Tough Calls: March 18, 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.
In Dark team offense, Dark 20 sets a screen to his teammate Dark 11 defender White 35. Contact occurred between Dark 20 and White 35. Referees call an illegal screen by Dark 20.
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. Dark 20 sets an illegal screen, because he moves when contact occurs with defender White 35. Personal offensive foul by Dark 20 and a throw-in for the White team.
2. In the end of the second quarter, Dark 6 grabs offensive rebound and scores a basket before the end of signal. Referees cancel a basket, because his teammate Black 11 before the ball goes in basket, grabs a rim and vibrate it.
FIBA OBRI 31.2.4.
Interference occurs when:
• After a shot for a field goal or the last free throw a player touches the basket or the backboard while the ball is in contact with the ring.
• A player causes the basket to vibrate or grasps the basket in such a way that, in the judgement of a referee, the ball has been prevented from entering the basket or has been caused to enter the basket.
FIBA OBRI 31.3.1. If the violation is committed by an offensive player, no points can be awarded. The ball shall be awarded to the opponents for a throw-in from the free-throw line extended, unless otherwise stated in these rules.
Outcome: correct decision from the referees, basket canceled, as before Black 6 scores, Black 11 grabs a rim and vibrate a basket.
3. In Black team offense, Black 2 makes a field goal attempt, with a defender Yellow 14, trying to guard a shot by Black 2. After a shot Black 2 steps on Yellow 14 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. Yellow 14, trying to defend the shot, moves inside the legal Black 2 landing place, touched by a Black 2 foot. Personal act of shooting foul should be called to Yellow 14, and one additional free throw for Black 2.
4. Violet 23 drives to the basket and makes a shooting attempt. But before he releases the ball, contact between Violet 23 and defender White 15 occurs. Referees call a defensive act of shooting foul by White 15.
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
The guarding (defensive) player must establish an initial legal guarding position without causing contact before taking his position.
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.
In any of the above situations, the contact shall be considered as having been caused by the player with the ball.
Outcome: correct decision from the referees. White 15 established an initial legal guarding position, faced his opponent and had both feet on the floor, but the contact did not occur in the torso- on the sides of the hips. Defensive act of shooting foul by White 15, two free throws awarded for Violet 23.
Author: Oskars Lucis, ENBL head of referees
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