged regardless of the number of players, and substitutes, not wearing the number indicated in the official scorebook. Each player must wear the number indicated in the official scorebook, or change the official scorebook number to that which the player is wearing. Any additional substitutes who become players and require the changing of the number indicated for them in the official scorebook will not result in a penalty, as the one maximum technical has already been charged to the team for this administrative infraction. If there is no request for change, or if the team member does not become a player, thus avoiding the change, there is no penalty.

These three scorebook situations – adding a name to the team roster, changing a name or a number in the official scorebook, having a player change a number – are penalized when they occur, after the ten minute time limit. The infraction occurs when the scorer is advised to add to or change the official scorebook. The foul must be charged when it occurs and enforced when the ball next becomes live. Once the ball has become live, after such changes have been made to the scorebook, it is too late to penalize. Remember, the ball becomes live when: on a jump ball, the tossed ball leaves the referee’s hand; on a throw-in, it is at the disposal of the thrower; and on a free throw, it is at the disposal of the free thrower.

A maximum of one technical foul per team is charged regardless of the number of infractions for changing a designated starter, adding a name to the team roster, changing a name or a number in the official scorebook, having a player change a number, or a team having identical numbers on team members, and/or players. Each player must wear the number indicated in the scorebook, or change the official scorebook number to that the player is wearing. Any additional substitutes who become players and require the changing of the number indicated for them in the official scorebook will not result in a penalty, as the one maximum technical has already been charged to the team for that team’s administrative infraction.

If a team has identical numbers on team members, and/or players, after the ten minute time limit, then a team technical foul is charged. This infraction is charged and penalized upon discovery of identical numbers. Only one team member may wear a given number; the other must change to a number not already in use before participating.

Technical fouls for illegal uniforms and illegal numbers are not charged to the team, but rather, are charged directly to the head coach. If a team member participates while wearing an illegal uniform, then a direct technical foul is charged to the head coach, who will lose the coaching box privilege for the remainder of the game. This infraction is penalized when discovered. A maximum of one technical foul shall be charged directly to the head coach regardless of the number of offenders. The team member with the illegal uniform number may participate without further penalty and is not required to change his/her number. If no changes are made to the scorebook, no infraction has occurred.

If a team requests and is granted an excess timeout, then a team technical foul is charged. The penalty for an excessive timeout is assessed when discovered.

If a team has more than five team members participating simultaneously, then a team technical foul is charged. This infraction is penalized if it is discovered by the officials while being violated, in other words, while more than five team members are participating as players currently in the game.

If a player participates after changing a number without reporting the change to the official scorer and an official, then a player flagrant technical foul is charged. This infraction is penalized if it is discovered by the officials while being violated. In other words, it can only be penalized when the offending team member is one of the five players currently in the game, and is not bench personnel.

If the head coach permits a team member to participate after being removed from the game for disqualification, then a direct technical foul is charged to the head coach, who will lose the coaching box privilege for the remainder of the game. This infraction is penalized if it is discovered by the officials while being violated. In other words, this can only be penalized when the offending team member is one of the five players currently in the game, and is not bench personnel.

If a substitute enters the court without reporting to the scorer; and without being beckoned by an official, except between periods, then a technical foul shall be charged to the substitute. Each illegal substitute gets one technical foul per instance, whether they didn’t report, or entered the court without being beckoned, or both. Two technical fouls are not charged if the illegal substitute doesn’t report and enters without being beckoned. A substitute technical foul is charged if recognized by an official before the ball becomes live following the first dead ball. Once the ball becomes live, the substitute is a legal player at that point, the foul is not penalized. Remember, the ball becomes live when: on a jump ball, the tossed ball leaves the referee’s hand; on a throw-in, it is at the disposal of the thrower; and on a free throw, it is at the disposal of the free thrower.

Officials must continue to do everything in their power using diligent preventative officiating to prevent administrative infraction technical fouls from occurring. However, when these administrative infractions occur, officials must be prepared to deal with them, and penalize them, in the proper manner, within the proper time frame.

[David M]

This may be picky but in your third paragraph you state "at least ten minutes before the scheduled starting time". In all other places you have "ten minute time limit" which it really isn't. While everyone on this board know what you mean it may not be as clear to others.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by David M

This may be picky but in your third paragraph you state "at least ten minutes before the scheduled starting time". In all other places you have "ten minute time limit" which it really isn't. While everyone on this board know what you mean it may not be as clear to others.

Good point. Thanks for reading and commenting. The "at least" refers to the fact that a team can legally submit it's roster 12 minutes before the scheduled start of the game. They don't have to submit it at the 10 minute mark exactly. When an infraction occurs, it occurs after that 10 minute time limit. Doesn't matter if it's at 9 minutes, or at 2 minutes. When infractions occur, that 10 minute time limit is a line drawn in the sand that can't be crossed (theoretically).

Am I making any sense here, or do I need to do another rewrite?

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

ADMINISTRATIVE INFRACTION TECHNICAL FOUL PENALTIES

The referee reviews the scorebook, looking for duplicate numbers, illegal numbers, and that the number of players on each roster coincides with the number of players warming up.

And if the number of players DOESN'T coincide, what then is the R supposed to do? And why?

Which also brings up the points......
1) Can a member of bench personnel other than a team member participate in the pre-game warmup?
2) What is the penalty if a bench member other than a team member dunks the ball in the pre-game warmup?

Rules refences with the answers would be greatly appreciated.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

And if the number of players doesn't coincide, what then is the R supposed to do? And why?

Here in our little corner of Connecticut, we've been taught, for at least the past thirty years, to do a little preventive officiating while checking the book before the game. We are encouraged to check the book no later than twelve minutes before the scheduled starting time to rectify any errors, or discrepancies, before they turn into infractions that have to be penalized after the ten minute mark.

We have been encouraged to look for illegal numbers, and identical numbers, before the ten minute mark so that they can be addressed, at this point, without penalty. We have also been encouraged to check that there are the same number of players in the book, or more, than there are players warming up. If there are more players in the book than there are players warming up, it's no big deal and we move on, maybe a player is sick, or injured. On the other hand, if there are fewer players in the book than there are players warming up, then we address this issue with the scorekeeper. The usual response is, "Oh yeah. Johnny Smith got moved up to the varsity for tonight's game. I forgot. Thanks.". Again, this is all done before the ten minute mark to avoid having to penalize "administrative" infractions.

Even though we try to find errors, and discrepancies, before the ten minute mark, they still happen, and ultimately, it's the coach's responsibility to make sure that the scorebook, roster, uniform numbers, etc., are correct. We only have a few minutes to spend with the table crew before the game, and the players, usually wearing warmup tops over their uniform jerseys, are difficult to observe for illegal uniforms, numbers, and equipment. Sometimes we only get to see what they are actually wearing during the National Anthem and pregame player introductions. We still try to do the best we can to avoid administrative infraction penalties, but when they happen, and if you officiate long enough, they will, we must be prepared to deal with them, and penalize them, in the proper manner, within the proper time frame.

In any case, that's the way we've been doing things around here for a long, long, time. Is there a rules reference, or a manual reference, that covers these procedures? Probably not. Are we right, and is everybody else, who doesn't use these preventative procedures, wrong? No. When in Rome, or in this case, when in my little corner of IAABO Connecticut ...

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

1) Can a member of bench personnel other than a team member participate in the pre-game warmup? 2) What is the penalty if a bench member other than a team member dunks the ball in the pre-game warmup? Rules references with the answers would be greatly appreciated.

Jurassic Referee: Great questions. I've often wondered about these situations. I do remember an interpretation a few years ago that stated that team members warming up must be legally equipped, thus, no earrings, no illegal headbands, etc.

10-3-3 tells us that a player shall not: Grasp either basket during the time of the officials’ jurisdiction, dunk or stuff, or attempt to dunk or stuff a dead ball prior to or during the game or during any intermission until jurisdiction of the officials has ended. This item applies to all team members.

But is there a rule that tells us that team members, other than players, and substitutes, for example, the team manager, team mascot, team trainer, team coach, team statistician, team chaplain, injured player in street clothes, injured player in uniform (whose name is in the book but won't play), etc., may not get involved in pregame warmups? I don't know.

This situation should probably have it's own thread. Let the games begin.