Tough Calls: April 9, 2026
- marisnoviks
- 1 day ago
- 5 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 11 drives to the basket and makes a field goal shooting attempt. Defender Blue 28 was trying to guard White 11 shot, contact occurred. Referees call a foul act of shooting by Blue 28.
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 2-point field goal area is unsuccessful, 2 free throws.
Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. Blue 28, while trying to defend a White 11 shot, made a contact from back side in the air, pushed White 11. Personal act of shooting foul by Blue 28, two free throws awarded for White 11.
In Dark team offense, Dark 16 drives to the basket and makes a field goal shooting attempt, defender White 19 blocks the ball. Referees call a goaltending violation and count a basket. White team head coach use a Head Coach challenge.
FIBA OBRI 31.2.1.Goaltending occurs during a shot for a field goal when a player touches the ball while it is completely above the level of the ring and:
* It is on its downward flight to the basket, or
* After it has touched the backboard.
FIBA OBRI F.4.1.In all games where the Instant Replay System (IRS) is used the head coach may request a head coach challenge (HCC) , i.e. ask the nearest referee to verify the decision of referees by using the IRS to review the game situation.
FIBA OBRI F.4.2. For the HCC, the following procedure shall apply:
- The HCC may be requested at any time in the game.
FIBA OBRI F.3.2. When the game clock shows 2:00 minutes or less in the fourth quarter and in each overtime:
-whether a goaltending or basket interference violation was called correctly.
When the review determines that a goaltending or basket interference violation was not called correctly the game shall be resumed as follows, if after the call:
A player of either team has gained an immediate and clear control of the ball, that team shall be entitled to throw- in from the place nearest to where the ball was located when the call was made.
Outcome: correct decision from the referees. The head coach may request a head coach challenge (HCC), ask the referees to verify the goaltending decision of referees by using the IRS. The HCC may be requested at any time in the game. After referees using IRS, they determine that a goaltending was not called correctly, canceled a basket and the game restarts with a throw-in for the White team, because in a moment of call, White team had a possession.
End of the game, in Dark team offense, Dark 2 passed the ball to a teammate Dark 45 from the end line to a position under the basket. His defender White 0 guards Dark 45. Contact occurred between White 0 and Dark 45. Referees call an act of shooting foul by White 0.
FIBA OBRI 33.2. Principle of verticality
During the game, each player has the right to occupy any position (cylinder) on the playing court not already occupied by an opponent. This principle protects the space on the floor which he occupies and the space above him when he jumps vertically within that space.
The offensive player, whether on the floor or airborne, shall not cause contact with the defensive player in a legal guarding position by:
• Using his arms to create more space for himself (pushing off)
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 33.12. Post play
The principle of verticality (cylinder principle) applies also to post play. The offensive player in the post position and the defensive player guarding him must respect each other's rights to a vertical position (cylinder). It is a foul by an offensive or defensive player in the post position to shoulder or hip his opponent out of position or to interfere with his opponent’s freedom of movement using extended arms, shoulders, hips, legs or other parts of the body.
Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees. Dark 45 first pushed and used his arms to create more space for himself, while defender White 0 was in a legal guarding position inside his cylinder. Instead of the defensive Act of shooting foul for White 0, referees should call an offensive team foul for Dark 45 actions.
In Blue team offense, Blue 1 drives to the basket and makes a field goal shooting attempt. Defender Pink 6 was trying to guard Blue 1 shot, contact occurred. Referees stay with No call.
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.
Outcome: correct decision from the referees. Pink 6, trying to defend the shot, was in a legal guarding position, he raises his arms vertically, when contact occurs. A correct No call from referees side.
Author: Oskars Lucis, ENBL Head of referees
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