Please note: These videos are an opportunity for all of us to get better as officials. These are training tools for you to use as you teach officiating the game of basketball. They are, in no way, meant to criticize or to demean any of the officials involved in the plays. Each video has a description, but we encourage you to watch each video and see what you see. Be prepared by viewing every aspect of each play. You may see something we didn’t. These are all great teaching opportunities AND opportunities for you to lead discussions among officials on any of these topics.
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Rule Changes
Game Management
Sideline Wide Ball Level (images)
Dribble Drive
Rule Changes Deck
File Name: NCAA_Flop_T_Video_1.mp4
Description: Watch the player at the bottom of your screen, #2 black jersey, who makes a three-point attempt. After releasing the shot, with little or no contact, he goes to the floor. The official immediately signals flopping, but waits until the play finishes to blow it dead and assess the technical foul.
File Name: Block_T_Flop_Video_2.mp4
Description: On a fast break, drive to the basket, the white defender appears to have established legal guarding position, but had been warned prior in the same game for flopping. Your call on block, charge or flop? Great opportunity to discuss the block or charge call or if a flop call would be warranted even without prior warning.
Sideline Wide Ball Level
Slide 24
Image Deep_Trail_03 Description: Ball just coming across half court. Trail official is with the ball, Center official, free throw line extended.
Slide 25
Image Deep_Trail_06 Description: Trail has moved down to get a better view between the players. He can see player separation from this angle. C has also moved down to get a better angle on off ball coverage. Lead has no contested match-ups and is looking through to help if needed.
Slide 26
Image Deep_Trail_14 Description: We now have two C’s both at the FT Line extended and both have better angles to officiate. Center is also looking off ball with a better view from this position. Center and Lead owning their primary with a view of action on each side of the paint.
Slide 27
Image Deep_Trail_18 Description: Made basket. Yes, the Trail was deeper than normal and now must hustle to get back in position as he becomes the new Lead. Center and Lead (becoming Trail) are staying home to continue to officiate the action in their former primaries, even though the ball has gone through the basket.
Game Management
Slide 29 – Two-Person Focus – Inbound Spot
File Name: Soph_Vs_HC_Time_Out.mp4
Description: Team A (black jerseys) call time out near the center circle. Notice where the officials are and where the ball is when the timeout is granted. When the time out is over, the officials have switched and the official who granted the time out is now on the end line. Why did they switch? Once the official who granted the time out reports it, he/she should come back to the inbound spot and hold the ball. This way each team will see where the ball will be inbounded. The other official should occupy either the top or bottom of the center circle depending on the length of the timeout (:30 or :60). In this situation, the ball is inbounded on the end line instead of at the 28′ line opposite the table which is closest to where the ball was when the timeout was granted. The coach was very upset since he drew up a play thinking the ball was coming in at the top inbound spot and not on the end line.
Slide 30 – Two-Person Focus – Throw-In Mechanics
File Name: Soph_Vs_HC_Inbound_Wrong_Side.mp4
Description: The ball is going right (even though the inbound pass goes left) and the official should have been on the other side of the player (to the player’s left) boxing in the play. Since it is a side-line throw-in, the official should have taken a couple of steps back and bounced the ball to in-bounder.
Slide 31 – Primary Coverage Area + What Did The Defense Do Wrong??…
File Name: NT_Loyola_BLARGE_Timer_HBX.mp4
Description: A lot here to break down. The Center official at the bottom of the screen has a closely contested match-up in his primary coverage area and does a nice job of moving to his right to get a better view of that match-up. The Team A player then drives to the basket and tries to go through two stationary defenders. The Center official signals block. At the same time, the Lead official reaches across the lane and also whistles the contact and he signals charge. Neither has realized they have a double whistle and they both head to the table to report. The Center official looks away momentarily to check the number of the player on whom he’s calling the foul and doesn’t see the Lead reporting. They both cross paths, still without knowing and the Center reports. Now we have a BLARGE. The Lead heads back to discuss. Notice the timer that has started on the lower right of the screen. This timer will tell how long before we get back to play.
A “blarge” is a double foul, one player with a block, the other player with a charge. By rule, there are no free throws (Rule 10 Penalties Summary) and play should resume at the point of interruption (4-36-1). If the possession cannot be determined, the ball is awarded using alternate possession (4-36-2c). According to the arrow, the home team (in white) has possession.
During the discussion, both officials go to the coaches to explain. The officials start to resume play. After complaints from the home coach, realize they are giving the ball to the wrong team. More discussion. Three officials come together again, none of them keeping an eye on the players. They put the ball back into play on the opposite side of the lane from where the foul occurred. More than three minutes have elapsed as noted by the timer.
Slide 32 – This play is a “Must Get”…
File Name: PHS_NW_Rebound_Throwdown_HB.mp4
Description: Focus on the post play in and around the lane. Watch play under the basket during the shot. One of the offensive post players throws a defender to the floor. The Center official has the shooter, Lead is looking in the lane for rebounding action and the Trail was able to get the foul on the offensive post player. He does signal that the basket still counts before he reports the foul.
Slide 33 – We could do 20 minutes on this clip…
File Name: EG_WHS_Technical_Foul_Timer_HBX.mp4
Description: This is a long clip, but so many errors on the part of the officiating crew. If you can play the sound, do so. Explanation follows.
It starts with an offensive player going to the floor and while scrambling to get the ball, bats it into the back court untouched by anyone else. Neither the Trail or the Center signaled that the ball was touched. Another offensive player goes and retrieves the ball and brings it back into the front court. Clearly a back court violation, but not called. This causes the entire coaching staff for the home team (on the right) to erupt and start yelling for a back court call. The Center official then signals that it was touched, which it clearly was not.
A foul is then called on the defense. Now, we have a foul on a team that should have been given possession on the missed back court violation. The reason for the sound? You can clearly hear the coach with some really not so nice language as she expresses her displeasure with the chain of events. That got her a technical foul, which due to the language should have been called. Start the timer.
The situation is they have a player fouled in the act of shooting and she should be shooting two free throws. You administer in the order the fouls occurred, so after those free throws, any player from the offended team should be shooting the two free throws for the technical foul. All four free throws should be with the lanes empty and all players except the shooter at half court. That’s the correct procedure, but not what happened.
The first free throw for the shooting foul is taken by the original shooter with the lane spaces occupied. She misses. Then, the official who called the technical realizes the lanes should be empty. That player exits the free throw line. The officials then bring in another shooter, presumably to shoot the technical foul free throws. She makes both. One of the other players is actually calling for the original shooter to come back in to shoot her other free throw, but the crew gives the same player a third free throw. The coaches erupt again. She makes the third free throw.
There is a lot of discussion with one official and the coaches. We sped it up because it takes so long to resume play. Now all three officials are at the home team bench and the visiting team coach is now at the table. No one is watching the players. Finally, one official comes to the visiting coach and discusses the situation with her. More than six minutes to get the ball back in play.
Oh wait, one more thing which is why the video keeps running. Remember, the home coach was issued a technical foul, which means she loses the coaching box. But, as you can see, she is still standing (circled in red).
Slide 34 – Should we have a whistle on these two plays??…
File Name: PHS_NW_2_Plays_with_Screens_HB.mp4
Description: Before you start the video, look at the scoreboard in the lower right, Very close game late in the first half. Start the video. Watch the top right near the Center official. #11 Red is dribbling, then passes. After the pass, he runs right into the defender in white. The trail has the dribbler, the Center should have the off ball play. Should have been a moving screen. You can see the coaches on the white bench react to the no call.
Missed shot, rebound, goes the other way. After made shot on the other end and they come back down the court, watch the action in the same place as the other missed screen call. The red player not dibbling the ball runs right through the white defender and is bumped. The official calls a foul, but calls it on the white defender who clearly had established legal guarding position, when in fact, it should have been a moving screen on the red player. A lot of discussion between the reporting official and the coach as he expresses his displeasure with the call and the previous no call. The center official is having a conversation a player well away from his lane line responsibilities while the Lead is proceeding with the free throw.
Slide 35 – Watch the “2-hole” – we have to get this…
File Name: LZ_Warren_Girls_Lane_Elbow_HB.mp4
Description: Before you start the video, we have to stress the importance of officials not losing focus on free throws. We have to remind officials that it is critical they focus on their coverage areas during EVERY free throw. On the first of two, we should be observing players to look for signs they may do something illegal. The Lead official should NEVER stand in the open lane spot on the bottom of the free throw lane. Best practice is to bounce the ball to the shooter, then back out past the end line to establish a wide view of the players on the lane. The Center should be just above the free throw line back far enough to get a view of the shooter as well as the player(s) facing the Center official who are in the two lane spaces closest to the shooter. Never take your eyes off the players. We must stress to watch the “2-hole”. That’s where most of the things that can go wrong, will on a free throw.
On the video, watch the two players on the opposite of the lane at the bottom. Start the video. The player in white, elbows the player in blue in the face and she goes down. None of the officials saw this. That can’t happen. There is a separate foul call, but the elbow to the face isn’t called. The worst part of this is that the coach of the blue team, after seeing this on video, actually suspended his own player. The officials never saw what happened. The Center opposite and the Lead, who should have been watching the lanes, with help from the Trail looking down the lane all missed this act.
Slide 36 – Watch the “2-hole” AGAIN – we have to get this…
File Name: Eldorado_-FT_Lane_Foul_HB.mp4
Description: Same situation as the previous clip. No one is watching the players on the lane. Watch the player in white occupying the “2-hole” opposite side. The hit was so hard that the offended player couldn’t stand. His injuries required medical attention and he was unable to return to the game. This play, which was NOT called by the officiating crew and was later discovered on video, resulted in the entire coaching staff being fired.
Dribble Drive
Slide 7
File Name: Off-Ball-Coverage3.mp4
Description: Center official (bottom of the screen) has very little going on in his primary coverage area, which means the Trail and the Lead have most of the action. With very little happening on Center side in this play, the official can move off the sideline and closer to the action as the play is happening. Watch the lane line boundary opposite from the Center official. You can see the pass coming in to the white jersey post player and the defender (in black jersey) pushes through to try to steal the pass. The Center official does a good job of helping with off ball coverage and even though it is not in his primary, helps by looking through to call the foul.
Slide 9
File Name: Impeding-Offense5.mp4
Description: Lower part of the screen, the offensive dribbler (in white) drives to the basket and the defender (in dark) commits illegal contact on the shot. The Trail makes the call as the Lead was occupied with match ups in the lane.
Slide 10
File Name: G-PC-2.mp4
Description: Fast break for white. Dribbler heads for the basket for a layup, but the defender (in dark) establishes legal guarding position and is set when the contact occurs. The new Lead makes the Offensive Foul call. Ideally, we want the Lead official to be deeper when making that call, but he had a good view of the contact.
Slide 12
File Name: Secondary-Calling-Area2.mp4
Description: Team A (in dark jerseys) are in a settled offense. Watch the top of the screen near the free throw line extended. Team A player starts from deep in the corner, comes to the free throw line and then drives down the lane with defender following all the way. A secondary defender moves into the path of the shooter, opposite side of the lane from the Lead and in the Center’s primary. With no whistle on the contact and players on the floor, the Trail comes in to make the call and calls a block on the secondary defender.
This is a great opportunity for discussion on a couple of points. 1 – what happens when there is contact and players on the floor and no whistles. 2 – given the new flop rule, what do you think about the secondary defender’s action? 3 – Discuss the need to pregame the concept of primary and secondary defender and each official’s responsibility.
Slide 13
File Name: Impeding-Offense4.mp4
Description: Top of the key, offensive player (in dark jersey) takes a pass and drives to the basket. A defender (in white) comes up, sets his feet and the offense player makes contact. Trail official calls block on the defender.
Discussion points on foul call. Was the defender set? Had he established legal guarding position? Did he extend forward to make contact? Was a block the right call? Another opportunity to talk flop!
Slide 14
File Name: Impeding-Offense.mp4
Description: Dribbler (in white) opposite side of the lane dribbles to the free throw lane and then drives down the lane for a shot. The Center official is moving up to get a better view, but he may have needed to stay down. Watch the dribbler, does he use his arm to push the defender? The Center official would be the only one who could see that. The play ends with a foul on the defender called by the Trail even though this action was in the Lead’s primary.
Slide 15
File Name: G-PC-Runover.mp4
Description: As the clip starts, you can see the Lead initiating a rotation as she comes across the end line. The ball starts in the Center’s primary and he stays with it as he becomes the new Trail and stays down at the Free Throw line extended to get the best view. The new Center has rotated into position and is also FT line extended, but opposite side. Good play coverage by all three. The offensive dribbler (in white) powers down the lane with a drive to the basket, but pushes off as she turns away from the basket to pass the ball. The Center has a great view and calls the pass and crash charge.
Slide 16
File Name: G-PC-extension2.mp4
Description: Dribbler (in white) at the top of the key. #25 White starts to set a screen, but moves away and into the path of the dribbler who is driving to the basket. The Trail has primary and moves down with the ball. It appears the defender moved into the path of the dribbler. The Trail and the Center both signal a foul and the Trail immediately gives the preliminary signal for a charge. Good opportunity to post, hold and briefly discuss what each was calling.
Good discussion on block or charge on this play. Also a good opportunity to talk double whistle, post and hold.
Slide 18
File Name: Impeding-Offense3.mp4
Description: Clock winding down in the quarter. Offensive (dark jersey player) dribble drive from the top of the key, secondary defender moves into path in an attempt to block the shot. The shooter pulls down to avoid the contact and then goes up again. The Center calls the first contact as a foul on the secondary defender. Remind officials to be in the best spot to see the separation between offensive and defensive players when officiating the dribble drive.
Slide 19
File Name: Impeding-Offense2.mp4
Description: Same situation as above with the offensive player (in dark) looking for an opportunity to drive. The initial defender reaches a couple of times and at one point, nearly gets a steal. The offensive dribbler maintains possession and as he drives to the basket, the initial defender makes contact and a secondary defender impedes his path and both the Trail and Center call the contact. They post and hold, then discuss. It was ruled a reach on the initial defender and the contact by the secondary defender was ignored.
Discussion point – the ball handler starts in the Center’s primary and then the contact is in the Trail’s primary. Whose call is it?
Slide 20
File Name: Hand-check-.mp4
Description: Bottom of the screen right in front of the bench outside the lane. Offensive dribbler (in white) drives to the basket and the defender (in dark) uses his hands to hold and foul the dribbler. The Center official owns his primary and makes the call.
Slide 21
File Name: Creation-of-Space2.mp4
Description: Play comes from the bottom of your screen with the offensive dribbler (in dark) driving to the basket. He creates space and the defender falls back. The Lead official calls a charge. Lead official is in a spot to have a wide view of the court, which results in a good view of the dribble drive and the contact between the two players. If the Lead had been too close to either the baseline or the lane line, they would not have had as good a view.
Discussion – Did the defender make contact on the drive prior to the contact that was called. Should this have been a foul on the defender? Was this a flop?
Slide 22
File Name: G-PC-1.mp4
Description: Before you start the video, look at the clock. Last second play right before the end of the half. It’s a fast break after a steal. The official at the bottom of the screen is the Center, the official at the top is the new Lead.
Start the video. The contact occurs in the new Lead’s primary and he is closest to the play. The dribbler/shooter (in white) appears to create space on her way up to the basket. The Center calls the charge. In our opinion, this should have been the new Lead’s call since he is right on top of the play and it takes place in his primary.
Slide 23
File Name: Block_PC5.mp4
Description: Fast break after a steal. The official on the bottom of the screen is the new Lead, while the official coming down behind the play at the top is the Center. Even though the contact occurs in the Center’s primary, the new Lead is in position to make the call. Both officials signal the foul, but the new Lead immediately gives a preliminary block signal. The Center drops his arm and lets the new Lead take it.
Watch the slow motion replay. Do you agree with the block call? Good discussion point on establishing legal guarding position.