Ball hangs on rim
 

VB 3 whistle game after our GV game. Time permitting, I try to watch a quarter or two of the next game mainly to observe the crew. In the first qtr a layup is shot and hangs on the front of the rim as the defender smacks the crap out of the board while trying to block it. The ball rolls off the front of the rim. Official hits whistle and counts the bucket and the game moves on with no challenge.

I went in with the crew at halftime to see if this play came up. It did. The calling official explained that he believed the board slap affected the shot while on the rim. It sounded very nice, but I don't believe he had a rule backing him. Did he?

You can't have basket interference since the backboard is not part of the basket. If there's a call to be made, then it would be a technical foul. Otherwise it's a play on.

It's a technical foul for slapping the backboard but it's not BI.

Would you reconsider the T in view of this:?
"as the defender smacks the crap out of the board while trying to block it"

As with all these situations, you HTBT to know what you would actually call.

But he said, the ball "hangs on the front of the rim." If the ball is on the front of the rim, then the defender is NOT trying to block the shot. He's showboating...T.

Timing is everything
 

Oneputt:
Can you clarify the sequencing between the shot, the block attempt and the ball hanging on the rim, as it has a major bearing on getting the proper call?

Agree. Sounds like the defender didn't want to commit BI, but didn't want the ball to roll into the hoop, so he hit the backboard. And it worked. And it was T-worthy.

10-3-4b: A player shall not illegally contact the backboard/ring by
intentionally slapping or striking the backboard or causing the ring
to vibrate while a try or tap is in flight or is touching the backboard
or is in the basket or in the cylinder above the basket.

Should Have Called The Mythbusters ...
 

Slapping the backboard is neither basket interference nor is it goaltending and points cannot be awarded. A player who strikes a backboard, during a tap, or a try, so forcefully that it cannot be ignored because it is an attempt to draw attention to the player, or a means of venting frustration, may be assessed a technical foul. When a player simply attempts to block a shot and accidentally slaps the backboard it is neither a violation nor is it a technical foul.

Justacoach, many good shot-blockers wait a split-second after the ball is released before they attempt their swat in order to avoid body contact and to ensure the shot has truly gone up. The shooter got the ball got on the rim quickly and the shot-blocker was too late. Contact with the board happened as a result of the missed swat. Let me know if you need further clarification.

If you truly have a legit shot block attempt, then it's a play on. Coach, players, and fans won't be happy about it, but that's beside the point. Legit shot block attempt, then a slap on the backboard is nothing...even with the ball on the rim. If it isn't a legit shot block attempt, then its tea and crumpets time.

No further clarification needed. Legal play by rule.

What he said.

anytime anyone asks you about this scenario...have them read (or in our case re-read) BillyMacs' post above....nothing further needs to be written and/or said.

well done young man!

Just Don't Call Me Late For Dinner ...
 

Thank the Mythbusters (It's a group effort. By the way guys, my computer crashed, and I no longer have the complete list of contributors, and I'm no longer keeping a list. Be sure to hold onto your Mythbusters badges, and secret decoder rings, because that's the only proof you have that your an official Mythbuster, and I don't have the proper documentation to give you new ones. Only new members will get Mythbuster badges, and decoder rings. Sorry).

Also, jeffpea, unless you're older than Mark T. DeNucci, Sr., or Jurassic Referee, I seriously doubt that you can call me young man.

If the ball "hangs front of the rim" when the "shot blocker" slapped the backboard, there was more than just a "split-second" in the timing of the "block."

Make up your mind. :)