Tough Calls: February 3, 2026
- marisnoviks
- 3 hours ago
- 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.
Black team in offense, Black 30 drives to basket and makes a pass to his teammate. Immediately after passing he crashed into a defender White 41 who was in a legal guarding position. Referees call offensive personal foul by Black 30.
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.
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.
* Contact must occur on the torso, in which case the defensive player would be
considered as having been at the place of contact first.
Outcome: correct decision from the referees. White 41 facing Black 30 with the ball and having both feet on the floor, contact occurs on the torso. Black 30 received an offensive personal foul as he passed the ball before contact.
Black team throw-in on the offensive end. The thrower Black 4 attempted to throw the ball into the court for more than five seconds. Referees call a five seconds violation.
FIBA OBRI 17.3.1.
The player taking the throw-in shall not:
• Take more than 5 seconds to release the ball.
Outcome: correct decision from the referees. Black 4 needed more than five seconds to release the ball.
In Blue team offense, Blue 9 made a shot, defender White 17 trying to guard him. After a shot Blue 9 steps on White 17 foot. Referees stay without a call.
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: incorrect decision from the referees. White 17, trying to defend the shot, while moving inside the legal Blue 9 landing place, touched Blue 9 foot. Personal act of shooting foul should be called to White 17, and one additional free throw for Blue 9.
In Black team offense, Black 2 sets a screen to White 13, for Black 22 open shot. Immediately after screen, Black 22 makes a successful shot. Referees cancel the basket and call offensive illegal screen by Black 2.
FIBA OBRI 33.7. Screening: Legal and illegal
Screening is an attempt to delay or prevent an opponent without the ball from reaching a desired position on the playing court.
Illegal screening is when the player who is screening an opponent:
Was moving when contact occurred.
Did not give sufficient distance in setting a screen outside the field of vision of a
stationary opponent when contact occurred.
Did not respect the elements of time and distance of an opponent in motion when
contact occurred.
Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. Black 2 never set a legal screen, because he was moving when contact occurred. Personal foul by Black 2 called correct and correct to cancel a Black 22 basket.
End of game, in the White team offense, White 5 sets a screen to Blue 44, contact occurs. Referees call an offensive illegal screen by White 5.
FIBA OBRI 33.7. Screening: Legal and illegal
Screening is an attempt to delay or prevent an opponent without the ball from reaching a desired position on the playing court.
Illegal screening is when the player who is screening an opponent:
Was moving when contact occurred.
Did not give sufficient distance in setting a screen outside the field of vision of a
stationary opponent when contact occurred.
Did not respect the elements of time and distance of an opponent in motion when
contact occurred.
Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. White 5 never set a legal screen, because he was moving closer to Blue 44 and pushing him, when contact occurs. Personal foul by White 5 called correct.
Author: Oskars Lucis, ENBL head of referees
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