Rule 2: Officials and Their Duties

Question 1

Team A is ahead by one point. The game-ending horn sounds with the ball loose at the division line. Clearly after playing time has expired, A1 taunts B1. The referee, before checking/approving the final score, sees this action by A1 and assesses a CLASS A technical foul against A1. Team A’s coach pushes the referee after the technical foul is called. The referee assesses a flagrant 2 technical to Team A’s coach, ejects the coach and awards Team B four free throws.
Correct?

Answer 1

Yes, official’s jurisdiction does not end until approval of final score. The official may call a technical foul, correct a correctable error, or correct a bookkeeping mistake by the official scorer.

Question 2

The officials leave the playing area at the end of the game, and while they are in the locker room, it is discovered that there is a mistake in the score or that there was a request for a correctable error.
Can the officials make a ruling?

Answer 2

No, once the officials leave the visual confines of the playing court when the last period is over, the score has been approved and the game is over.

Question 3

When an official is required to hand/bounce the ball to the thrower-in, is it the duty of the official to wait until both teams are ready before doing so?

Answer 3

No, the resumption of play procedure is in effect for the entire game, except to start the second half or any extra period.

Question 4

B1 commits a fifth foul which results in two free throws for A1. The official scorer and timer fail to notify the officials until after the first of two FTs is made or missed. Handle the situation.

Answer 4

Team B coach must replace B1 immediately, and play shall resume with the second FT by A1. There is no additional penalty assessed for the official scorer and timer mistake in failing to notify.

Question 5

A3 who has committed a fifth foul [any combination of personal fouls and CLASS A technical fouls] continues to play and scores 4 points because the scorers have failed to notify the officials. Handle the situation.

Answer 5

As soon as the scorers discover the irregularity, they should sound the game-clock horn as soon as the ball is in control of the offending team or is dead. The disqualified player shall be removed immediately. Any points that may have been scored while such a
player was illegally in the game shall count.

Question 6

At halftime, the official scorer, who is a member of the home-team faculty, removes the scorebook from the scorers’ table:
1. Of his or her own volition to the home-team locker room; or
2. At the request of the home-team coach.
Ruling?

Answer 6

1. Administrative Technical Foul - one shot and POI (if book does not go to locker room, there is no penalty.)
2. Class B assessed to Head Coach - one shot and POI

Question 7

When may a scorer signal the officials by sounding the horn?

Answer 7

1. Illegal player (when ball is in control of that player’s team or when the ball becomes dead.)
2. Illegal substitution (when ball is in control of that player’s team or when the ball becomes dead.)
3. Confer with official (Dead ball only).
   Note: If ball is live, officials shall ignore the signal when a scoring play is in progress. Otherwise, officials may signal for the game clock to stop to determine the reason for the signal from the scorer.

Question 8

The game-clock horn sounds while the ball is live. Handle the situation.

Answer 8

Players should ignore the game-clock horn since it does not cause a dead ball. The officials shall use their judgment in blowing the ball dead to consult with the scorers and timers. When the players on both teams do not ignore the game-clock horn and stop playing,
the officials shall stop play and award the ball to the team in control at a designated spot nearest to where the ball was when the stoppage occurred.

Question 9

The official scorer fails to record two points awarded to Team A by an official during the first half as a result of basket interference by B2. Handle the situation.

Answer 9

The scorer’s mistake shall be rectified at any time until the referee approves the final score.

Question 10

After two minutes of the first extra period, it is discovered that during the second half of regulation play, the official scorer failed to record one point as a result of a made free throw by Team A. Handle the situation.

Answer 10

The score shall be recorded and play shall be continued at a designated spot from the point of interruption.

Question 11

In a game with no official court-side monitor, the red light or LED lights that signal the end of the last period cannot be seen NOR can the game-clock horn be heard. The officials disagree whether the ball was in flight during a try for field goal or whether a foul occurred before time expired. Handle the situation.

Answer 11

The final decision shall be made by the referee. The official timer shall indicate if the ball was in flight before the red light or LED lights signal was activated or before the game-clock horn sounded only when requested to do so by the referee. The referee shall use his best judgment, but when the evidence for counting or not counting the goal or foul is equal, the referee shall rule that the goal counts and that the foul shall be charged. In a game with an official court-side
monitor and a game clock with a 10th-of-a second display, the status of the try for goal and the committed foul shall be ascertained with the use of the court-side monitor using first, zeroes on the game clock then the red or LED lights when the game clock is not visible and the horn when neither is available.

Question 12

A1 touches the ball that was thrown in by A2. The ball strikes the playing court and bounces until A3 gains control by dribbling. The shot-clock operator started the shot clock when A1 touched the ball. Was the operator correct?

Answer 12

Yes, the game clock and shot clock shall be started when the ball is legally touched by or touches a player on the playing court during a throw-in.

Question 13

Player B1 deflects A1’s pass toward the sideline. Player B2 chases the ball and while airborne and before landing out of bounds, throws the ball backward onto the playing court where it is recovered by Team A. The shot clock operator resets the shot clock. Is the shot clock operator correct?

Answer 13

Yes. The act of throwing the ball backwards and onto the

court demonstrates team control by Team B; therefore, the shot clock is reset.

Question 14

With the alternating-possession arrow favoring Team A and 20 seconds remaining on the shot clock, A1’s try for goal lodges between the backboard and the ring/flange. Handle the situation.

Answer 14

Team A shall be awarded possession for a throw-in and the shot clock shall be reset.

Question 15

A1 releases the ball on a try for goal and then B1 partially blocks the shot and the ball:

1. Hits the ring or flange; or
2. Goes through the basket; or
3. Goes out of bounds.

Answer 15

1 and 2: The play is legal and the action shall continue.
3: The official shall blow the whistle to stop play and the shot-clock operator shall stop but not reset the shot clock. On the ensuing throw-in by Team A, the game clock and shot clock shall start when the throw-in touches any player on the playing court.

Question 16

Team A is in control of the ball when A1 and B1 commit a double personal foul, neither of which are flagrant fouls. While reporting the foul, the official assesses a technical foul against the coach of:

1. Team A.
2. Team B.

Answer 16

Charge the fouls to A1 and B1, but no free throws are
awarded.
In 1 and 2, any player from offended team may attempt two FTs for the technical foul. Play is resumed at POI with ball awarded to Team A, the team in control during the double personal foul.
1: Since technical foul to coach of Team A, shot clock is NOT reset.
2. Since technical foul to coach of Team B, shot clock IS reset.

Question 17

After the bonus is in effect, B1 is penalized for holding A1. A1 erroneously is not awarded a free throw. A1 is awarded the ball out of bounds and completes the throw-in to A2. The coach of Team A notifies the official scorer that the coach wants to meet with the official concerning a correctable error. When Team A scores a field goal, the official scorer sounds the game-clock horn and advises the official of the coach’s request for the conference. The official recognizes the correctable error after talking with the coach and official scorer. Handle the situation.

Answer 17

The field goal by Team A shall count. This error is
correctable because it happened within the prescribed time limit of Rule 2-12. A1 shall be awarded his merited free throw(s) with no one on the marked lane spaces and play shall be resumed with a throw-in by Team B, who is entitled to run
the end line.

Question 18

B1 pushes A1 during an unsuccessful try. A1 is awarded two free throws. The first free throw by A1 is successful, after which B2 takes the ball out of bounds under Team A’s basket and passes to B3, who passes to B4 for an uncontested field goal in Team B’s basket. The captain of Team A then calls to the attention of an official that A1 did not receive a second free throw. Handle the situation.

Answer 18

The goal by B4 shall count. A1 shall be permitted to
attempt the second free throw with no players lined up along the free-throw lane. The ball shall then be awarded to Team A out of bounds at the end line nearer Team B’s basket and the thrower-in shall be
permitted to run the end line. This was the point where the game was stopped to correct the error.

Question 19

A1 commits a non-shooting personal foul on B1. The calling official reports to the scorer that A2 committed the foul. Team B inbounds the ball and the official realizes that he has reported an incorrect number of
the fouling player to the scorer. May the official correct the mistake with the scorer?

Answer 19

Even though this mistake is not included in the correctable error rule (2-12.1) or is not a bookkeeping mistake by the scorer (2-9.16), the officials may make the correction during the first dead ball after the game clock has been properly started (2-12.2). Officials
may also use the monitor to determine the correct player to be charged within the same time frame. (11-2.1.d.2.a) This type of mistake should rarely, if ever, occur. If there is uncertainty as to the player to be charged, officials have the authority to use instant replay to make the proper determination of the player
to be charged with a foul. (Rule 2-12.1, 2-12.2 and 11-2.1.d.2.a)

Question 20

Before the bonus rule is in effect, B1 fouls A1. The official errors by awarding A1 a one-and-one attempt.
Handle each situation.

1. A1 makes the first free-throw try, and the error is then discovered.
2. A1 makes both free throws and then the official detects the error.
3. A1 misses the front end of the 1-and-1, game clock starts, then discovered by officials.
4. A1 makes the first FT, misses the second, game clock starts, and B1 scores a field goal.

Answer 20

1, 2, and 3: Team A shall be awarded the ball at the designated spot nearest to where the foul occurred. The FTs and activity (other than any technical foul, FF1 or FF2, shall be cancelled.
4: Team A shall be awarded the ball OOB at Team B’s end line, which was the POI to correct the error. The FTs and activity (other than any technical foul, FF1 or FF2, shall be cancelled. The points by B1 shall count.

Question 21

B1 fouls A1 and it is Team B’s ninth foul of the second half . The official erroneously awards A1 two free throws instead of a one-and-one.
A1: 
1: Makes 2 FTs
2: Misses first FT and makes second.
3: Misses both FTs.

Answer 21

1. Both FTs count. Continue play at POI.
2. Cancel second FT. Continue play at POI.
3. Continue play at POI.

Question 22

A1 is fouled by B1 during a field-goal attempt and the try is successful. A2 erroneously is awarded the free throw. While A2’s successful attempt is in the air:
1: B3 fouls A3
2: B3 commits a FF1 personal foul against A3.
In both cases, after the made FT by A2 and before ball becomes live on the throw-in, the coach of Team B asks the referee to correct the error of awarding the FT to the wrong player.

Answer 22

1. A2’s FT and B3’s foul shall be cancelled. A1 shall properly attempt the one FT.
2. A2’s FT shall be cancelled. B3 is charged with FF1. A1 shoots 1 FT. A3 shoots 2 FTs. Play resumes at spot nearest to where the foul by B3 occurred.

Question 23

(1) A1 or (2) B1 is called for basket interference at Team A’s basket.

In (1), the referee erroneously counts the score or, in (2), erroneously fails to count the score.

In each case, the error is discovered during the first dead ball after the game clock has started.

Answer 23

(1) Official erroneously counted the score. This is correctable as points shall be cancelled.
(2) Official failed to count the goal. This is correctable and points shall be awarded.

Question 24

B1 fouls A1 after the bonus is in effect. A1 is not awarded the bonus free throws. Team A is awarded the throw-in. Team A controls the ball inbounds, and A3 eventually asks for and receives a timeout. During the timeout, an official recognizes the correctable error or it is called to his attention that A1 should have been awarded a one-and-one free throw.
Handle the situation.

Answer 24

A1 shall be awarded the one-and-one and play shall be resumed as after any normal free throw. Points scored, time consumed and additional activity that may occur before the recognition of the error shall not be nullified.