RULES CLARIFICATIONS AND PLAY SITUATIONS – February 3, 2017
Prepared by Art Hyland, Secretary-Rules Editor, NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee
Timing Mistakes/Clock Malfunctions
There have been an unusually high number of timing mistakes or clock malfunctions recently and
especially at the end of games. While the rules allow that some timing mistakes or clock malfunctions be
corrected using instant replay, the end result is rarely as fair of a solution as if the mistake never
occurred. There is a far better outcome when officials and/or clock operators recognize and signal for
the game to be stopped as soon as possible after the mistake or malfunction occurs. This is especially
true at the end of games.
Play Situations – With seven seconds remaining on the game clock at the end of a period, Team A
inbounds the ball and the game clock fails to start when the ball is legally touched inbounds. The
officials do not recognize the mistake/malfunction. A1 dribbles the ball and makes a move to the basket
and an official blows his whistle to signal a foul by B1 on A1 with seven seconds still showing on the
game clock. The officials and the clock operator now recognize that the clock malfunctioned when it
failed to start when the ball was legally touched inbounds with seven seconds remaining.
Ruling – The officials may use instant replay and a digital, handheld stopwatch to re-enact the play and
determine if the foul by B1 occurred after seven seconds should have elapsed on the game clock. If the
foul occurred after the seven seconds should have elapsed, the period has ended and the foul should be
ignored unless it was flagrant. If the foul occurred before zeroes on the clock (or should have been
zeroes on the shot clock), the foul should be penalized and time put back on the game clock to when the
foul actually occurred. Rule 11.3.1.a and A.R. 299 and 300. Note that, while Rule 11-3.1.a requires a
reading of zeroes on the game clock, this play falls within the intent of the requirement since the game
clock should have read zero before the foul occurred. The first sentence of 11-3.1.a should read “When
there is or should be a reading of zeroes on the game clock . . .”
Instant Replay – Out of Bounds Reviews
Rule 11-2.1.e permits officials to use instant replay in the last two minutes of the second period or any
extra period to determine which team caused the ball to go out of bounds when there has been a
deflection involving two or more players.
Play Situation – In the last two minutes of the second period, A1 picks up his dribble in the backcourt
near the sideline and is being trapped by B1 and B2. B1 has a foot on the sideline and slaps the ball
away from A1. Immediately after slapping the ball, B1 moves his foot inbounds and the ball goes off
A1’s knee and out of bounds.
Ruling – The officials may use instant replay to determine which player caused the ball to be out of
bounds. In this case, B1 caused the ball to be out of bounds when he touched the ball while standing on
the sideline. B1’s standing out of bounds and slapping the ball off A1’s knee is all part of the same play.
Thus, it falls within the scope and intent of the rule and allows the officials to make the appropriate
decision as to which player caused the ball to be out of bounds. However, while the officials are at the
monitor, if they see that the two acts were separated by time and were not part of the same act, the
officials may not re-officiate the prior act of a player being out of bounds. Rule 11-3.1.e and 11-1.4.c.