Hints for Refereeing
Common Foul
• blow your whistle, indicate the player and
charge the foul to the player, report to
table
• award the ball to the opposing team at the
boundary line.
Shooting Foul
• blow your whistle, indicate the player and
charge the foul to the player, report to
table
• award the basket if the shot is
successful
• award 2 free throws if the shot misses.
Unsportsmanlike Foul
• blow you whistle, indicate the player and
charge the foul to the player, report to
table
• award 2 free throws to the player who was
fouled and possession to his/her at mid
court.
Disqualifying Foul
As for an unsportsmanlike foul but the player
who commits the foul must leave the game an may
be replaced by a substitute.
Technical Foul
• blow you whistle
•
indicate the player,
charge the foul to the
player, report to table
• award 2 free throws to the opposing team
and possession at mid court.
Ball out of bounds/Player out of bounds
Ball is out of bounds when it touches
• the floor or any object or person that is
ON or outside the boundary line.
when it touches a player who is outside the court
or on the boundary line
The player responsible for the out of bounds is
the player who touched it last. To cause the ball
to go out of bounds is a violation.
The Referee
Keep the balance between protecting skill and
explaining your call. Communicate using your
voice and the official signals.
For official signals see page 30 of FIBA MiniBasketball Rules download.
Jump Ball Situations
Use the jump ball to start each quarter
In other situations use alternating possession
arrow
• when two opponents have one or both hands
firmly on the ball.
• when it is unclear who put the ball out of
bounds
The opponents of the team who won the initial
jump ball get the ball on the first occasion and
after that possession alternates.
Back Court Rule
When a team gains control of the ball in their
front court they may not cause it to go into the
back court. If they do so
• violation – possession to other team.
3 Second Rule
When a team gains control of the ball in their
front court a player from that team may not
remain more than 3 seconds in their opponents’
restricted area.
To do so is a violation –possession to the opposing
team.
Line up for free throws
The Referee
• officiates the game, watches for fouls and
mistakes, applies all the rules, is always ‘up
with the game’, is a facilitator and not a
severe judge
Primary Schools
Mini-Basketball
Introductory Booklet
on Rules and
Refereeing
Safety First!
When you arrive at the venue
• check for any hazards - baskets and floor
• make sure team benches are 5m away from
table.
• don’t allow a player who is wearing jewellery
or long nails to take part in the game.
This publication is a convenient reference
for teachers and leaders who are not
experienced referees. It is not intended to
replace the rule book or referee manual.
Further information about refereeing may
be accessed on the Basketball Ireland
website below or by emailing nrc@
basketballireland.ie
FIBA Mini-Basketball rules may be
downloaded on www.fiba.com/downloads/
Rules/2005_mini_bask_rule.pdf
www.basketballireland.ie
for video resources on skills and activities
Mini-Basketball: enabling
children to learn, play
and enjoy basketball in a
supportive environment
Teams: Each team shall consist of at least 10
players. Each player must play in two periods and
sit on the bench as a substitute for the remaining
two periods, except when it is necessary to
replace a player who is injured, disqualified
or has committed five fouls. Even under those
special circumstances, a player must remain a
substitute for one full period. Local variations
may apply.
Defence:
Zone defence is not allowed.
Half court defence only in the first 3 quarters.
Full court defence is allowed in the 4th quarter
unless defending team is ahead by more than
10pts.
Playing Rules:
Basketball is played to three basic rules
one dribble (Dribbling)
one step when carrying the ball (Travelling)
minimum contact. (Contact)
Travelling Rule (progressing with the ball)
A player who is holding the ball may step once or
more than once in any direction with the same
foot, while the other foot, called the pivot foot,
is kept at its point of contact with the floor.
Establishing a pivot foot for a player who
catches a ball on the court:
• While standing with both feet on the floor:
- The moment one foot is lifted, the other
becomes the pivot foot.
• While moving or dribbling:
- If both feet are off the floor and the player
lands, the foot that lands first becomes the
pivot foot.
Contact
While standing with both feet on the floor:
- To start a dribble, the pivot foot may not be
lifted before the ball is released from the
hands(s).
- To pass or shoot for a field goal, the player
may lift pivot foot, but neither foot may not
be returned to the floor before the ball is
released from the hand(s).
• While moving or dribbling:
- To start a dribble, the pivot foot may not be
lifted before the ball is released from the
hands(s).
- To pass or shoot for a field goal, the player
may jump off a pivot foot and land on one foot
or both feet simultaneously. After that both
feet may be lifted but may not be returned
again to the floor before the ball is released
from the hand(s).
Progressing in excess of these limits is a violation
- possession to opposing team.
An unsportsmanlike foul is a personal foul, which
in the opinion of a referee, is not a legitimate
attempt to directly play the ball within the spirit
and intent of the Rules.
If a player in an effort to play the ball causes
excessive contact (hard foul), then this contact
shall also be judged to be unsportsmanlike.
Players when either attacking or defending
should make every effort to avoid contact with
their opponent.
It is not allowed to stop a player with outstretched
arms or legs to bump him/her or to make contact
by stepping forward toward him/her.
Common Foul
If the foul is committed on a player who is not
in the act of shooting, the ball is awarded to the
opponents for a throw-in.
If the foul is committed on a player who is in
the act of shooting and the shot for goal is not
successful, he is awarded two free throws.
Suggested timing (may be altered)
First Quarter 8 mins
Interval 2 mins
2nd Quarter 8 mins
Half-time 5 mins
Third Quarter 8 mins
Interval 2 mins
Fourth Quarter 8 mins.
Dribbling
A player may make one continuous dribble, may
dribble with either hand or change hands.
Dribble ends when both hands touch the ball
simultaneously or ball comes to rest in one or
both hands. A player may not start a second
dribble until another player handles the ball.
A second dribble is a violation – possession to
the other team.
An extra period of 3 mins if game ends in a tie.
Notes: Clock remains running except for free
throws.
There are no charged time-outs.
Unsportsmanlike Foul
Disqualifying Foul
A disqualifying foul is blatantly unsportsmanlike
behaviour by a player.
Technical Foul
Non-contact foul such as bad language or delaying
the game.