EDJBA Officiating Directions 2013-2014

Endorsed by EDJBA Committee of Management

Developed by EDJBA Referees Sub-committee

Presented by: – Anthony O’Brien – Steven Chadd

1 Origin of these Directions

VBRA/BV Ten Commandments 2006

BA Directions for Australian Junior Championships 2009->

EDJBA Referees Sub-committee 2012

EDJBA Committee of Management 2013

These are DIRECTIONS: – We know that not all games are equal – We know that not all officials are identical – But: – There is no right to the “I Have A Different Philosophy” approach

2 Why have Directions

To ensure appropriate consistency across the EDJBA – Every club has different experiences and different skills – Often these are passed through to referees and come across inconsistently from week to week

To ensure consistency with BA directives – Our players also play at VC and national level – Better that we be consistent with the way higher levels officiate

Adapted to meet the needs of an all-levels and family-oriented association – Physical contact has a bigger impact on the younger players and less skilled players – Many players are still learning, or will never be NBL/WNBL players, so we have to adapt these directions to their needs – We don’t play for sheep-stations, so conduct is even more important than at some higher levels

3 1. Protect the Shooter

Key Message: if in doubt ALWAYS call contact as a SHOOTING , not side/end ball. Reward the shooter. Illegal contact on a shooter caused by a defensive player must always be called a foul. There are no soft fouls on shooters

Referees are encouraged to look for contact on the elbow/forearm of the shooter

If there is a doubt about whether or not a foul is a shooting foul, it will be treated as a shooting foul. That is, award the basket if it goes in, and put the player to the free-thrown line rather than side-ball.

Do not penalise defenders for good vertical defence if the shooter causes the contact. Defence can move vertically and within their cylinder. Just make sure that the defence is legal. To do that we teach referees to referee the defence and observe the offence.

4 2. Eliminate bumping or hand-checking a dribbler by a defensive player anywhere on the court Message: Call bumping and hand-checking as a foul, no matter how soft. Make the defence play with their feet. Illegal hand-checking and arm-bars include: – Steering an opponent by using a hand on the dribbler’s hip or using the lower body to steer the dribbler – Leaving a hand on an opponent – Repeatedly placing a hand on an opponent (“jabbing”) – Placing two hands on an opponent – Placing an extended arm-bar to the side or front of an opponent – Using an extended arm-bar to lever or push an opponent forward

Bumping occurs frequently in the EDJBA because not all players are skilled at moving defence. The dribbler needs to be protected.

Dribblers may not use an arm-bar (outside of cylinder) to make contact to keep a defensive player away from the ball.

One warning early in the game may be appropriate, but not repeated warnings. However, do not suddenly introduce this foul type late in the game unless the play makes it unavoidable.

5 3. /Charge

Key Message: If in doubt and it’s heavy CALL SOMETHING.

The rule is unchanged and applied as per the rule book: – Feet – First – Facing (all initially) – No allowance for time and distance.

In a Block/Charge situation that must be called because of the impact of the contact, if the referee is in doubt about whether to call a Block or a Charge: – In a situation, call a Charge – In a shooting or airborne situation, call a Block (protect the shooter/airborne player)

Note that in 2013-2014 the NBL is now favouring the dribbler. This direction will be reviewed by BA in February 2014 depending on how the NBL implementation has gone.

6 4. Unsportsmanlike Fouls

Key Message: If in doubt in older age groups, call UNSPORTSMANLIKE An Unsportsmanlike Foul is contact committed on an opposing player that is either:

a) Hard contact; OR

b) an unbasketball act – no attempt to play the ball.

Contact occurring during a dead-ball period that is severe enough to warrant a call must be called an Unsportsmanlike foul

The third-player-in who causes contact in an incident must be called for an Unsportsmanlike foul

If in doubt whether a foul is a “breakaway” foul (first few steps of a , last defender, contact on dribbler from behind or side), call an Unsportsmanlike foul, not an ordinary foul. Never occurs in the free-throw lane.

Unsportsmanlike fouls in the EDJBA usually come in older age groups and from frustration, so referees must be alert to the circumstances.

7 5. Eliminate Illegal screens

Key Message: Call ALL bumping of cutters Eliminate it from the game. In particular, plays where the screener uses his/her backside or extended arms to cause contact to make the defensive guard deviate must be called immediately. Eliminate these plays early in the game.

Call any moving where the contact has an impact on the play – discourage moving screens.

Screens are seen more in A grade games, and in younger age groups they can be poorly taught and poorly implemented.

8 6. Playing the ball from behind

Key Message: Call EVERY SINGLE instance of a player coming from behind and making even the slightest contact When a defensive player comes from behind the dribbler and reaches across the back of the dribbler to attack the ball, this almost always involves some contact with the dribbler’s back or arm. Unless the action is clearly all-ball, this must be called a foul for coming from a disadvantageous position.

This form of lazy defence is seen frequently at all levels and in all age groups in the EDJBA and needs to be eliminated.

9 7. Sportsmanship and self-discipline

Key Message: If in doubt about poor behaviour, in older age groups call a If a player, coach or team bench overtly disputes a referee’s decision it may be called a Technical foul. There is no “right” to a warning, but a referee is encouraged to issue one warning in most cases.

Audible obscenities (which could be heard in the first row of spectator seating) by a player, coach or team bench must always be called a Technical foul. The EDJBA is particularly family-oriented and objectionable conduct and language cannot be tolerated.

If a coach or team bench persistently interferes with a referee’s concentration by disputing almost every decision, the coach may be warned. Any repetition must be called a Technical Foul.

We cannot evict spectators. The preferred approach is to ask the team coach for assistance, and if that does not work, seek the support of a venue administrator.

As a family-oriented competition, player, coach and spectator behaviour is a priority for the EDJBA.

10 8. Communicating with players and coaches

Key Message: Be courteous to coaches if they are courteous to you. Don’t ignore them, but don’t reward misconduct. Referees must communicate calmly and respectfully with players and coaches (not assistant coaches) when the opportunity permits, provided that the players and coaches address the referees in a calm and respectful manner.

Do not ignore reasonable requests from Coaches, do not “wave them off”. Sarcastic answers by referees are unacceptable also.

11 9. Travels

Key Message: Call all SIGNFICANT travels. If in doubt about significant or not, call the TRAVEL. Obvious travels where a player illegally gains balance or travels and disadvantages an opponent must be called. These have to be called at all levels and age groups.

In younger age groups, especially below A grade, referees are encouraged to be a little lenient with players footsteps as they are learning to control the ball. Not too much, but a bit.

Minor back-court travels that have no impact on the game may sometimes be overlooked.

12 10. More Than Three Seconds

Key Message: Call the ones that MATTER. If in doubt, DON’T call.

The “More than three-seconds” rule does exist and should be called when appropriate.

The rule exists to eliminate taller players parking in the restricted area to gain an unfair advantage, and it exists to reward good defence.

Soft “3-seconds” calls are an unhelpful interruption to the game, if the ball is nowhere near the hoop and the offensive player is not being much of an offensive threat. In other words, don’t wake up the game for a three-seconds call.

If an offensive player is about to make a shot, do not call three-seconds while the ball is in the air. If the shot is commenced, it is too late to make a three-second call. This is by Rule.

Note that the EDJBA applies a 5 seconds rule in U14 and below

13 11. Players bumped out-of-bounds

Key Message: Call a foul if the offence is bumped out of bounds and loses the ball. If the ball handler is accidentally bumped in minor contact which causes the ball to go out-of-bounds off the dribbler (i.e. a ), the foul must be called no matter how soft it may seem. Referees cannot simply give the ball back to the offensive team. The bump was an error made by the defence that caused a loss of opportunity, so it must be penalised.

It is over-thinking the game to ignore the bump and just give it back to the offence, and it is just plain wrong to reward the defence for a little bump.

On the other hand, if there is very minor contact and the ball goes out-of-court off the defence, it would usually be better and quicker to give an out-of-bounds decision. Be careful , this only applies if the contact is incidental and accidental. – Younger officials may struggle with the concept – if so, advise them to call the foul.

14 12. Handling Uncertain Out-Of-Bounds decisions

Key Message: Referees must make eye contact. Do NOT overtly overrule. If the responsible is uncertain about an out-of-bounds, he/she must make eye-contact with partner, who will the take over all responsibility for the call. If the partner is certain about the call, he/she will make the call, otherwise he/she will call a and apply the alternating possession arrow.

In the rare cases where an out-of-bounds call is clearly incorrect, the officials should consult and the final decision will be made by the official originally responsible for the call. We do not make obvious over-rules in the EDJBA, but it is necessary to work together to ensure that the correct call is made.

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