Notice NCAA tournament blatant disregard for 6-foot closely guarded distance?

[rfp]

I've noticed repeatedly that in order to maintain the closely guarded count, the defender has to be almost on top of the offensive player. If he's 4-6' away, officials almost exclusively give the "safe" sign. Seems like no one has any interest in adhering to this rule.

[Welpe]

This isn't exclusive to the tournament, not from what I've seen anyways.

[Jurassic Referee]

This calls for a congressional inquiry. Or...dare I say it...maybe even a poll!

[tref]

Blatant disregard or a slower, more educated start to begin the count?

Nobody is tuning in to see c/g calls...
Honestly, I've noticed in the HS game that we begin many counts that only get to one. Why waste energy on 3 or 4 seperate counts that only get to 1 in each possession??
Once we figure out what plays the offense is running & where the ball is going next, its easier to referee c/g, illegal screens, etc.


On 3/30 7:08pm MST Mr. Adams said:
"With the exception of probably the end of 3 games, I think the officiating in the NCAA tournament has been pretty terrific."

[APG]

I would also say that a closely guarded count is not as important in the college game compared to high school since a shot clock is implemented. In high school, its importance is a lot higher (in non-shot clock states), since it's one of the few avenues for a team to combat keep-away ball. In college...play 35 seconds (too long IMO but that's another story)/30 seconds of good defense and you'll have an opportunity to rebound a miss, force a turnover or inbound after a make.

[rfp]

Originally Posted by tref

Nobody is tuning in to see c/g calls...

Yikes! This forum is usually focused on making rulings by the book, not based on what people tune in to see. Nobody is tuning in to see 3-seconds violations or fouls 94-feet from the basket with 0.7 seconds left. That doesn't mean they don't get called.

But that's really my observation. It certainly looks as if officials have been told not to make this kind of call. I also agree it's less necessary in college than NFHS due to the shot clock, but it's still a NCAA-M rule. If they're not going to call it, change the distance like NCAA-W or do away with it?

And it's not a comment about the quality of the officiating overall, just something I noticed on this situation specifically.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by rfp

Yikes! This forum is usually focused on making rulings by the book, not based on what people tune in to see. Nobody is tuning in to see 3-seconds violations or fouls 94-feet from the basket with 0.7 seconds left. That doesn't mean they don't get called.

But that's really my observation. It certainly looks as if officials have been told not to make this kind of call. I also agree it's less necessary in college than NFHS due to the shot clock, but it's still a NCAA-M rule. If they're not going to call it, change the distance like NCAA-W or do away with it?

And it's not a comment about the quality of the officiating overall, just something I noticed on this situation specifically.

The people who attend games and yell "3 Seconds" beg to disagree.

[ref2coach]

He is a clown. Were I in his association I would block him. I would not want to be on the same court with anyone working so hard to draw attention to himself.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by rfp

Yikes! This forum is usually focused on making rulings by the book, not based on what people tune in to see. Nobody is tuning in to see 3-seconds violations or fouls 94-feet from the basket with 0.7 seconds left. That doesn't mean they don't get called.

But that's really my observation. It certainly looks as if officials have been told not to make this kind of call. I also agree it's less necessary in college than NFHS due to the shot clock, but it's still a NCAA-M rule. If they're not going to call it, change the distance like NCAA-W or do away with it?

And it's not a comment about the quality of the officiating overall, just something I noticed on this situation specifically.

I agree with you that 6' closely doesn't seemed to be monitored with the same dilegence we are asked to do at the HS level.

But apparently the NCAA is not too concerned with this particular call as I've never seen it emphasized at any college-level venue I've been a part of.

[stiffler3492]

Originally Posted by rfp

I've noticed repeatedly that in order to maintain the closely guarded count, the defender has to be almost on top of the offensive player. If he's 4-6' away, officials almost exclusively give the "safe" sign. Seems like no one has any interest in adhering to this rule.

Plus, isn't the rule three feet, not six feet anyways?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

Plus, isn't the rule three feet, not six feet anyways?

NCAAW or NCAAM ???

[tref]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

NCAAW or NCAAM ???

While holding the ball in f/c or b/c.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

NCAAW or NCAAM ???

I am late to this thread but:

NFHS and NCAA Men's: six (6) feet while dribbling or holding the ball in the Front Court (FC).

FIBA and NCAA Women's: three (3) feet while holding the ball anywhere on the Playing Court (both Front and Back Court). Note: BC = Back Court.

The NCAA Women's rule was a FIBA adoption holdover from the NAGWS Rules. FIBA has continued to have the rule apply to the entire Playing Court even after it adopted the Ten Second Backcourt Rule (subsequently reduced to eight seconds when the NBA/WNBA went to eight seconds); the Ten/Eight Second Back Rule is a fairly recent adoption by FIBA.

Regarding both NFHS and NCAA Men's I would rather see the rule be three feet while holding the ball only in the FC.

MTD, Sr.


History Lesson: NAGWS stands for the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports. This organization still exists and use to right the rules for many sports played by girls and women at the high school and college level. The NAGWS Basketball Rules were the precurser to the NCAA Women's Basketball Rules Committee.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

The Spread Arms Mechanic is the dumbest mechanic/signal in all of sports.

When I first learned the profession of officiating basketball (in the ancient days), the first thing I was taught is that you have nothing until you have something.

If an official is waving his arm in a counting manner it means that he does have a Closely Guarded Situation; if he is NOT waving his arm in a counting manner it means that he does NOT have a Closely Guarded Situation.

I have not ever used the signal in all of my years as a college and high school official. I remember the first year the the NCAA Men's/Women's Committee adopted the mechanic. I was officaiting a women's game and a HC wanted a Five Second call and during a TO wanted to know why I didn't spread my arms to show I didn't have a CGS. I told him that I visually count when I have CGS. If I don't have a CGS I won't be spreading my arms because I don't need to be visually counting. He gave me the deer caught in the headlights look and then the light bulb went on in his head (I don;t know who turned it on because nobody was home, LOL), and the replied that he understood what I was saying, which was as scarey thought.

MTD, Sr.

[7IronRef]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

When I first learned the profession of officiating basketball (in the ancient days), the first thing I was taught is that you have nothing until you have something.

MTD, Sr.

That goes for every no call/call