Due to the vast number of different types of screens utilized by offensive teams today, deciphering between illegal versus incidental contact can be a tough assignment for game officials, especially in a two-person crew. From the perspective of fans and some coaches, if the offensive team was able to get an open shot, surely it must have been illegal. As Lee Corso would say “Not so fast my friend!” There are several elements in play when it comes to understanding screening action. Let’s now dive into the NFHS Rule Book, so next time you can scream intelligently (Rule 4-40;1-8).
Definition: A screen is legal action by a player who, while touching the court, without causing contact, delays or prevents an opponent from reaching a desired position. In order to establish legal screening position:
Screening a Stationary Opponent: When screening a stationary opponent from the front or side (within the visual field), the screener may be anywhere short of contact. When screening a stationary opponent from behind (outside the visual field), the screener must allow the opponent one normal step backward without contact. Screening a Moving Opponent: When screening a moving opponent, the screener must allow the opponent time and distance to avoid contact by stopping or changing direction. The speed of the player being screened will determine where the screener may take his / her stationary position. It is important to note that this position will vary and may be one to two normal steps or strides from the opponent. When screening an opponent who is moving in the same path and direction as the screener, the player behind or trailing is responsible if contact is made due to the player in front slowing down or stopping. It is really no different than you rear-ending someone in your car, you will be found at fault. Guidelines for Player Being Screened: A player who is screened within his / her visual field is expected to avoid contact by going around the screener. In cases of screens set outside the visual field, the opponent may make inadvertent contact with the screener and based on the speed of the opponent, the contact may be severe. In this situation, we have incidental contact provided the opponent stops or attempts to stop on contact and moves around the screen, and provided the screener is not displaced if he / she has the ball. A player may not use the arms, hands, hips or shoulders to force their way through a screen or to hold the screener and then push them aside in order to maintain a guarding position on an opponent. **It is also important to note that contact must be made in order for an illegal screen to be present** As you can see, this is quite a bit of information for officials to process when ruling on contact involving screens, and we have only touched on the basic principles. As always, your gauge on officials regarding these plays, should be on how consistent they were throughout the contest. Now that you know the basics, take a look at the clip below and let me know if you have illegal or incidental contact.
Thank you for spending another 3 Seconds in the Stripes!
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 How many times have you screamed or heard someone shout “She was not Set!” or “He was moving Ref!” when an official calls a player control foul?
Myth: A defensive player must be set in order to draw an offensive foul. Fact: A defensive player is required to obtain initial legal guarding position. After a defensive player has established legal guarding position:
A charging foul by an offensive player is illegal personal contact caused by pushing or moving into the defensive player, provided the defensive player has established legal guarding position as shown above. Here are some more key elements:
As officials, we are trained to referee the defense first in order to ensure the above criteria has been met and maintained. It is important for the common fan to know that this is one of the most difficult plays for officials to rule on, especially for officials that are early in their career. This play is a judgement call and since we are human, it would be poor judgement on your part to believe that all officials will see these plays the same. You just have to accept the fact that there are officials that will call a block most of the time and some that lean towards calling a charge. It is up to the coaches and players to adjust to the way the game is being officiated, which adds to the complexity and challenge of the game. I know it is difficult, but I would encourage fans to try and view the game objectively and judge officials based on their consistency, hustle and professionalism. Myth # 2: Officials have a vested interest in making sure the home team wins and gives the home team the benefit of the doubt on 50/50 plays like a block or charge. Fact: Most people serving as officials do so to give back to the game and the communities in their area. We are doing good to be in a different city 4-5 times per week and keep up with the pace of the game, so there is no time to think about cheating the road team. Thank you again for spending 3 Seconds in the Stripes! **NFHS Basketball Rule Book was utilized to help create this post. Please see rules 4-23-2, 4-23-3, and 4-7-2**  Contrary to popular fan opinion and a few uninformed coaches, there is no such thing as an “over the back” foul. As the screenshot above shows, a full search of the NFHS Rule Book was conducted for those that don’t believe everything they read online.
Typically, the phrase “Over the back!” is more prevalent when team A is equipped with a 6’8” post player and team B has nobody over 6’0”. In this scenario, fans just want the bigger athlete out of the game immediately and beg the officials for help, starting with the jump ball and never relenting! FACTS:
The primary thing to evaluate throughout a contest is the consistency in which the game is being officiated. Please understand that consistency does not mean the foul count should be even. The style of play and player aggressiveness can often skew the foul count. So the next time you attend a game, be an educated fan and scream “She pushed her!” or “Quit letting them hold us!” and you might just be taken a little more seriously, at least by those sitting around you… Think Tank: If a person you respected or wanted to please most in life was sitting next to you at a basketball game, would you act differently? Thank you for spending another 3 Seconds in the Stripes! It is certainly no secret that unruly fan behavior continues to be on the rise throughout Oklahoma, as well as across the country in all sports. At some point, especially over the last two decades it has become more acceptable than ever for grown adults to scream and shout at other adults (game officials). If so many fans are rules experts, why do we have such a shortage of game officials?
News Flash - basketball officials are human and make mistakes... Also trending in the wrong direction, is seemingly making it the responsibility of game officials to recommend having disorderly fans removed. The primary play from some leaders in charge at games today is to ignore or disappear when things get sticky. Unfortunately, in some cases school leaders choose to join the jeers, which serves as the ultimate approval of this type of behavior. On one occasion this year, we encountered a head coach that joined the fans in bantering the officials and allowing players to question game officials. This would not be all that strange normally, but I learned the next day that this coach is a school administrator… Heckling has also transformed over the years from “c’mon ref that was a bad call” or “hey ref, footlocker called and needs their shirt back” to now “You ******* suck” or “if you would lose some weight, you might be able to keep up with the game.” Yes, in order to SERVE as an official, you must have thick skin and learn to ignore, but should you really have to endure personal attacks on a nightly basis? I would suggest not, unless you want varsity contest to be officiated by assistant coaches or moved to using playground rules, in which players call their own fouls. The bottom line is the environment at sporting events continues to erode and become increasingly dangerous to student athletes, administrators, game officials and fellow spectators. The only way to reverse this trend is for ALL leaders to step up and adopt a zero-tolerance policy on any behavior that does not align with the mission or vision of your school. The football field, gym, track, baseball diamond, etc., are all extensions of your school, so what you allow is viewed as what is accepted. If you are an administrator that has a difficult time managing conflict or asking people to leave, contact your local police department and ask for assistance on game nights (don’t wait until there is a real problem). Our young athletes need all of us to serve as positive role models and lead by example. This will not only enhance their experience in sports, but also give them a better understanding of teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship, which will ultimately contribute to their long-term success. Rise-Up Leaders, Rise-Up! (For those administrators doing your part, you are greatly appreciated – so keep it up!) Please feel free to share your thoughts, concerns, or ideas on how we can improve the experience for everyone. Thank you for reading 3 Seconds In the Stripes! I recently had the opportunity to take in several games during the Oklahoma class 2A-4A state basketball tournament. I enjoy watching great basketball and learning from some of the best officials in the state. It also allowed me to actually hear the jeers reigning from the peanut gallery. It became evident very quickly that the most popular phrase of the weekend would be “Call it both ways zebra!”
At one contest it was yelled during the very first possession of the game! This tells me that fans habitually bark phrases like this, or they are insecure about their team’s chances of victory from the tip. It also became clear that the majority of fans do not think objectively or take into account what is actually happening in a game. In one instance, the opposing team had been whistled for twice as many fouls and shot 15 less free throws. What happened to respecting the game, your opponent, and the officials? The only conclusion that I can render is that many fans must be reading “How to Yell at Officials for Dummies.” The reality is officials could care less who wins the game. Part of the officials pregame meeting does not include who the better team is, what team they plan to call fouls on, or deciding that every 50/50 call goes to the home team. Officials merely call what they see. They don’t count fouls or try to keep them even. Did you know that if your team has an aggressive mentality and likes to utilize heavy pressure to create turnovers there is a higher probability of them committing more fouls than their opponent? This probability increases if you are playing a team that is more passive in nature and plays zone defense. Furthermore, if one team lives and dies by the three and the other team chooses to slash and drive to the bucket, there is a chance that the foul count can be skewed. Here are a few factors that officials consider when deciding what constitutes illegal contact. Typically, one of these elements must be present to warrant a whistle. It is important to note that most officials are trained to referee the defense first when ruling on fouls. Legal guarding position – Did the defensive player establish legal guarding position before the contact occurred? Verticality – Did the defender keep their hands and arms extended within their own vertical plane? Remember, it is legal for a defender who has established legal guarding position to leave the floor provided they meet the rule of verticality. Displacement – Did the contact cause a player to be moved or displaced from a position that they had legally obtained? Keep in mind that officials may still choose to pass on a call if the contact does not disrupt or hinder the speed, balance, or rhythm of a player. When evaluating officials, there is one main question fans should ask. Are the officials being consistent with the whistle? If officiating was easy everyone would be doing it… Thanks for spending 3 Seconds in the Stripes! Just like education reform, Oklahoma is lagging behind when it comes to utilizing three person mechanics for varsity basketball contests. I can count on one hand the number of states that do not utilize three person mechanics at some point during post season play. There are numerous reasons why we should move to three person mechanics, so this post only touches the surface.
Is it really necessary to be so stubborn when it comes to change? Are students and athletes located in other states more important than our own kids? The answer to these two questions should be a resounding “No!” However, a lack of action and poor planning has education as a whole in dire straits. High school athletics are merely an extension of the classroom, where lifetime values such as citizenship, sportsmanship, teamwork, and hard work are reinforced. Some coaches are hesitant to jump on board with using three officials as they believe there will be more whistles, which will slow down the game. However, statistics show that the game is not impacted by the number of whistles or types of rulings measured when using three officials. Using three officials actually provides more quality whistles on rulings and better game management. The need to guess is virtually eliminated as every angle can be covered adequately. It is near impossible for even the best two person crew to see everything. In case you have not noticed athletes today are bigger, stronger, and faster than ever before. There are very few officials that can actually keep up with the pace of the game plus have quality whistles using two person mechanics. When the primary focus is on keeping up with the game, quality suffers. The feedback from schools that have allowed the use of three person crews is very positive. Most agree that the entire game atmosphere is improved and there are fewer problems with coaches and fans. The number of officials is declining and it is not entirely due to unruly spectators. Many experienced and veteran officials are retiring from varsity contest because they simply cannot keep up. Using three person mechanics will prolong the careers of these valuable officials and help get younger people started by not feeding them to the wolves each night out. That wraps another 3 Seconds In The Stripes! With the unrealistic expectations spectators place on officials to be perfect, one would think officials are androids, programmed to never miss a single call. I can only assume that most fans do not realize that calling interscholastic sports is a hobby for most officials. There is no way you could survive on the pay. I also doubt that most fans understand the numerous sacrifices officials make in order to call games.
The number of officials in all sports is on a steady decline due to the constant berating and offensive behavior being displayed by coaches and fans. In Oklahoma, many middle school and junior varsity contest are officiated by assistant coaches or at times the bus driver. Ironically, I have seldom seen coaches or fans lose their mind on these folks. They realize they are just helping out so the game can be played. Maybe all of us should just roll out there in a pair of overalls with no shirt on, just so the game can be played. Like a raging bull to the cloth, the stripes make coaches and fans see red. What if your boss held you to the same level of expectation that you have for officials? How would you feel if the entire office yelled obscenities at you every time you made a mistake or missed a deadline? What qualifications do you have to make you think you know more than the officials? Have you ever officiated a game or studied the rule book? What sacrifice do you make for the game, other than the $5 entry fee that barely helps keep the lights on at a school struggling to exist? Please remember that other than the man responsible for creating all of us, nobody is perfect! Quit expecting officials to be super human and void of flaws. Focus on coaching or supporting your team. It will prove to be more productive in the end. We will miss some calls and even be out of position occasionally (especially in a 2 person crew), but believe it or not we are trying our best! Good luck to all of the teams competing for hardware and the officials working the games this weekend. Thanks for spending 3 Seconds In The Stripes! There is no figure in the world of sports more despicable to fans than the referee. A close second would be the security guard responsible for escorting disorderly fans from their seat to the parking lot. The main difference being fans typically respect law enforcement, as they might actually need their help one day.
Fans have zero reason to like or behave themselves around officials, much less show any level of respect towards them. Some fans believe that officials step on the floor with an agenda and detailed plan on how to swindle their team out of victory. What they do not realize is this would be like the student who works harder to try and get out of an assignment, than if they would have just completed the assignment. Nonetheless, fans should understand tickets only grant you entry into the contest and are not a guarantee that you get to stay for the entire show. A ticket is not a free pass or open license for you to berate officials, opposing fans, or players. In case you were wondering, refunds are not issued to those that are asked to leave. Having uncontrollable fans removed from a high school basketball game used to be rare. This has now become common place. Just last week an entire section was removed from a playoff contest, so be very careful when choosing your seat. Most officials allow school administrators the opportunity to manage their fans. However, if they choose to do nothing and place your fate at the hands of an official, you are likely leaving with NO warning. After all, I don’t recall a fan ever warning me or any other official that they were about to lose their mind. A good friend of mine was headed to a game this season when he was pulled over for having an expired tag. The trooper actually recognized this official (who has been calling for more than 35 years) and had seen him call a few times. The officer was kind enough to issue only a warning, stating “There is no way I can give a ticket to someone folks hate even more than law enforcement!” My advice to fans is to try and be on your best behavior this weekend. I anticipate most venues hosting playoff games will have zero tolerance for senseless behavior... Once again, thanks for spending 3 Seconds in The Stripes!  The backcourt or over-and-back violation seems like a simple rule, but several key elements make this rule challenging to apply in certain situations. The mere presence of this rule can drive coaches, players, and fans to sheer pandemonium. A seasoned official can even botch this call occasionally, so we cannot expect the common fan to fully understand this rule.
My favorite part of playoff season is being able to watch other officials work games and getting a good chuckle at those fans that feel they always know more than the officials and sometimes more than their own team's coach. I can say with certainty that fans miss this call more than the officials do. The majority of fans have no idea what the rule is, they are just yelling to follow what the person next to them is doing. Just like a crazed fans fuse, I prefer to keep my post short, so let’s just focus today on advancing the ball with the dribble from the backcourt into the frontcourt. We are not going to address the fact that a team has only ten seconds to cross the division line…that is an entire blog in itself. The most common misconception is that a player has committed a backcourt violation if they step or dribble over the division line and then step or dribble back behind the division line. How many times have you seen a player dribble up the floor and straddle the midcourt line, especially when the defensive team is trying to trap? Now raise your hand if you have lost your mind on a referee who did not rule backcourt when this same player used a retreat dribble or pivoted into the backcourt. The division line only serves as a point of no return once ALL “3 points” have completely crossed the midcourt line. Please note that I did not say on or near the line. The offensive team does not establish front court status until both feet and the ball (3 points) have totally crossed the half line. So, it is perfectly legal for the ball to be dribbled back and forth across the division line, provided at least one foot resides in the backcourt. Now that you have a solid understanding of the 3 point reference regarding backcourt, make sure an official rules this play incorrectly before placing undue stress on your heart and mind. Thanks for spending 3 Seconds in the Stripes… Oh yes…the most common and overused phrase in all of basketball at every level. I challenge you to recall the last time you attended a game and did not hear this phrase being echoed. Most of the petitioning begins before the offensive team has even inbounded the ball and likely ends right before these same crazed fans fall asleep for the night. Believe it or not there are those that say “We would have won the game had the officials just called three seconds in the lane on their best player.”
Contrary to popular opinion officials gauge plays and enforce rules based on advantage / disadvantage and a dose of common sense. In this situation if the player’s shadow is caught in the lane or if a player falls down and is no threat to score we likely are not going to blow the whistle and rule 3 seconds. Furthermore, in those contest where the outcome has clearly been decided and it is late in the game, most officials don't even have this rule on their radar. We call this game management. And by the way when did 3 seconds become 3 milliseconds? I have never seen people count so fast in all my life before becoming an official. My simple request to fans everywhere is to please be knowledgeable before you start roaring this phrase repeatedly. How many times has an official actually called this violation while you are shouting for it like a raging lunatic? Is it possible that you could bring unwanted attention to your own team? Is it really worth embarrassing your own child or school? Are you at least fair and help keep your own team out of the paint? Here is what you need to know regarding the 3 second lane violation: The offensive team must have possession in the frontcourt for this rule to apply. This means that there is no reason to scream “3 seconds!” prior to the ball getting across the half line or while the ball is being inbounded. Also keep in mind that when a shot is attempted, the offensive team is no longer in possession of the ball, so there can be no 3 second violation. Yep, this means it is legal for team A to miss a layup and countless follow attempts without ever clearing the lane. If you choose to be in the growing minority of fans that insist on yelling at officials every trip down the floor, please do us and those around you a favor by knowing the rules. If you have already mastered the rules please consider joining your local officials association. As you well know, we need all the help we can get! Thanks for spending Three Seconds In the Stripes… |
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