The Most Misunderstood Basketball Rules

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I would put it in the category of unknown rules that they really don't care about.

I don't give a rat's derriere about fans understanding, or not understanding, this rule, but it would be nice it players, and coaches, understood the rule. Then I wouldn't have to flash my "Fashion Police" badge every few games.

Last season a photo appeared in a major metropolitan newspaper of a high school state tournament game worked by our local board officials where a girl with a white (home) jersey was wearing a red headband (illegal last year, legal this year). Our interpreter made it part of his Powerpoint presentation and, without mentioning any names, reamed us all out.

And if you think that this rule can't be enforced consistently, then guess again. Undershirt, headband, wrist bands, and jewelry rules are strictly enforced in the Catholic middle school league that I work. If we, as officials, don't enforce these rules, we don't get paid by our assigner. All officials know this, as do all coaches. After a few reminders the first week of the season, we no longer have any problems with these "Fashion Police" rules. No, "The officials last week let him wear his lucky purple and yellow striped headband". And some of these kids are in second, or third grade, coached by volunteer parents. If they "get" the rule, then high school varsity players, coached by paid coaches, can "get" the rule.

Would somebody please help me down from my soapbox. I'm getting dizzy up here.

[Adam]

Billy, I have no problem with enforcement of this rule. By the time the kids around here hit high school, they're all complying; so I can only assume it's being enforced at the ms level. I'll probably work a few ms games this year to get back into the flow, so I can tell you it'll be enforced then. Hell, I knew the rule when I played junior high basketball in the late 80s.

Actually, I've got a serious point to make about the misunderstood rules. If it's too long, people don't read it, so I would recommend trying to keep it to one page. That would mean you have to either drop some or shorten them all. Maybe one list of misunderstood rules and one list of "rules you never knew about."

I can see the misunderstood rules (3 seconds, over the back, etc.) being useful to help fans; while the "rules you never know about" (colors of undershirts and headbands, jewelry, coaching box) would be beneficial to parents and coaches who are new to the game.

Just my two bits offered from somewhere in front of the soapbox.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I've got a serious point to make about the misunderstood rules. If it's too long, people don't read it, so I would recommend trying to keep it to one page. That would mean you have to either drop some or shorten them all.

Great point. I keep trying to shorten it, but can't decide which points to delete. It's not "my" list (I've gotten a lot of help from many Forum members), but it is my "baby" and it's hard for me to let one, or more, points "leave the nest". I'm starting to tear up just thinking about it. Next time I revise it I will invite Forum members to make corrections, additions, or, dare I say it, deletions. Of course, we're all good neighbors around here so no one really needs an invitation.

[MelbRef]

"Palming or carrying is when a player gains an advantage when the ball comes to rest in the player's hand"

Is it OK for the point guard to palm his way down the court if no-one is around him?

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by MelbRef

"Palming or carrying is when a player gains an advantage when the ball comes to rest in the player's hand"

Is it OK for the point guard to palm his way down the court if no-one is around him?

Good catch. The words "gains an advantage" should be removed. Advantage/disadvantage doesn't apply to violations.

Billy should know that.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Advantage/disadvantage doesn't apply to violations. Billy should know that.

Jurassic Referee: Please, let's not go through this again. We tried to hash this out several years ago with no agreement, or even an agreement to disagree, between us. Long story short, if anyone here calls a three second violation every single time that an offensive player, sans exceptions, spends exactly 3.01 seconds in the lane, then they are certainly "one of those guys". Jurassic Referee: From reading your posts here, and on other forums, for several years, I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you are certainly not "one of those guys".

From the NFHS Rulebook: It is important to know the intent and purpose of a rule so that it may be intelligently applied in each play situation. A player or a team should not be permitted an advantage which is not intended by a rule. Neither should play be permitted to develop which may lead to placing a player at a disadvantage not intended by a rule.

Some rules involve fouls. Some rules involve violations.

If anyone here calls a ten second violation every single time that a free throw shooter takes exactly 10.01 seconds before shooting a free throw, then they, again, are certainly "one of those guys".

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by MelbRef

"Palming or carrying is when a player gains an advantage when the ball comes to rest in the player's hand."

Actually, I have given some thought, actually, much thought, thanks to Jurassic Referee, to removing the "gains an advantage" part of this misunderstood rule.

A1, dribbling in the backcourt, all by himself, no defender, looks to his coach for a play. While doing so, paying close attention to his coach, he absentmindedly, and accidentally, allows the ball to rest for a fraction of a second on the little finger of his dribbling hand, for one dribble, and then continues dribbling "normally". I probably won't call a violation here.

A1, dribbling in the backcourt, closely defended by B1, allows the ball to rest for a fraction of a second on his dribbling hand during a hesitation move, and in doing so, is able to gain an advantage and dribble past defender B1. I've got a violation here every time.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

A1, dribbling in the backcourt, all by himself, no defender, looks to his coach for a play. While doing so, paying close attention to his coach, he absentmindedly, and accidentally, allows the ball to rest for a fraction of a second on the little finger of his dribbling hand, for one dribble, and then continues dribbling "normally". I probably won't call a violation here.

What if the ball was touched with both hands while the dribbler was looking at the coach? What if the dribbler actually grabbed the ball with both hands and then dribbled again? Do you think it's also OK to pick and choose the degree to which a rule has been violated and just call some of the illegal second-dribble violations? The ones that you feel like calling?

And using the same logic, you wouldn't call a violation if the same player stepped on a boundary line in the backcourt while he's not under any pressure either, right? You do believe in consistency, right? Or do you pick and choose what violations that you think should be called under some mystical system known only to yourself?

I ain't gonna argue with you, Billy. That is why personally I don't take your most mis-understood rules too seriously though.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

What if the ball was touched with both hands while the dribbler was looking at the coach?

Violation.

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

What if the dribbler actually grabbed the ball with both hands and then dribbled again?

Violation.

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Do you think it's also OK to pick and choose the degree to which a rule has been violated and just call some of the illegal second-dribble violations?

Yes, as long as I, and others on my local board, have been taught to be consistent with such calls as individual officials (within the game, and from game to game), and with each other.

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

And using the same logic, you wouldn't call a violation if the same player stepped on a boundary line in the backcourt while he's not under any pressure either, right?

Violation. I call boundary lines by the book, as I've been taught, and as all officials on our local board, have been taught.

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

You do believe in consistency, right? Or do you pick and choose what violations that you think should be called under some mystical system known only to yourself?

They are not known only to me, but are taught, and understood by all competent officials on my local board.

Now, Jurassic Referee, after you have had your second helping of apple pie, would you please sit down tell us an after dinner story about the Pilgrims and the Indians, after which could you please follow up with a story about how you personally might bend some rules to account for advantage and disadvantage in calling three second lane violations and ten second free throw violations. Just exactly how do you decide to call these? Are there black areas, white areas, and gray areas, to these rules? "Do you think it's OK to pick and choose the degree to which a rule has been violated?" "You do believe in consistency, right? Or do you pick and choose what violations that you think should be called under some mystical system known only to yourself?"

Oh, and by the way, Happy Thanksgiving.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I have no problem with enforcement of this rule. By the time the kids around here hit high school, they're all complying.

How do you, and your association colleagues, accomplish this daunting task? I talk to to varsity kids during warmups about illegal equipment and they look at me like I'm from Mars and I've got three eyes. I've got kids, and coaches, telling me in January, "How come? All the other officials that we've had this year have allowed Poindexter to wear his lucky, yellow, and pink, polka dotted, headband". This always makes me feel like I'm one of "those guys" and I don't want to be like one of "those guys". I screwed up and made one of "those guys" calls a few years ago, and I've never lived it down.

[Adam]

For one, if Poindexter's friends/coaches tried telling me that, I'd know they were lying. They don't try. Every time I have to say anything (arm bands, ipod, earrings) in warm-ups, I get the same response. "Oh yeah, sorry." And it's a legitimate "sorry," as you can see in their face they just forgot.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Every time I have to say anything (arm bands, ipod, earrings) in warm-ups, I get the same response. "Oh yeah, sorry." And it's a legitimate "sorry," as you can see in their face they just forgot.

Sounds like you guys really got your act together. It's amazing how easy this can be when everybody's on the same page. Keep up the good work.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Sounds like you guys really got your act together. It's amazing how easy this can be when everybody's on the same page. Keep up the good work.

That's a lot of it, it can't be a one-man crusade. The whole association has to be on board.

[KJUmp]

Billy....
Thanks for your post. Starting my 3rd year and taking my local board's test for certification next week. In addition to studying my rule and case book and doing practice tests, your list of misunderstood rules has helped solidify in my mind the concepts and rationale of so many basic rules. For example what wrote about traveling and dribbling has already made reading and understanding sample test questions that ask "is this a travel? or is this a double dribble"? not only easier to answer correctly, but to answer confidently.