GOALTENDING AND INTERFERENCE ART.31 FIBA OBR 2020 BY: FREDERICK BROWN INTRODUCTION

THE SPORT OF BASKETBALL IS ARGUABLY CONSIDERED THE MOST EVOLVING AND DYNAMIC OF ALL SPORTING EVENTS. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE GAME, PLAYERS CONTINUE TO DEFY NORMAL BASKETBALL PLAY THROUGH CREATIVE, ATHLETIC AND MULTI-TALENTED MEANS - THEIR ABILITY TO PLAY ABOVE THE RING IS EXTRAORDINARY. THE PLAYERS ABILITIES ARE EVIDENTLY DISPLAYED DURING REBOUND SITUATIONS, WHEN SHOOTING THE 3-POINT SHOT, AND WHEN PENETRATING TO THE BASKET ON A SHOT FOR GOAL. THESE ACTIONS NORMALLY CREATE REACTIONS SUCH AS THE BLOCK/CHARGE, FOUL IN THE ACT OF SHOOTING, TRAVELLING VIOLATION ETC. HOWEVER, THE ONE RULE THAT NEVER GOES WITHOUT CONTROVERSY, PARTICULARLY WHERE A MATCH IS KEENLY CONTESTED, IS GOALTENDING AND BASKET INTERFERENCE, INDEED A ‘BITTER SWEET’ ELEMENT OF THE GAME THAT CHALLENGES EVEN THE MOST EXPERIENCED REFEREE TO BLOW THE ACTION. • In 2012 the NBA took a position to discuss using the IRS to determine Goaltending and Basket Interference following a controversial call by one of the officials. The NBA stated following its investigation that, the officials incorrectly called goaltending on a controversial play in the final seconds of a very tough Oklahoma City / Portland game…(Royce Webb March 2012).” Even the idea of placing microchips to detect up and down movement of the ball as well as when the ball strikes the basket ring remains a strong discussion point. • During a pivotal match played at the 2019 FIBA World Cup between Lithuania and France; and, the apparent lack of game awareness by the referees who failed to make an interference call in the final moments of the game resulted in the suspension of the three referees for the remainder of the tournament. REAL GAME SITUATIONS

Portland vs Oklahoma Controversial Goaltending decision

Portland vs Utah controversial goaltending no-call

FIBA WC France vs Lithuania Controversy DO NOT DISCOUNT THE WOMEN!

• Given our present basketball environment, we must now recognize that women are no longer limited to jump shots and layups, they are in the incremental stages of ‘defying gravity’ in so far as touching, rebounding, dunking and meddling with the ball above the basket ring and about the backboard, all of which lends for goaltending and basket interference. Hence, the purpose of this learning session – is to explicitly define the rule of GOALTENDING and INTERFERENCE LEARNING OBJECTIVES At the end of this learning session you will be able to: • Define Goaltending • Define Interference • Define the phrase ‘Restrictions related to Goaltending and Interference shall apply.’ • Discuss appropriate mechanics for judging Goaltending/Interference ART. 31.1 – DEFINITION OF A SHOT FOR FIELD GOAL OR FREE THROW: • A shot for a field goal or free throw: • BEGINS – when the ball leaves the hand(s) of a player in the act of shooting. • Art. 15 - player In the Act of Shooting - gives three distinct ways a player can shoot for FIELD GOAL or FREE THROW via • A SHOT (Throw) – A player releases the ball by throwing it into the air towards the opponent basket. • A TAP – When the ball is directed with the hand(s) towards the opponent basket. • A DUNK – When the ball is forced downwards into the opponent’s basket with one or both hand. ART. 31.1 DEFINITION OF A SHOT FOR A FIELD GOAL OR FREE THROW (CONT.) • ENDS – When the ball: • Touches the ring • Enters the basket directly from above and remains within the basket or entirely passes through the basket • Touches the floor • Becomes dead ART. 10 STATUS OF THE BALL • The BALL can be either LIVE or DEAD • The ball becomes LIVE when: • During a jump ball when the ball leaves the hand(s) of the Crew Chief on the toss. • During a free throw when the ball is placed at the disposal of the free throw shooter. • During throw-in the ball is placed at the disposal of the player taking the throw-in. •The ball becomes DEAD when: • Any field goal or free throw is made. • An official blows his whistle while the ball is LIVE. • It is apparent the ball will not enter the basket on a free throw which is to be followed by: • Another free throw(s). • A further penalty (free throw(s) and or possession). • Game clock signal sound for the end of a quarter or over time. The shot clock signal sounds while a team is in control of the ball. • The ball is in flight on a shot for a field goal is touched by a player from either team after: • An official blows his whistle. • The game clock signal sounds for the end of the quarter or overtime. • The shot clock signal sounds. • The ball DOES NOT become DEAD and the goal counts if made when: • The ball is in flight on a shot for a field goal and: • An official blows his whistle. • The game clock signal sounds for the end of a quarter or overtime. • The shot clock signal sounds. • The ball is in flight on a free throw and an official blows his whistle for any rule infraction other than by the free throw shooter. • The ball is in control of a player in the act of shooting for a field goal who finishes his shot with a continuous motion which started before a foul is charged on any opponent s’ player or on any person permitted to sit on the opponents’ team bench. However, • This provision DOES NOT apply, and the goal SHALL NOT count if: • After an official blows his whistle and an entirely new act of shooting is made. • During the continuous motion of a player in the act of shooting the game clock signal sounds. TEAM CONTROL

Team Control in 5 minutes YOU MAKE THE DECISION! • Team A has been in control of the ball for 15 seconds. A1 passes the ball to A2 and the ball moves over the boundary line. B1 tries to intercept the pass and jumps from the playing court over the boundary line. B1 is still airborne when he taps the ball back into the inbounds area with both hands. The ball is caught inbounds by a Team A player.

• Shall the shot clock be reset?

• Interpretation: Team A remains in control of the ball. The shot clock shall continue. ART. 31.2.1 GOALTENDING What is Goaltending? It occurs during a shot for a field goal (THROW, TAP, DUNK) when a player touches the Ball while: • The ball is completely above the level of the ring and; • The ball is on its downward flight to the basket, or after it has touched the backboard It occurs during a shot for a free throw when a player touches the ball while it is in flight to the basket and before it touches the ring. Goaltending restrictions apply until: The ball no longer has the possibility of entering the basket. The ball has touched the ring. ART. 31.2.4 INTERFERENCE

• What is Interference? • It occurs when: • After a shot for a field goal or last free throw, a players touches the basket or the backboard while the ball is in contact with the ring. • After a free throw, followed by an additional free throw(s), a player touches the ball , the basket, or the backboard while there is a possibility that the ball will enter the basket. • A player reaches through the basket from below and touches the ball. • A defensive player touches the ball or the basket while the ball is within the basket, thus preventing the ball from passing through the basket. • A player causes the basket to vibrate or grasps the basket in such a way that, in the judgement of an official the ball has been prevented from entering the basket or has been caused to enter the basket. A player grasp the basket and plays the ball. SPECIAL NOTE! • When: • An official has blown his whistle while: • The ball was in the hands of the player in the act of shooting, or • The ball was in flight on a shot for a field goal or on last free throw, • The game clock signal sounded for the end of the quarter or overtime, NO PLAYER SHALL TOUCH THE BALL AFTER IT HAS TOUCHED THE RING WHILE IT STILL HAS THE POSSIBILITY TO ENTER THE BASKET. • All Restrictions relating to goaltending and Interference shall apply. YOU MAKE THE DECISION! • After A1 last free throw, the ball has rebounded from the ring . During the rebound, B2 fouls A2. This is a team B third foul in the quarter. The ball still has the chance to enter and is touched by A3.

• What is your decision?

• This is an interference violation. No point shall be awarded. • Both penalties shall cancel each other. • The game shall be resumed with an alternating possession throw-in from the end-line nearest to where the foul occurred, except directly behind the backboard. REAL GAME SITUATIONS

• Clip 1 • Clip 2 • Clip 3 • Clip 4 • Clip 5 •CONCLUSION: • Challenges of refereeing the Goaltending/Interference • What constitutes Goaltending? • What constitutes Interference? • Review supporting articles • Explained the phrase, Restriction relating to Goaltending and Interference shall apply • Game clips – you made the call • All passed the three question quiz