Referee Quiz
 

While looking at the quiz on referee.com I came across a couple of answers which puzzled me.

5. Which of these are examples of
incidental contact?
a. Contact that occurs
unintentionally in an effort by an
opponent to reach a loose ball.
b. Contact that hinders the
opponent from participating in
normal defensive and offensive
movements.
c. If a screen by a player without
the ball is set outside the opponent’s
visual field, the opponent makes
contact that displaces the screener
but the opponent attempts to stop
upon realization he or she has been
screened.
d. If a screen by a player is set
within the opponent’s visual field
and the opponent makes contact that
displaces the screener.

The answer key says A is one of the correct answers. Seems to me that just because the contact is unintentional doesn't mean that it is incidental. Seem more info is required.

Second one.

15. If a player (excessively) swings
his or her elbows and makes nonincidental
contact with an elbow to
an opponent’s head, what kind of
foul may result?
a. Common foul.
b. Intentional foul.
c. Flagrant foul.
d. Flagrant 1 foul
e. Flagrant 2 foul

The answer key says that choice A. is one possible answer. Since the player swings excessively isn't the only options B or C?

For the first one: I suspect the point is that during a loose ball, you have no "dribbler" and nobody gets protected the way a dribbler does.

In the first question, you are correct and the quiz author is not.

For the 2nd question, by NFHS rules a common foul is possible, but intentional or flagrant are the recommended options per the POE this season. The difference is that the NCAA requires an upgrade of the foul while the NFHS does not.

Excuse me, but what "protection" are you giving a dribbler which you are not giving to every other player on the court? :confused:

I think it needs more info to answer. If in pursuit of the ball one player accidently runs over another it seems to me that is not incidental.

It's not and it has nothing to do with going for the ball.

One of my pet peeves is when I hear a fan or coach complain about a call with the "he was going for the ball!!!" whine. I want to scream back at the person, what does that have to do with it being a foul? Of course he was going for the ball!!! Most of the times players are 'going for the ball' when they foul. I think I hear the whine more as a fan when I go to games than when I am actually reffing but I hate that whine.

a, b, c all "need more information" before a definitive answer can be given.

RefMag often has some unusual (and sometimes outright wrong) quize answers. Still, it get me in the books.

"That's why I didn't call it intentional."