1. 2014
Basketball Officials Clinic
3 person mechanics

2. L – Mirror ball, referee the lane/post area: T – Get
angle/position & on-ball coverage; 3 pt coverage
C - Referee Off Ball, look for illegal screens, going
through screens, displacement, holding, etc.
Primary Areas of Coverage

3. Lines of Responsibility
• Lead only has baseline
– If doing duties and looking at primary, WILL
need help on some opposite side out of
bounds
• (blow whistle with arm up & look to Center)
• Trail has his/her sideline, midcourt line,
and backcourt line (when appropriate)
• Center has own sideline (may help with
midcourt if rotating or transition)

4. Lines of Responsibility: T-Green, C-Yellow, L-Blue

5. Throw-In Responsibilities
• Always put the player between you and the basket
• “T” handles all throw-ins in the backcourt, regardless of
location (“bump and run,” if necessary)
• “T” may bounce any sideline or end line throw-in (may
depend on defensive pressure)
• “C” out of bounds, always have 2 officials ball side for throw
in—essentially the “C” becomes the new “T”

6. Shot & Rebound Coverage
• Lead should not be
positioned within lane
lines
• Both C and T should
close down on shots
• C is primarily
responsible for weak
side rebounding

7. Three-Point Shot
Coverage
• Lead should not be
positioned within lane lines
• If both C and T indicate the
3-pt attempt, T should
referee the defense on the
shooter and stay with the
shot; C should release and
cover rebounding
• C/T should mirror the other
official’s “good” signal
• Lead only signals on fast
break or in SS corner, never
good

8. When to initiate rotation at Lead
YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR PERIPHERAL
VISION AT ALL TIMES!!!!!
•
Aim to have two people strong-side (ball-side) if possible
• The ball is below the free throw line extended (inside 3
pt. line) for an extended period of time
• If in the frontcourt (fast break) all 3 officials and the ball
are in frontcourt status and the ball is weak-side
• The player has received the ball weak-side and …
– Is definitely putting the ball into the post to a big man/woman (Think
SHAQ…)
– Has consistently beaten his/her man and looks to drive a lot
• Person at 3 pt line, looking to drive baseline also

9. When not to rotate?
• Quick jump shots
• Ball is being tossed around the arc or dribbled
around the arc without making a drive to the
basket
• When all 3 officials and the ball are not in the
frontcourt
• Last few seconds to quarter or half
• Loose ball when no team possession is gained
– Exception: To get a better angle for a foul/jump ball
• Then fix the move by going back to original position

10. Responsibilities while rotating
• Lead must swivel head so that he/she still
can call “old” primary area (lane area) until
fully established in new position
– Don’t pivot early, get to new primary the pivot
finishing rotation
• Trail & “C” must focus on primary area
until Lead gets into new “Lead” position
– STAY WITH COMPETITIVE MATCHUPS AS
NEEDED
• Use body language so partner know you are
staying with players

11. BETTER TO HAVE 2
C’S THAN 2 TRAILS
WHEN ROTATING!

12. Trail Positioning
• Work the angles and see space
– Move to improve
• Don’t get stuck too far in court
– In way for transitions

13. Press Coverage
•
Old Lead/New
Trail stay out of
bounds until ball
goes above FT
line
•
Has ballhandler
& defender
•
Center stays at FT
line & moves w/
second wave of
players
•
L should have
deepest player in
front and boxed-in
•
All officials prepare

14. C responsibilities in transition
• Center may have ball
responsibilities on
quick passes
• In any transition, can
call across court to
other sideline
• May have best view
across paint even in
front court play

15. Foul Reporting Mechanics
• Switch with the least amount of transition
• Calling official freeze after call & notify
players/partners situation
• Clean up before reporting
– Report Foul & Stay Table side
• Hustle around players & Stop in reporting area
– Table side official go to calling official’s
previous area for throw-in or prepare FT
• Do not cross vision line of reporting official

16. Free Throw Mechanics: Non-rebounding free throw
Trail bring in subs

17. Free Throw Mechanics: Rebounding free throw
Both Trail and Center step down on FT and Center chop clock, lead picks up arm to
chop if made basket

18. Last Second Shot
• C or T – Opposite table official is responsible
• L may need to offer assistance or be
responsible if on fast break
• Responsible official should communicate
with partners that he/she has the last second
shot (discussed during pre-game)

19. Questions?
• Next up mechanics and calls

20. Calling a Violation
• Blow Whistle
– Give a sharp blast
– Weak whistles =
indecision
• Raise arm
– Open hand
– Straight in the air
• Give proper mechanic
for the violation which
occurred

21. Directional Signal
•
When the ball goes
out-of-bounds:
1. Sharply blow your
whistle
2. Raise your arm with
an open palm
3. Signal direction for
new possession

22. Violations
• Floor Violations: Traveling, Illegal
Dribble, Basket Interference, Carry
• Free Throw Violations: Offensive and
defensive (learn about in STATIONS)
• Throw-In Violations??

23. 10 Second Back Court Violation
A team must advance the ball
beyond the center court line
in 10 seconds.
The Official will administer a
visible 10 second count.

24. “Over-and-Back” Violation
• An offensive player
with the ball may not
cross back over the
half-court line once
they have advanced
the ball beyond midcourt.
– A player that jumps from
the frontcourt without the
ball, catches the ball in the
air, and lands in backcourt
is legal because they never
established possession in
the frontcourt.
–It is NEVER a violation on a
throw-in. The ball can be
thrown anywhere.
THE POINTS: Right Foot,
Left Foot, and Ball

25. “Palming the Ball”/Carry
• Player rolls his wrist
over the ball in an
attempt to gain an
advantage
– Most players carry with
their normal dribble.
– Distinguish between a
person’s normal dribble
and an attempt to gain
an advantage.
– A “Carry” is a specific
form of traveling.

26. Traveling
• Player is not allowed to
travel/walk with the ball
– Pivot Foot: Player commits to a
pivot foot by landing on that foot
first
• If player makes a good jump
stop, they can establish either
foot as their pivot foot.
• Player may pick up their pivot
foot, but must get rid of the ball
before returning it to the
ground.
– Player cannot jump with the ball
and return to the ground without
releasing the ball.
• Jump Stop??

27. Illegal Dribble/Double Dribble
Players cannot start a dribble after their first
dribble has ended, or put two hands on the ball
while dribbling.
– Not an Illegal Dribble:
• Ball has been
batted/contacted by
opponent
• Loose Balls
• After a shot attempt

28. Kick Violation
• It is a violation to
INTENTIONALY kick
the ball with any part
of the leg or foot.
• Results in loss of
possession for the
violating team.

29. Lane Violation
(3 count)
An offensive player may
not have any part of
their body in the lane,
while the ball is in the
front court, for more than
three seconds.
Count resets when??
• Use preventive officiating
before calling:
– “Get out of the key Red!”
– If a player is on their way
out don’t call it
– If player doesn’t move after
the warning, call the
violation

30. 5 Second Violation
•
Five second
violations occur for:
– Throw-ins
– Closely-guarded
1. Blow your whistle.
2. Signal the stop clock
violation.
3. Give 5-second
violation mechanic.

31. Legal Guarding
• GUARDING: it is the act of legally placing a body in
the path of an offensive opponent. Every player is
entitled to a spot on the floor provided such player gets
there first without illegally contacting an opponent. A
player who extends an arm, shoulder, hip, or leg into the
path of an opponent is NOT considered to have a legal
position if contact occurs.
• Obtaining a legal guarding position:
– The guard must have both feet touching the floor
– The front of the guard’s torso must be facing the opponent.

32. Closely Guarded
• Closely guarded is when a defensive player is “actively”
guarding a player and is within six feet.
– 6 feet is the Distance
– 5 seconds is the Count
• Closely guarded only applies to when the ball is in the
FRONTCOURT.
• The 5 count resets every time there is a change in the
ball handler’s “status”:
– A player can hold the ball for 4 ½ seconds.
– Then dribble for 4 ½ seconds.
– Then hold the ball for 4 ½ seconds before they have to get rid of
the ball.

33. Not Closely Guarded
• THE COUNT ENDS…
– if the defense is not
within 6 ft.
– anytime an offensive
player gets their head
and shoulders past the
defense
– anytime the defense is
not between the player
with the ball and the
basket
The defensive player may switch
with another defender:
 the count will continue as
long as the 6 ft barrier is not
broken

34. Jump Ball

Jump Ball – when
opponents each have
their hands on the ball
and neither can establish
possession
Held Ball
Held Ball – when the
defense prevents an
airborne shooter from
releasing the ball during a
block
RESULT  Alternating Possession

35. Goaltending

FOUR REQUIRED
ELEMENTS
1.
2.
3.
A shot or tap
Downward flight
Ball above the level
of the basket
4. The shot has a
chance to go in
AWARD THE POINTS AFTER
A GOALTENDING CALL
AGAINST THE DEFENSE


36. Basket Interference
• Occurs when a player…
– touches the ball, basket, or
net when the ball is ON or
within the basket
– touches the ball while it is
on the cylinder
– touches the ball outside the
cylinder while reaching
through the basket from
below.
If committed by the Defense 
Award the points
If committed by the Offense 
disallow the points and grant
possession to the defensive team

37. “No Basket! No Basket!”
• A basket, scored after
a violation, must be
waived off.
• This call must be
“sold”…
–
–
–
–
Be LOUD
Use emphatic signals
Show no indecision
Don’t hesitate

38. Time Outs
• Three Timeouts
• Each T.O. is for 1
Minute in Duration
• These do not carry
into Overtime Periods
TIMEOUTS CAN BE GRANTED WHEN…
1. A team is in possession of the ball (player with the ball, or bench personnel)
2. Any DEAD BALL situation (either team may request one)

39. Hits: The Standard Hack
• HIT : Illegal contact
with the ball handler.
“White, #42, hit. Black
on the side.”

40. Hand Checks
• HAND CHECKING: illegal
personal contact by a
defensive player, which
impedes the forward or lateral
movement of the ball holder.
• Call the foul if the defender…
– Impedes or restricts the
movement
– Dislodges or jabs an opponent
– continually leaves a hand on an
opponent

41. Push
• PUSH: illegal contact by
extending of arms which
influences the movement of
an opponent.
“Red, #31, push.
Two shots.”

42. Holding
• HOLDING: Illegal contact
that impedes the lateral
or vertical movement of
an opposing player.
“Gold, #2, holding.
Red ball on the side.”

43. Double Fouls
• DOUBLE FOUL:
simultaneous personal
fouls by a member of
each team.
• Play from POI.
– If no clear possession at
POI (i.e. loose ball, shot),
results in alternating
possession.
This is a great call
to clean up overly
aggressive post play.

44. Block
• BLOCK: Illegal personal
contact which impedes
the progress of an
opponent.
• ISSUES w/ CALLING BLOCKS
– “Referee the Defense”
– Principle of Verticality
– Blarges!

45. Principle of Verticality
• Applies to being in a legal guarding position.
• Player must remain in their “vertical plane”.
– Arms must be STRAIGHT UP.
– Player can jump vertically, but not out of the vertical
plane.
• Player must avoid contact with their lower body
outside of their vertical plane.
• Offensive player may not “intrude” a defensive
player’s vertical plane in an attempt to clear them
out.
• A player that sticks out an arm, shoulder, hip or
leg, into the path of an opponent is NOT
considered to be in legal guarding position – and
is responsible for that contact.

46. Player Control Foul
• PLAYER CONTROL: offensive player
makes illegal contact with a defensive
player in a previously established legal
guarding position.
• A player moving with the ball is
required to stop or change direction to
avoid contact with a defender in a legal
position.
PLAYER CONTROL FOULS =
Loss of possession / no free
throws

47. Intentional Foul
• Foul committed with no
attempt to play the ball
when the person being
fouled has a “clear”
attempt at a scoring
opportunity.
– Make sure they are not making
any play on the ball.
– If severe enough it becomes a
flagrant foul
• Result: 2 free throws (clear
the lane) and the ball for
the team that is fouled.

48. Technical Fouls
• Never allow a player to
disrespect you, the
game, or a fellow IM
staff member.
• Technical Fouls are
called when a player or
team has violated the
spirit of the game,
disrespected the
game, and/or
disrespected a player.

49. Situations for a T
• Any form of harassment towards a player
or staff member (possible ejection)
• Baiting, taunting, showboating, or spitting
• Fighting, pushing, shoving (automatic ejection)
• “Acts of Deception”
– Waving a hand in an opponent’s face
– Distractions during a free throw

50. More Technical Fouls
• Delay of game
• Crossing the out-of-bounds plane and
touching the ball
• Any flagrant foul (automatic ejection)
• Slapping the backboard to redirect a shot
• Example : a player shoots on the right side of the
hoop and a defensive player on the left side
smacks the backboard to make the ball rattle out
of the cylinder.