Copyright© Referee Enterprises, Inc.

At some point, every official is guilty of watching too much basketball, particularly the ball. The ball is the object of the attention of the players, coaches and fans. Why wouldn’t ball watching occur? A better question: Why shouldn’t ball watching occur? The answer: Because there is “a lot of basketball being missed.”

There are several areas where ball watching becomes most prevalent, whether the game is officiated by a two- or three-person crew. In the most glaring case, the official without the ball in his or her primary area becomes enamored with the attempted shot. A wing player takes a 12-foot jumper from the opposite side of the lane and the lead official looks upward to see if the ball goes through the basket.

A better move for the lead official is to look down at the players’ torsos when the shot goes up. Non-shooting players will begin immediately to box out when the shot goes up. That’s where the bumping and banging of a rebounding play begins. If the lead official is looking toward the rim, he or she cannot reasonably see any contact that may warrant a whistle. By the time it becomes apparent that the shot won’t go in and the lead refocuses that attention, he or she will likely only be seeing the reaction to contact in the lane rather than the initial play. Ball watchers almost always catch the second offender.

Additionally, the lead will lose peripheral vision on players to the outside of the lane opposite the direction of the shot. Never forget that the lead has no defined responsibilities for scoring or awarding a goal that comes from outside his or her primary. The best way for the lead to know that a basket has been scored is not by seeing it go through the basket. Instead, the actions of the players and in some cases the reaction of the crowd will let a lead official know all that official needs to see.

One technique to help a lead official focus in the primary area is to visually establish your primary as you set up along the endline. In fact, an official might try to establish the perimeter of that primary area by placing open hands to the edges of their primary. Look downward toward the near block as you do that, creating a sense of looking closer to yourself rather than to the edges of your primary, where your partner(s) have coverage.

Using that method, the official can be reminded to be looking in that area almost exclusively. Only in rare “urgency” situations should an official be outside that area with a whistle.

But there are times an official might be forced outside his or her area for the benefit of the crew. Think about the increasingly popular high screen and roll at the top of the arc in a two-person crew. As the dribbler moves away from the screen and is still harassed by the guard, the “big” rolls to the basket and a wrestling match or near collision occurs. Even though that play develops near the top of the arc, the lead has to extend his or her coverage in a two-person crew in order to see the action off ball from start to finish. If both are watching the dribbler, any potential infraction on or by the player rolling to the basket will undoubtedly be missed. In a three-person crew, that center official and lead will have a great look at the screener rolling to the basket, particularly if the ball is dribbled away from him or her. If it’s dribbled toward the center official, the trail stays with the ball until it has moved completely into the center’s area. The center should stay with the action at the top of the arc but be ready to pick up the ball on short notice. In that case, two sets of eyes on the ball are negated by the lead official who’s watching the other players.

In three-person mechanics, the “wing” official opposite the shot cannot also be watching the field-goal attempt. That official’s immediate responsibility is rebounding and off-ball action. A wing (center or trail) official who is watching the attempt from outside the primary area of coverage does a disservice to the strengths of a three-person crew.

A wing official not on ball provides an excellent opportunity for cleaner, smoother play. That official has no greater responsibility than to make sure that rebounding action is fair.

In a second case where ball watching loses out, a trail official stays with the ball after it is passed inside to the post player. In a turn-and- score play, the trail official may need to stay with the ball momentarily for help on footwork in the post. However, if the post player is not an immediate threat to score, the trail official should not be focused in the paint. Rather, the trail can get good looks at off-ball screens as perimeter players try to free themselves for a return pass or shot. Certainly there are dual areas of coverage, but not enough to mandate that all eyes are focused on the ball.

Wing officials must train themselves to give up the ball when it leaves their primary. When opportunities present themselves to work on that issue, officials should constantly tell themselves to find reasons to look away from the ball. Find the off-ball competitive matchup in your primary and make sure it is occurring fairly. Learning to look off ball in games where opportunities allow will create a good habit that comes naturally in pressure situations.

Even though mechanics manuals provide the guidelines to delineate sections of the court, officiating is dependent upon cooperation and constant adjustments. It’s a constant work in progress.

Veteran officials have a solid understanding of team offensive and defensive strategies. While that knowledge is rarely stressed in training programs, that ability is invaluable in enhancing off-ball officiating. When you can discern what offensive or defensive sets a team is running, patterns become apparent and it is easier to anticipate the timing, location and individuals involved away from the ball. That ability results in better preparation for possible illegal actions by providing something specific to observe.

If you’re watching the ball, you’ll never know what you’re missing. But rest assured, your assigner will.

Ken Schimpf III, Pewaukee, Wis., works high school basketball and serves as the president for the Eastern Wisconsin Officials Association.

2011-12 BASKETBALL RULES CHANGES
1-3-1
The center restraining circle specifications were changed to permit a minimum of a ¼-inch-wide single line but a line no wider than 2-inches to designate the outer edge of the circle. Contrasting colored-floor areas are still permissible.
Rationale: Many existing courts already have a center circle that has a single ¼ -inch line. A mathematical line between two solid colors is also permitted in Table 1-1, Supplement to the Basketball Court, No. 3. This change provides consistency in the rule.
3-5-3
New
The specifications regarding arm compression sleeves were changed to require the item to be white, black, beige or a single solid school color, be the same color for each team member and have only a single manufacturer’s logo that does not exceed 2 ¼ square inches. Arm compression sleeves must still be worn for medical purposes.
Rationale: Under the previous rule, arm compression sleeves had no logo restrictions, could have been multiple colors and teammates could have worn different colors. This rules change provides clarification and makes enforcement more consistent for officials.
4-12-1,
4-12-2 &
4-12-6
Several definitions were changed to reflect that team control will now exist during a throw-in when the thrower-in has the ball at his/her disposal. The change primarily affects how foul penalties will be administered.
Rationale: By changing the definition of player and team control to include a throw-in, greater consistency in the penalty for a common foul is achieved. As the previous rule was written, because there was no team control during a throw-in, the penalty for a common foul committed by the throw-in team after the throw-in had begun resulted in free throws if the offended team was in the bonus. This was not consistent with the penalty for a team-control foul. This rules change will result in greater consistency in the penalties for common fouls, eliminate confusion on rule application and speed up the contest by eliminating the delay inherent with administering free throws.
2011-12 MAJOR EDITORIAL CHANGES
1-11-2, 3
Updated specifications were added to the basket-ring rules. A note was also added recommending that basket rings be inspected for rules compliance.
Rationale: The changes will more accurately describe the products used in the marketplace and encourage some type of equipment inspection.
2-2-4
New Note
A note was added clarifying the administrative responsibilities of game officials through the completion of required reports.
Rationale: The administrative duties for game officials needed to be extended after
Summary – NFHS 2011-12 Basketball Changes
Page No. 2
the game to document actions which occur during the game. This revision illustrates the difference between the game officials’ jurisdiction during the game and other administrative responsibilities such as submitting specific reports after the game. In addition, state associations may continue to develop and implement policies that allow for review of unusual incidents that occur while the game officials have jurisdiction or after the game.
3-4-1c
New Note
A new note was added recommending that the visiting team’s dark jersey be the darker of the school’s color scheme or black.
Rationale: Many schools believe that a contrasting dark-colored jersey need only be a color other than white. When visiting teams wear light blue, light gold or light silver, it is difficult to differentiate them from the home white jerseys.
3-5-1
New Note
A new note was added authorizing state associations to grant exceptions to NFHS playing rules for participants with disabilities, special needs and/or extenuating circumstances.
Rationale: Clarifies that an individual state association may authorize exceptions to NFHS playing rules to provide reasonable accommodations to individual participants with disabilities and/or special needs or other unique and extenuating circumstances. Such exceptions are not considered rules modifications since they are not general in nature; rather, they are limited to the circumstances of specific individual participants.
4-19-3
The definition of an intentional foul was clarified and reorganized.
Rationale: Clarification.
5-11 &12
The sections related to charged time-outs were consolidated and reorganized. Section 5-12 became unnecessary and was deleted.
Rationale: Clarification.
6-4-3e, g & Note
Alternating-possession throw-in situations were clarified.
Rationale: Current items e. and g. were inaccurate given the point of interruption procedure in 4-36. The Note was also clarified.
8-6-2,
8-6-3 New,
8-7
The penalty administration for when single fouls occur as part of a multiple free-throw situation and when a double foul occurs as part of a multiple free-throw situation was clarified. Based on these editorial changes, Section 8-7 became unnecessary and was deleted.
Rationale: Clarification.
9-2-10 Penalty 4
Clarified that when an opponent contacts the thrower-in, an intentional foul shall be charged to the offender.
Rationale: Any type of contact on a thrower is an intentional foul. The defender does not actually have to break the boundary plane. This clarification will assist in more consistent enforcement.
2011-12 POINTS OF EMPHASIS
1. Sporting Behavior
2. Guidelines for Teaching and Officiating
3. Injury Data and Prevention
Summary – NFHS 2011-12 Basketball Changes
Page No. 3
2011-13 MAJOR MECHANICS CHANGES
2.2.2.C.6
New
Crew of Two Only: The Trail will mirror the Lead’s stop-and start-clock (chop) signal to ensure proper court coverage.
Rationale: This is the three-person mechanic. Too many times in a crew of two it is hard for the timer to see the Lead start the clock. This was the rationale for three-person mechanics, so the same technique should be used for a crew of two. It is also good training for those transitioning from a crew of two to three.
2.4.4.B.4 3.4.4.B.4
A visible signal (point to the table) was added to indicate when the timer should start the clock on a time-out.
Rationale: Helps to provide consistent administration of time-out situations.
2011-13 MECHANICS POINTS OF EMPHASIS
1. Reporting Area
2. Proper Signaling
3. Substitutions
4. Game Awareness
5. Fight Situation Protocol

Basketball Rules Fundamentals
(NFHS Basketball Rules Book)
1. While the ball remains live, a loose ball always remains in control of the team whose player last had control, unless it is a try or tap for goal.
2. Neither a team nor any player is ever in control during a dead ball, jump ball, throw-in, or when the ball is in flight during a try or tap for a goal.
3. A goal is made when a live ball enters the basket from above and remains in or passes through unless canceled by a throw-in violation or a player control foul.
4. The jump ball, the throw-in and the free throw are the only methods of getting a dead ball live.
5. Neither the dribble nor traveling rule operates during the jump ball, throw-on or free throw.
6. It is not possible for a player to travel during a dribble.
7. The only infractions for which points are awarded are goaltending by the defense or basket interference at the opponent’s basket.
8. There are three types of violations and each has its own penalty.
9. A ball in flight has the same relationship to frontcourt or backcourt, or inbounds or out of bounds, as when it last touched a person or the floor.
10. Personal fouls always involve illegal contact and occur during a live ball, except a common foul by or on an airborne shooter.
11. The penalty for a single flagrant personal or flagrant technical foul is two free throws and disqualification plus awarding the ball to the opponents for a throw-in.
12. Penalties for fouls are administered in the order in which they occur.
13. A live-ball foul by the offense (team in control or last in control if the ball is loose), or the expiration of time for a quarter or extra period, causes the ball to become dead immediately, unless the ball is in flight during a try or tap for goal. The ball also becomes dead when a player-control foul occurs.
14. The first or only free-throw violation by the offense causes the ball to become dead immediately.
15. A double personal foul involves only personal fouls and only two opponents; no free throws awarded and the ball is put in play at the point of interruption. A double technical foul involves only technical fouls and only two opponents; no free throws are awarded, and the ball is put in play at the point of interruption.
16. The official’s whistle seldom causes the ball to become dead (it is already dead).
17. “Continuous motion” applies both to tries and taps for field goals and free throws, but it has no significance unless there is a foul by the defense during the interval which begins when the habitual trying or tapping movement starts and ends when the ball is clearly in flight.
18. Whether the clock is running or is stopped has no influence on the counting of a goal,
19. A ball which touches the front face or edges of the backboard is treated the same as touching the floor inbounds, except that when the ball touches the thrower’s backboard, it does not constitute a part of a dribble.
20. If the ball goes through the basket before or after a player-control foul, the goal shall not be counted.

Suggestions for training topics are welcome from all members, veteran and rookie.  I want the trainings to be relevant and worth your time.  Send possible topics to me at rckerrdog@charter.net.  Rookie and mechanic training dates will be posted soon.  I look forward to another season of our association and its members improving together.  clint