"It's Totally Automatic" (Pointer Sisters) ...

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by doubleringer

Personally, I think we make mistakes as officials when we talk about "automatic" fouls. I think a better discussion would be to break down the exact wording of the definition in the rules book, go through the casebook plays, and if you can, watch some tape of game situations. Coaches and fans can think of things having to be "automatic", but every play is different and we have to be prepared to apply the rule to those situations.

Why do you think it's a mistake when the NFHS rulesmakers have instructed us over and over...and over....what we should deem as being "automatic" fouls?

I just pulled an old rule book out at random and found this...

From the 2005-06 rulebook, here's a POE that has been issued by the NFHS rulesmakers in various forms at least 3 times that I know of.....
POE #3- Intentional Fouls:
Anytime in the game. Acts that neutralize an opponent's obvious advantageous position and MUST be deemed intentional include:
- Excessive contact on any player attempting a shot.
- Grabbing or shoving a player from behind when an easy basket may be scored.
- Grabbing and holding a player from behind or away from the ball
These are non-basketball plays and must be considered intentional fouls anytime they occur during the game.

Other POE's specifically mentioned grabbing a jersey as always being an intentional foul.

My own opinion is that BillyMac's local IAABO Board is simply following very definitive NFHS direction. The NFHS issues these POE's to let us know how they want the game called. Unfortunately it seems that a lot of them are forgotten almost as soon as they're read...if they are read.