South Dakota High School Activities Association
D e c e mb e r 3 , 2 0 1 5
A u t h o r : B u c k T i mmi n s
SDHSAA Interpretation of Rule 10-6-12
A post player becomes a ball handler/dribbler when the post player receives the ball,
regardless of position on the floor or the direction he/she is facing.
A defensive post player may use a forearm on the back of an offensive post player who
does not have the ball as long as equal pressure is being applied and there is no dislodging by
either player.
When the offensive player gains possession of the ball, the defensive post player must
remove hands and forearms from the offensive player or a personal foul shall be charged.
When the offensive player gains possession of the ball, the offensive player must not
back into and displace the defensive player or a personal foul shall be charged on the offensive
player.
A defensive player may have a collapsed arm bar (against his or her own chest) still in
contact with the offensive player with the ball. If the collapsed arm bar is extended then you
would have a foul
NEW Rule 10-6-12--CONTACT
(On the Perimeter and At the Post)
The following acts constitute a foul when committed against a ball handler/dribbler. A
player becomes a ball handler when he/she receives the ball. This would include a player in
the post position.
 Placing two hands on the player.
 Placing an extended arm bar on the player, (this would include an arm bar that has
been established in a legal guarding position—one that is not used to hold, displace,
impede, dislodge, etc.)
 Placing and keeping a hand on the player.
 Contacting the player more than once with the same hand or alternating hands are
considered fouls and must be called.
POST PLAY (Cleaning It Up)
Illegal contact on a post player is any tactic using hands or arms or just generally
demonstrating rough physical movements that allow a player on offense or defense to control
the movement of an opposing player.
It is a foul and should be ruled as such when:
 An opponent is displaced from a legally established or obtained position
 An arm-bar is extended and displaces an opponent
 A locked and or extended elbow displaces an opponent
 A leg or knee is used in the rear of an opponent to hold or displace
 Holding, hooking, slapping, pinning, or pushing the leg or body of an opponent
 An offensive post player “backs-down” and displaces the defender once that defender
has established a legal guarding position
Clarification On Post Player
When the offensive player gains possession of the ball, the actions listed in rule 10-6-12
committed by any defensive player shall be charged as a foul.
The rules involving ball handler/dribbler is intended for all players regardless of where
they are. The rule for NFHS is not about the lane. It is about the ball handler/dribbler and
placement on the floor (including the lane area).
When the post player DOES NOT have the ball the defensive player has the right to
establish a legal guarding position. Many times that means using an arm bar to protect
themselves when the post player has his/her back to the defensive player. As long as these
defensive actions are NOT used to hold, displace, impede, dislodge or redirect an opponent
this action is legal. When the arm bar is extended (not to protect player) then the arm bar is
illegal. NOTHING CHANGES!
Once the post player receives the ball, the defensive post player must remove hand(s)
and forearm(s) from the offensive player, as they now considered a ball handler/dribbler,
whether they are facing basket or not. All actions in Rule 10-6-12 must be followed.
PLAY 1: Post player A4 obtains a position just outside the free-throw lane and about four
feet from the basket while defended by B4. A1 makes a post entry pass to A4 who is still in his
or her post position and received the ball. B4, in an effort to defend A4, puts (a) one hand on
A4 or (b) a collapsed arm bar (against his or her own chest) still in contact with A4. The
official rules a foul in both (a) and (b).
RULING 1: The official is correct in (a). Defenders are not allowed to place one hand on a
ball handler anywhere on the court. In (b), the official is incorrect. B4’s use of a collapsed arm
bar is not a foul. However, a foul should be ruled immediately once B4 places an extended
arm bar on A4. A foul would also occur if contact occurs with a collapsed arm bar that
displaces or prevents A4 from making normal offensive movement.
PLAY 2: A3 has the ball in the corner and is looking to pass. A5 competes with B5 for the
most advantageous position just outside the free throw lane and five feet from the basket in
line with A3 from the corner. B5 knows that A5 can score with ease if he or she receives the
ball from A3 in the current position. To defend against that, B5 (a) places a hand on A5 as he
or she defends from behind, (b) makes body contact with A5 to push him or her further from
the basket. In both (a) and (b), the official does not rule a foul because A5 does not yet have
the ball. Is the official correct?
RULING 2: The official is correct in (a). No illegal contact has occurred with A5 or B5. Player
does not have the ball (not considered a ball handler). In (b), a foul should be ruled B5.
Although the rule change in 10-6-12 does not apply in that situation, officials should still
properly enforce the rules in 10-6-1 through 10-6-6. B5 used the body to illegal displace A5
from his or her legally obtained position on the floor and that action is not legal.
PLAY 3: A1 has the ball four feet from the basket just outside the free-throw lane. A1
dribbles initiating contact with B1 in an attempt to move toward the basket. While defending
A1, B1 has his or her hands out in from to protect from A1’s contact. A foul is ruled on B1 for
placing two hands on A1.
RULING 3: A1 created the contact and caused B1 to place two hands on A1. A defensive foul
should not be ruled. B1 should be allowed to legally maintain his or her position. Freedom of
movement should be allowed for all players both offensively and defensively. If A1 causes the
contact and displaces B1, while B1 is maintaining a legal guarding position, a player-control
foul on A1 is the accurate ruling.
Good Position
To rule on any contact situation, the official must first see it. Good position is critical to
see the action from start to finish, but so is focus. If you are straight-lined from any part of the
defender or the offensive player’s off-arm, you will not be able to see the entire frame of
action. Officials need to get in position to see the play from a side view and not through either
player’s back or torso.
The first priority is to monitor activity in your primary coverage area. Focus on your
primary coverage area and trust your partner to take care of his or her PCA.
The official must have a patience whistle then determine whether the contact was a
foul or incidental.
If officials are consistent from the opening tip to the end of the game and from crew to
crew teams will adapt to the way games are being called. You’ve got to make them play by the
rules. You have to make them play basketball.
Players will do what officials allow them to do. Stop the hand checking, rough post play
and other illegal play early by calling the violation and your problems will be minimal as the
game adjusts and progresses.
Coaches need to take a hard look at practice and what you the coach allow players to
do in practice, usually what these student/athletes are going to do in practice, they are going to
attempt to do in a game.
Mercy Rule
For Class A and Class B: When the point differential reaches 40 or more points in the second
half, the clock will continue to run. The clock will only be stopped for timeouts (team or
official). Regular timing will be used if the score differential drops back to less than 20 points.
Protecting The Free-Throw Shooter
Rule 9-1-3g was revised in 2014-15 to allow a player occupying a marked lane space to
enter the lane on the release of the ball by the free thrower. As a result of this change,
protection of the free thrower needs to be emphasized.
The free thrower must remain within the free throw semi-circle until the ball contacts
the basket ring or the shot is made or missed. The same rule applies to all other players who
do not occupy free throw lane line marked space.
On release of the ball by the free thrower, the defender boxing out shall not cross the
free-throw line extended into the semicircle until the ball contacts the ring or backboard.
Should a defensive player cross the free-throw line too soon, it is a violation. A delayed
violation signal is to be used by the official. If the free-throw is successful, the violation is
ignored. If the free throw is unsuccessful, the violation is enforced and a substitute free throw
is awarded.
If the defender makes contact with the free thrower that is more than incidental, a
personal foul is the correct ruling. Whether the free throw is or is not successful, the penalty
for the personal foul is awarded. If the free thrower’s team is in a bonus situation, the free
thrower would be awarded a one-and-one or two free throws. If the free thrower’s team is not
in a bonus situation, his or her team would be awarded a throw-in along the end line.
If a team member of the free throw shooter violates, the ball should be blown dead
immediately.
SITUATION: After A1 releases the ball on a free throw try, B1 steps into the lane and backs
across the free-throw line to box out the free throw before the ball touches the ring and then
makes contact with the free-throw shooter. The free throw is missed.
RULING: The official should rule a delayed violation on the opponent. A1 will be awarded a
substitute free throw and the contact is rules a foul. The substitute free throw would be
administered with the free throw lane spaces unoccupied.
OPEN BOOK TEST RESULTS
The on-line examination tests ended on Monday, November 30. The answer key was
posted on Monday, December 1. Officials and Coaches should log in and view their test and
answers and see which ones they missed and use it as an educational opportunity to learn
rules they may have miss interpreted.
New Season Resolutions
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Master the rules and know the intent of the rules
o Take time during the week with your favorite rule topic that gives you troubles.
Enforce “freedom of movement”
o Review NFHS 4-24 as it relates to legal and illegal use of the hands/arms. Know
when to enforce illegal contact inhibiting a player’s freedom of movement.
Communicate with one another
o Are you maintaining good “eye contact” with your partners at all times? Do you
verbalize clearly at the spot of the foul (or violation). Make sure to drop the whistle
and sell things that need selling—loud enough to be heard by all.
Penalize unsportsmanlike conduct on players and coaches
o Talk about this in your pre-game conference and be prepared to enforce proper
decorum.
Be a good partner
o Avoid speaking negatively to a coach/player about one of your partner’s rulings.
You ultimately rise and fall as one, so support each other 100%.
Officiate every possession hard
o Think officiating in chunks of “2 minutes” at a time and never take a break on a
possession. Work hard and be in the right spot to make the proper ruling – “every
time.”
Observe games and be positive
o If you are sitting in the stands watching other basketball officials, be positive and
never criticize a basketball official in front of others. Discuss plays and mechanics
in private remembering to offer constructive advice.
Throw-In
A throw-in ends when the ball is legally touched by another player. The rule indicates
that if a player is standing with one foot inbounds and one foot out-of bounds when he/she
catches the ball, it is a legal throw-in. The rule also states that on a (AP) throw-in, if the
defense illegally violates the (AP) throw-in, the opponents keep the ball for the violation and
retain the (AP) arrow for the next alternating possession throw-in.
If the team making the throw-in violates the throw-in provisions and that throw-in is
an alternating possession (AP) throw-in, that team loses the ball for the violation and also
loses the arrow for the next (AP) throw-in. Following are some examples:
SITUATION: A1 is making an (AP) throw-in. He/she bounces the ball to A2 and B2
intentionally kicks the ball.
RULING: Team A will make a spot throw-in for the kick and retain the (AP) arrow for the
next alternating possession throw-in.
SITUATION: A1 is making an (AP) throw-in on the end line. The pass is tapped by B1 and
goes directly out-of-bounds on the sideline.
RULING: Team A will make a spot throw-in on the sideline. The (AP) arrow is changed to
Team B. The touching by B1 is legal. The (AP) throw-in has ended.
SITUATION: Team A has the ball for an (AP) throw-in. The official whistles thrower A1 for
a 5-second violation.
RULING: Team B’s ball for the violation and Team B will get the arrow for the next (AP)
throw-in.
TEAM CONTROL DURING THROW IN
There continues to be some confusion on team control during a throw-in. Team control
during a throw in exists ONLY for the purpose of eliminating free throws when the offensive
team commits a foul prior to player control existing on the court. The “over and back”
backcourt rule and the three second rule do not apply until there is player control in-bounds.
There must be player control on the court in order to have a backcourt violation occur.
Rule 4-12: Control, Player and Team is a foundational rule of the game. Without
thorough knowledge of control, officials cannot make an accurate ruling pertaining to the
other rules, such as: player-control fouls, team-control fouls, granting time-outs, three
seconds, 10-second backcourt count and others.
Article 1 of the rule states, “a player is in control of the ball when he or she is holding
or dribbling a live ball.”
Since a 2011-12 rule change, team control exists during a throw-in when the thrower in
has the ball at her/his disposal. The change was made ONLY to eliminate the penalty of
administering free throw(s) when a teammate of the thrower-in commits a common foul
during the throw in. The change made the penalty consistent with the penalty for other team
control fouls. The penalty now is awarding of a throw-in to the opposing team at the spot outof-bounds nearest to where the foul occurred.
NOTE: Team control during a throw in is not intended to be equated to player control status
inbounds which creates team control status inbounds. During the throw in 10-seconds, 3seconds, frontcourt status, backcourt status, closely guarded, etc. are not factors as there has
yet to be player control/team control status obtained inbounds.
SITUATION: During a throw-in by A1 from the end line by Team A’s basket the throw-in is
touched by A2 before it goes across the division line where it is recovered by A3.
RULING: There is NO backcourt violation since team/player control had not yet been
established in Team A’s frontcourt before the ball went into Team A’s backcourt. The throw-
in ends when A2 legally touches the ball, but the backcourt count does not start until A3 gains
control in his/her backcourt.
Team Control During a Throw In—Foul By Defense
SITUATION: A1 has the ball for a throw -in. The throw-in pass deflects off A2’s hands. A2
and B2 are attempting to retrieve the loose ball and B2 fouls A2. Team A is in the bonus.
Ruling: When the defense commits a foul you would shoot the free throws. With the new
ruling, nothing has changed for a foul by the defense. As Team B does not have Team control.
Mechanics Basketball Officials Exam
Question No. 10: A player determined to be unconscious may not return to play on that same
day unless written authorization is provided by physician.
Rule Book Page 23: Rule 3-3-8 states shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate
health professional.
Cleared and written by the NFHS mean the same thing. If the school has determined the
Athletic Trainer to be the Appropriate Health Care professional then the Athletic Trainer
would be able to provide the written authorization for the player to return to the game.
Officials Quiz
Question 1: While A1 is dribbling in the frontcourt, B1 deflects the ball off A1’s leg into the
backcourt. A2 retrieves the ball. Official calls a backcourt violation. Is the official correct?
YES/NO
Question 2: During a free throw by A1, B1 is positioned just behind the three-point line at the
top of the semicircle. Is B1’s position legal and what restrictions are in effect on B1?
Questions 3: A1 is dribbling the ball in his/her front court when the ball strikes his/her foot
and is rolling toward the out-of-bounds line. He/she requests a time-out to prevent the ball
from going out-of-bounds. Can a time-out be granted?
Question 4: Players are lined up for the jump ball to begin the game. Coach of Team A
doesn’t like what he sees and requests a time-out. Do you give the coach a time out?
Question 5: Team A is out of time-outs during regulation play but late in the 4th quarter, a
player from Team A requests a time-out while the ball is dead. Is time-out granted?
Question 6: After A1 has dribbled for nine seconds in A’s backcourt: (a) A1 requests a time
out; or (b) B1 deflects the ball out-of-bounds. Does Team A have a new 10-second count?
Question 7: Team A is awarded a throw-in near the division line. A1’s throw-in is deflected by
B1; A2 jumps from Team A’s frontcourt, catches the ball in the air and lands in the
backcourt. Is this a backcourt violation?
Question 8: After A1 starts his/her shooting motion, A2 commits a foul by pushing B1 to gain
rebounding position after the ball is in flight. Do you count the points if the ball goes into the
basket?
Question 9: Player Al is dribbling to the basket. He/she picks the ball up, takes one legal step
and begins a throwing motion to the basket. B1 fouls A1 before the ball is released to the
basket. The try is good. What is the ruling?
Question 10: A3 jumps into the air from the three point area and begins his/her throwing
motion to the basket. The ball has not been released and the lead official blows the whistle for
a foul by B4 in the lane area. A3 continues the throwing motion and scores. Do you count the
basket?
Question 11: Team B is pressuring team A while it has the ball in team A’s backcourt. B1 tips
the pass between A2 and A3, and the ball is bouncing toward the sideline. B4 runs, jumps
from inbounds and saves it by throwing the ball back into team A’s backcourt where A2
retrieves the ball. When should the 10-second count be restarted?
Officials or Coaches
If you have a question about a rule interpretation, a play situation or a mechanic question
that officials/coaches statewide should know about or the SDHSAA should know about to
help make the game of basketball better for everyone involved in the game of basketball—
please send your concerns to be included in the weekly bulletins.
Send your concerns to Buck Timmins at
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[email protected]
Cell Phone: 605-933-1493
Home Phone: 605-996-1486
Quiz Answers
RULING 1: YES. Team A maintained continuous team control. A player shall not be the first
to touch a ball after it has been in team control in the frontcourt, if he/she or teammate last
touched or was touched by the ball in the frontcourt before it went to the backcourt and Team
A was last to be touched by the ball in the front court and the first to touch the ball in the
backcourt.
RULING 2: The position of B1 is legal. B1 may move freely but may not break the vertical
plane of the three-point line and the free-throw line extended with either foot until after the
ball touches the ring or the backboard or until the free throw ends.
RULING 3: . The request is denied. Even though there is team control during an interrupted
dribble, you must have player control to be granted a time-out.
RULING 4: Request is denied. Time-outs cannot be used until the ball becomes live to start
the game.
RULING 5: The time-out is granted. Hopefully, you as officials instructed Team A they had
no more time-outs left in regulation play. Team A can still be granted an additional time-out
at the expense of a technical foul.
RULING 6: In both (a) and (b), Team A will have 10 seconds to advance the ball to
frontcourt following the throw-in if a player of Team A gains control in Team A’s backcourt.
RULING 7: Backcourt violation on Team A. The throw-in ends when it is legally touched by
B1. A2 gains player and team control in the air after having left the floor from Team A’s
frontcourt, therefore having frontcourt status. As soon as A2 lands in the backcourt, he/she
has committed a backcourt violation, the exception granted during a throw-in ends when the
throw-in ends and is only for the player making the initial touch on the ball.
RULING 8: If the foul occurred after the ball was in flight, the points count if the shot was
successful. If A1 had not released the shot attempt before A2 fouls B1, the ball became dead
when the team-control foul occurred. The foul by A2 results in the ball being awarded to
Team B at the out-of-bounds spot nearest to where A2 fouled B1.
RULING 9: Count the basket and award one free throw to A1. As long as the throwing
motion has started and the foul is by the defense, A1 is allowed to complete the throwing
motion movement to the basket.
RULING 10: Good three point goal and penalize B4’s foul. It will be A’s ball for a throw-in
closest to where the foul occurred if A is not in the bonus. Since the defense committed the
foul after the throwing motion began, the basket is counted and the foul is penalized.
RULING 11: The count for the 10-second violation continues while a team maintains control
of the ball in its backcourt. B1’s tip did not cause team A control to end, so the count shall
continue after the tip. The act of throwing the ball demonstrates personal and team control, so
B4’s throw caused B4 to gain team control momentarily, and the 10-second count shall be
stopped. When A2 retrieved B4’s throw, a new 10-second count shall be started.
TRAVEL TIME
Are you allowing enough travel time to get to your contest?
Early and relaxed is better than stressed and late.
Take Your Time
Once you sound your whistle and stop the clock for a violation there is no need to rush
through the signal part of the administration. Keep your open hand up for two seconds or so
and give players, coaches and fans the opportunity to focus on you. It is your moment to
communicate and you want that communication to be seen and you want it to be clear.
Take a couple of steps toward the spot of the violation with your arm still up in the air.
You don’t have to run 20 feet to the exact spot but move an appropriate distance toward the
spot of the violation. Moving a step or two toward the spot makes you appear connected and
engaged in the play. Contrast this with those officials who blow their whistle and “walk away”
giving a traveling signal with their back to the play. Always appear connected to any call you
make.