Tough Calls: April 18, 2026
- marisnoviks
- Apr 19
- 4 min read
The Tough Calls are sponsored by Fiziocentrs – a well known physiotherapy clinic in Latvia. The videos shown below will help to understand the game, referees and rules.
In White team offense, White 5 makes a successful shot. On rebound play contact occurs between Dark 10 and White 35, White 35 steps back, loses balance and with a hand hits Dark 10 face. Referees call an Unsportsmanlike foul by White 35.
FIBA OBRI 37.1.1. Unsportsmanlike foul.
-Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent.
FIBA OBRI 37.2.1. An unsportsmanlike foul shall be charged on the offender.
FIBA OBRI 37.2.2 Free throw(s) shall be awarded to the player who was fouled, followed by:
• A throw-in from the throw-in line in the team’s frontcourt.
Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. In rebound White 35 and Dark 10 held each other, as in a normal basketball play, after that White 35 stepped back, lost balance and touched with a hand Dark 10 face. Referees correctly awarded White 35 an Unsportsmanlike foul, with two free throws awarded for Dark 10 and a Dark team throw-in from the throw-in line in the team frontcourt.
2. In Dark team offense, Dark 0 makes a field goal shooting attempt, while defender White 33 tries to guard Dark 0 shot. After a shot Dark 0 steps on White 33 right foot. Referees call an Act of shooting foul by White 33.
FIBA OBRI 15.1.1. A shot for a field goal or a free throw is when the ball is held in a player’s hand(s) and is then thrown into the air towards the opponents' basket.
FIBA OBRI 33.3. The legal guarding position extends vertically above him (cylinder) from the floor to the ceiling. He may raise his arms and hands above his head or jump vertically but he must maintain them in a vertical position inside the imaginary cylinder.
A player who has jumped into the air from a place on the playing court has the right to land again at the same place. He has the right to land on another place on the playing court provided that the landing place and the direct path between the take-off and landing place is not already occupied by an opponent(s) at the time of take-off.
FIBA OBRI 34.2.2. If the foul is committed on a player in the act of shooting, that player shall be awarded a number of free throws as follows:
• If the shot released from the field goal area is successful, the goal shall count and, in addition, 1 free throw.
Outcome: correct decision from the referees. White 33, trying to defend the shot, moves inside the legal Dark 0 landing place, shooter touches White 33 foot. A Personal Act of shooting foul should be called to White 33, and one additional free throw for Dark 0.
3. End of the game, in White team offense, White 44 drives to the basket and makes a field goal shooting attempt. Defender Dark 23 tries to guard White 44 shot, contact occurs. Referees call an Act of shooting foul by Dark 23.
FIBA OBRI 33.3. Legal guarding position A defensive player has established an initial legal guarding position when:
• He is facing his opponent, and
• He has both feet on the floor.
The legal guarding position extends vertically above him (cylinder) from the floor to the ceiling. He may raise his arms and hands above his head or jump vertically but he must maintain them in a vertical position inside the imaginary cylinder.
FIBA OBRI 15.1.1. A shot for a field goal or a free throw is when the ball is held in a player’s hand(s) and is then thrown into the air towards the opponents' basket.
FIBA OBRI 33.3. The legal guarding position extends vertically above him (cylinder) from the floor to the ceiling. He may raise his arms and hands above his head or jump vertically but he must maintain them in a vertical position inside the imaginary cylinder.
A player who has jumped into the air from a place on the playing court has the right to land again at the same place. He has the right to land on another place on the playing court provided that the landing place and the direct path between the take-off and landing place is not already occupied by an opponent(s) at the time of take-off.
FIBA OBRI 33.15. Pushing is illegal personal contact with any part of the body where a player forcibly moves or attempts to move an opponent with or without the ball.
FIBA OBRI 34.2.2. If the foul is committed on a player in the act of shooting, that player shall be awarded a number of free throws as follows:
• If the shot released from the field goal area is successful, the goal shall count and, in addition, 1 free throw.
Outcome: correct decision from the referees. Dark 23, trying to defend the shot, illegally pushes shooter and steps in on his landing place, when contact occurs, even he raises his arms vertically. A Personal Act of shooting foul should be called to Dark 23, and one additional free throw for White 44.
Author: Oskars Lucis, ENBL Head of referees
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