I've got another ref question that I'm not sure is in the rulebook or not...
 

Is there any type of rule stating anything about a player yelling when another player is in process of taking a shot? as if saying "heyyyyyyyyyy" when they attempt the shot? maybe it's just bad sportsmanship???

Or is there any rule in the book stating anything about when a player is attempting a shot, and the defender runs at that player's legs, but never touches them? i've seen refs warn players for this, but i'm not sure what the warning is for? the player is not touching them, but may look like he's about to take the shooter's legs out from under him... or is it a sportsmanship call?

Short of the player yelling something unsporting, no there's nothing wrong with that tactic. And no there's nothing wrong with a player running at a player's leg without making contact.

To add a bit to APG's answer

On a free throw, yelling during the shot can be judged as disconcertion. This is a violation that would give the shooter a replacement free throw if the original shot misses.

Yelling, by an opponent, during a free throw attempt IS disconcertion.

MTD, Sr.

As described, I have disconcertion.

As for "running at the legs" I suppose you could go with a technical for unsportsmanlike conduct, but it's a real stretch.

thanks.. all great answers

I'd like to see that & I would LOVE to hear the explaination to the coach!

As described in the original post? Or as described in the responses that narrowed "shot" down to "free throw"?

If you are saying you are going to call disconcertion on a shot, what is your rule basis?

Rule 11 of course, the same rule used to stick a defender for running at a shooters legs, minus any contact :)

Kinda scary, isn't it?!!?:eek:

Been There, Thought That ...
 

I hate it when players do this. I believe that it's unsporting, but I have yet to find a casebook play, or an official, including myself, who would charge an unsporting technical foul on such a play. Similar situation with the, "Ball. Ball. Ball.", or "Dead. Dead. Dead.", chant that many of us hear in our games, usually, for whatever reason, girls games.

A few years ago in a scrimmage, I did warn a player who was defending the inbounder yelling, with a rapid cadence, "One. Two. Three ...". His coach asked me about it. I told the coach that I believed that the yelling was unsporting because it was trying to influence my "real" count. The coach accepted that, which kind of surprised me. I thought that he would come back at me with something like, "I've never seen that call before.", or "I've never seen that in a rulebook". He just told his player to, "Cut it out". I wish that all my conversations with coaches went as smoothly as that one, especially since I pulled the "counting" interpretation out of my a**, and really didn't have anything to back me up.

There's no way I'm letting a defender count out loud. It's unsporting, deceptive, and an attempt to influence the officials' decision. Pick a reason.

We do have options on that act don't we.

Not unsporting?
 

Well, I had a situation several years ago where a defender occasionally would lower his head and fake as if to head-butt the airborne shooter in the groin sometimes causing the shooter to alter his shot. I told the player I considered that unsportsmanlike and it would be a T if done again. The head coach protested there is nothing in the rules prohibiting a player from doing that. I replied the action is clearly unsportsmanlike and any coach who teaches or allows his players to do that shouldn't be coaching. End of discussion and end of that tactic. I don't know if "running at the legs" is the same thing but it certainly isn't what most coaches would teach their players to do.

I like the call in your situation & how you handled it!

This situation is when a defender too late to defend the try so they run at the shooter & generally keep running down the court for a quick outlet if the try in unsuccessful. I'm sure you've seen it :D

FIBA does address this situation specifically in their Interpretations:

A4 is in the act of shooting for a field goal when B4 attempts to distract A4 by shouting loudly or
stamping feet heavily on the floor. The shot for a field goal is:
(a) Successful.
(b) Unsuccessful.
Interpretation:
B4 shall be given a warning which shall also be communicated to coach B.
(a) This warning shall apply to all team B players for the remainder of the game for similar
behaviour.
(b) B4 shall be charged with a technical foul.

Ford Has A Better Idea ...
 

I wonder why the NFHS hasn't tried to incorporate this interpretation. Of course the NFHS would have to change the spelling of "behaviour".

Why should they? This ain't golf...quite frankly I find that FIBA interpretation to be silly and unneeded.

DiscoHristo in his thread starting posted the following situation and question:

"[I]is there any rule in the book stating anything about when a player is attempting a shot, and the defender runs at that player's legs, but never touches them? I've seen refs warn players for this, but I'm not sure what the warning is for? The player is not touching them, but may look like he's about to take the shooter's legs out from under him... or is it a sportsmanship call?"


Jay R, addressing DiscoHristo's question quoted FIBA Interpretation R6-A38, Statement 3:

"While a player is in the act of shooting, opponents shall not be permitted to disconcert that player by actions such as waving a hand(s) to obstruct the shooter’s field of vision, shouting loudly, stamping feet heavily or clapping hands near the shooter. To do so may result in a technical foul if the shooter is disadvantaged by the action, or a warning if the shooter is not disadvantaged.

Example:
A4 is in the act of shooting for a goal when B4 attempts to distract A4 by shouting loudly or stamping feet heavily of the floor. The shot for goal is:
(a) Successful.
(b) Unsuccessful.

Interpretation:
(a) A warning shall be given to B4 and shall be communicated to coach B. This warning shall apply to all players of team B for the remainder of the game for similar behaviour.
(b) A technical foul shall be charged to B4."


I have officiated under NFHS, NCAA Men's/Women's, and FIBA. I do not like the FIBA intepretation. I think that it is an attempt at political correctness (and I hope that there is no one from the NFHS and NCAA Rules committees reads the FIBA Interpretation because I am afraid we just might find in the NFHS and NCAA Women's Rules). That said, I understand the concern that some members of the Forum have regarding this situaion.

Per NFHS and NCAA Men's/Women's Rules there is no infraction of the rules for DiscoHristo situation. We have to wait for contact to occur and then decide if the contact is an Intentional Personal Foul or a Flagrant Personal Foul.

MTD, Sr.