2009-10 NCAA Women’s Basketball RULE INTERPRETATIONS, CLARIFICATIONS & CASE PLAYS As of 2/11/10 Prepared by Debbie Williamson, Women’s Secretary-Rules Editor 2/11/10 Courtside Monitor (2-13.6) The time frame for penalizing a contact flagrant foul that was not observed by officials spans any intermission. When the officials fail to observe a contact flagrant foul at the end of a period and time expires for that period, the foul, with the use of the monitor, may be penalized before the start of the next period when the prescribed time frame to penalize the foul has not been exceeded (2-13.6). In this case, only a contact flagrant foul which leads to ejection shall be penalized. An intentional personal foul (live ball) or a player/substitute technical foul for dead ball contact shall not be penalized in this situation. When it is determined that a contact flagrant foul did occur within the prescribed time frame, two free throws shall be awarded to the offended team and play shall be resumed where the stoppage occurred to review the act. When the contact flagrant foul is discovered before the start of the second half, the second half shall begin with a throw-in to the offended team at the division line opposite the scorers’ table. This is not an alternating possession throw-in so the team that controlled the alternating possession arrow for the second half shall retain that privilege. When the contact flagrant foul is discovered before an extra period is to begin, the offended team shall be awarded two free throws and the extra period shall begin with the jump ball. 2/11/10 Correctable error of erroneously counting a basket (Rule 2-12.1.e; A.R. 26) Approved Ruling 26 is a case play in which the official timer provides information to the referee that the shot clock horn sounded before A1 scored a field goal. According to Rule 2-7.6, the officials can use information provided by the official timer to correct errors and mistakes (within the prescribed time frames). In some cases, the official timer may be the only official that has information that can correct an error or mistake and they are instructed to bring that information to the attention of the referee (Rule 2-12.6; 2-10.6). This is similar to other situations in which a fellow official provides another with information and the official chooses to use it to change his/her original call. In this case play, there was no doubt to the official timer that the horn had sounded before the try was released and that the officials erroneously counted the basket. When they consulted with the timer, they were not trying to determine IF a shot clock violation occurred because the official timer KNEW it had occurred. The referee chose to use the knowledge that a shot clock violation did occur so the basket could not count. The sharing of this information could have occurred by an official on the floor and the subsequent basket would have been canceled as well. This is commonly done immediately by an official on the floor, but the official timer is instructed to wait until the ball becomes dead before using the game clock horn to notify officials (2-10.13; 2-12.6). Under current rule, the information provided by the timer that the try was released after the shot clock horn sounded cannot be gathered from the monitor (Rule 2-13.7.d). The determination of whether a shot was released before the sounding of the shot clock horn is solely within the judgment of the official(s), and the rule is clear that officials are instructed to judge for themselves, without the use of the monitor, whether a shot clock violation occurred (2-13.7.d). The result of that judgment decision determines whether or not a basket was erroneously counted or canceled. The only exception to this rule can be found is when there are zeros on the game clock (Rule 2-13.3.b). It is no mistake that the current rules only permit a monitor review for a shot clock violation when there is a reading of zeros on the game clock regardless of baskets counted/not counted during the course of the game. Lastly, please note the difference between the error of erroneously counting or canceling a basket (2- 13.2.b.3) and a missed violation that results in a basket. This case play is not intended to imply that every basket that results from a missed violation can be considered the correctable error of erroneously counting a basket (2-12). Not hearing the horn is not a correctable error. What is correctable is that when we hear the horn, or receive information FROM ANOTHER OFFICAL that tells us the horn DID sound before the release and we DID score the basket anyway. The correctable error of erroneously counting a basket occurs when AFTER we determine a violation occurred, a basket that cannot be scored by rule was scored. The reverse cannot be said. In other words, officials cannot look to see IF a shot clock violation occurred (Rule 2-13.7.d) in order to determine IF a score was erroneously counted. The Note in 2-12.e reinforces this principle and states that erroneously counting or canceling a basket does not involve an error in judgment. What must be noted is that a missed violation that results in a basket is not the equivalent of the correctable error of erroneously counting a score. Examples of erroneously counting a score: 1. Official calls basket interference on the offense but erroneously scores the basket. 2. Official calls a travel, the shooter continues her motion after the whistle, the ball goes through the basket and the official erroneously scores the basket. 3. Official determines that the ball was NOT released after the sounding of the shot clock horn, but erroneously scores the basket. Examples of what is NOT erroneously counting a score: 1. An error in judgment in which an official does not call a violation or a foul and a basket results. 2/11/10 Substitutions (Rule 3-4.2) When the signal sounds to end any period, all players and substitutes become bench personnel and remain so until they become 'players' or 'substitutes' again (Rules 4-8, 4-51, 4-64). The only time a player must retain player status is during timeouts (Rule 4-51) and when they are a free thrower or designated jumper (Rule 3-4.9). Players do not retain player status during intermission and therefore are not required to begin the second period. Substitutes, team members who wish to become a player, between halves are to report to the official scorer before the final horn that ends intermission (4-64; 3-4.2). When they do not report, there is no penalty. Please note that there is no rule support for requiring that the five players that finished the first period be the same five players that begin the second half. Any five players who report to the scorer can begin the second period. 1/25/10- Pink Zone Similar to last year, the following items have been approved, provided they conform to all other uniform and equipment standards as referenced in NCAA Rules 1-15 and 3-7 of the 2010 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Rules Interpretations. Pink Headbands/Wristbands. During the Pink Zone, February 12-21, 2010, the rule requiring headbands and wristbands to be the predominant color of the jersey, white, black or beige shall be expanded to include pink. The rule requiring each team member to be uniform in color shall be maintained and enforced. Teams must comply with all other headband and wristband rules as stated in Rule 3-7. Pink Uniforms. Regardless of color, the game jerseys are to be contrasting in color, so both teams are not permitted to wear predominantly pink jerseys. In addition, the home team is required to wear light game jerseys and the visiting team is required to wear dark game jerseys unless otherwise agreed upon by competing institutions. Pink Shooting Shirts/Socks/Shoelaces. Pink shooting shirts and socks are permitted, provided they bear only one manufacturer or distributor’s logo, label or trademark. Pink shoelaces are permitted. The following items are NOT approved: Game Ball. Pink game balls may not be used; however, a ball with an embossed pink ribbon may be used as long as the game ball conforms to Rule 1-15. Pink Nets. Pink nets are not permitted. 1/25/10 Courtside Monitor- Timer’s Mistake (2-13.2.c.2) and shot clock violation (2-13.7.d) Play 1- Team A begins a throw-in with 20 seconds remaining in the game and 2 seconds remaining on the shot clock. The throw-in is completed and A2 releases a try for goal. The try is successful and the game clock erroneously continues to run. The officials recognize this timer’s mistake and stop play. During this stoppage in play, the officials decide that they will review the monitor to correct the timer’s mistake and to determine if the shot was released before the sounding of the shot clock horn since the horn could not be heard above the crowd noise. Ruling 1- The officials are permitted to review the monitor to correct the timer’s mistake (2-13.2.c.2). The officials are not permitted to review the monitor to determine if the shot was released before the sounding of the shot clock horn in this play (2-13.7.d).