RULES CLARIFICATIONS AND PLAY SITUATIONS – November 1, 2016
Prepared by Art Hyland, Secretary-Rules Editor, NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee
During the recent NCAA officiating clinics, several questions were raised concerning the 2016-17 rule
changes and interpretations. This is intended to clarify the rulings in these situations.
Verticality/Cylinder Rule (Rule 4-38) - Clarifications
1. The cylinder principles (front, side, and back of player) supersedes the statement in Rule 4-17.2
which states that "There is no minimum distance required between the guard and an opponent.”
The cylinder rule now provides for a minimum amount of cylinder space in the front of an
offensive or defensive player as measured by the hands of each player when the arms are bent at
the elbows. Any player who invades the cylinder space of an opponent and makes illegal (not
incidental) contact with the opponent has committed a foul.
2. An offensive player with the ball must be given enough space to make a normal basketball play
which is defined as attempting to shoot, pass, or begin a dribble.
3. An offensive player who moves the ball from one side to the other, either below his waist or above
the shoulder is deemed to be making a normal basketball play when the player's arms are more
vertical than horizontal. On the other hand, when the offensive player moves the ball from one
side to the other between the shoulders and the waist and his arms are more horizontal, he is
deemed to be attempting to create space.
4. Given the above, elbow contact by the offensive player with a defensive player who has invaded
the cylinder of the offense will most likely be a defensive foul when the elbow movement is above
the shoulders or below the waist. Elbow contact which occurs when the offensive player moves
the ball from side to side between the shoulders and the waist will most likely be a player control
foul.
5. It is important to remember that elbow contact during a "normal basketball play" when an opponent
has invaded an offensive player's cylinder, results in a defensive foul. Only in unusual
circumstances when the swinging of the elbow is excessive/unnecessary should a flagrant foul be
considered or assessed against the offensive player.
Enforcement Principles
1. When an elbow foul occurs as described above, the official should stop the clock by raising his
arm with a closed fist. Do not otherwise point or give any indication as to the nature of the foul.
2. If the elbow foul is the result of the defense invading the offensive player's cylinder and the
offensive player was making a "normal basketball play,” the foul is on the defense. The official
should give a "blocking" signal followed by the new signal to indicate a cylinder play.
3. If the offense has invaded the defensive player's cylinder and illegal elbow contact occurs, the foul
is on the offense. The official should give a player control signal followed by the new signal to
indicate a cylinder play.
4. Officials should call the first foul. If there is a hand check/body bump foul (Rule 10-1.4), call it
immediately. Any subsequent elbow contact by the offense will most likely be incidental contact
(even if severe) as long as the offensive player was attempting a legal basketball play and the
movement could not be stopped quickly enough after the Rule 10-1.4 foul. However, if there is a
delay in the offensive player swinging his elbows and making contact, this could be a contact dead
ball technical foul.
Related Instant Replay Situations
1. Play No. 1: A1 attempts to move the ball from side to side above his shoulders in an attempt to
start a dribble. He contacts B1 in the face with his elbow. B1 is in A1's cylinder when the contact
occurs. The official blows his whistle and immediately points in the opposite direction indicating
an offensive foul on A1.
RULING: The officials may use the monitor to determine if the elbow contact was flagrant. (Rule
11-2.1.d.1) If, after review, the officials determine by indisputable evidence that B1 invaded A1's
cylinder and that the contact occurred while A1 was attempting a "normal basketball play,” the
foul on A1 shall be rescinded. However, the official may not assess a foul to B1. (Rule 11-2.1.d.1
and 11-2.1.d.2) Play shall resume with a throw-in by Team A at the spot nearest to where the dead
ball occurred with no changes to the game or shot clocks. (Rule 7-4.3) [NOTE: It should be noted
that, if instant replay is not available, the official must stay with the original offensive foul.]
2. Play No. 2: In a play with the same facts as Play No. 1 above. the officials review the play and see
that B1 faked being fouled.
RULING: Rescind the foul against A1, assess B1 a technical foul for faking a foul and resume
play at the point of interruption. (Rule 11-2.1.d.1, 11-2.1.d.6, and 4-27.1.e)