Tough Calls: February 26, 2026
- marisnoviks
- 5 hours 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.
On the Pink team offense, the Pink 7 receives a pass while moving towards the basket and makes a shot, which is unsuccessful. Defender Blue 0 pushes Pink 7 during a moment of shot. Pink 7 loses balance. Referees call a defensive act of shooting foul by Blue 0.
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.
FIBA OBRI 33.4. Guarding a player who controls the ball.
When guarding a player who controls (holding or dribbling) the ball, the elements of time and distance do not apply. The player with the ball must expect to be guarded and must be prepared to stop or change his direction whenever an opponent takes an initial legal guarding position in front of him, even if this is done within a fraction of a second.
FIBA OBRI 33.15. Pushing
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 0 made a personal contact with the hand, pushing Pink 7 in a moment of shot. Two free throws awarded for Pink 7.
White 5 makes a steal and starts a fast break. Dark 13 trying to stop White 5 and makes a contact with opposing player. Referees call an unsportsmanlike foul by Dark 13.
FIBA OBRI 33.11. The referees shall decide whether the player who caused the contact has gained an advantage. If contact caused by a player in any way restricts the freedom of movement of an opponent, such contact is a foul. Illegal use of the hand(s) or extended arm(s) occurs when the defensive player is in a guarding position and his hand(s) or arm(s) is placed upon and remains in contact with an opponent with the ball, to impede his progress.
FIBA OBRI 37.1.1.
An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact which, in the judgement of a referee is:
• Contact with an opponent and not legitimately attempting to directly play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules.
• Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent.
• An unnecessary contact caused by the defensive player in order to stop the progress of the offensive team in transition. This applies until the offensive player begins his act of shooting.
*An illegal contact caused by a player from behind or laterally on an opponent, who is progressing towards the opponent’s basket and with no opponents between the progressing player and the basket, and▬ the progressing player is in control of the ball, or▬ the progressing player is attempting to gain control of the ball, or▬ the ball has been released on a pass to the progressing player.This applies until the offensive player starts his/her act of shooting
FIBA OBRI F3. The following game situations may be reviewed at any time of the game:• whether a personal, unsportsmanlike, or disqualifying foul met the criteria for such a foul or shall be upgraded or downgraded or shall be considered as a technical foul.
Outcome: incorrect decision from the referees. Dark 13 trying to stop White 5 during transition, while trying to play on the ball. Additionally, referees could use the IRS system to verify the correctness of the decision, because one referee calls a regular personal foul, another – an unsportsmanlike foul. The game should restart with a White team throw-in.
In White team offense, White 13 drives to the basket and makes a shot shortly before the end of shot clock period, defender Black 14 blocks the ball, and just before the time expires, Black 13 grabs the ball with both hands and makes a wrong pass to his teammate. White 22 intercepts this pass and immediately shoots, when Black 13 makes an act of shooting foul, followed by a call.
FIBA OBRI 14.1. Control of the ball.
FIBA OBRI 14.1.1 Team control starts when a player of that team is in control of a live ball by holding or dribbling it or has a live ball at his disposal.
FIBA OBRI 29.1.1. 24 seconds.
• A player gains control of a live ball on the playing court,
that team must attempt a shot for a field goal within 24 seconds.
Outcome: correct decision from the referees. When Black 13 grabs the ball with both hands, a new possession starts. After that correct foul, an act of shooting by Black 13 to White 22 called. Good job from a shot clock operator side.
In White team offense, White 1 drives to the basket and makes a contact with defender Black 31 face. Referees call an offensive personal foul by White 1.
FIBA OBRI 32.1.1. Foul
A foul is an infraction of the rules concerning illegal personal contact with an opponent and/or unsportsmanlike behaviour.
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 33.4. When judging a charge/block situation involving a player with the ball, a referee shall use the following principles:
• The defensive player must establish an initial legal guarding position by facing the player with the ball and having both feet on the floor.
• The defensive player may remain stationary, jump vertically, move laterally or backwards in order to maintain the initial legal guarding position.
• When moving to maintain the initial legal guarding position, one foot or both feet may be off the floor for an instant, as long as the movement is lateral or backwards, but not towards the player with the ball.
FIBA OBRI 33.2. 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).
Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. Black 31 moved backwards, when White 1 caused the contact to move the hands vertically upwards (a normal basketball movement). Personal offensive foul by White 1 called correctly, a throw- in for the Black team.
Author: Oskars Lucis, ENBL head of referees
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