Tough Calls: March 24, 2026
- marisnoviks
- Mar 24
- 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.
Black team on a fast break offense, Black 22 drives to the basket and gets into contact with defender White 21 face. Referees call an offensive personal foul for Black 22.
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. White 21 was moving backwards, when Black 22 caused the contact to move the hands vertically upwards (a normal basketball movement). Personal offensive foul for Black 22 correctly called, a throw- in for the White team.
White team goes on a fast break and White 21 makes a field goal attempt. Defender Black 20 tries to block a shot, touches a White 21 hand. When ball goes up, Black 5 blocks the ball. The ball goes on side. 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.
FIBA OBRI 33.1. The defensive player may not enter the cylinder of the offensive player with the ball and cause an illegal contact when the offensive player is attempting a normal basketball play within his cylinder.
FIBA OBRI 34.1.1. A personal foul is a player’s illegal contact with an opponent, whether the ball is live or dead.
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.
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.
Outcome: incorrect decision from the referees. Black 20 with a hand out of his cylinder blocks the White 21 shot, while trying to play on the ball, didn’t touched a ball, but White 21 hand. Referees should call an act of shooting foul by Black 20, and award White 21 with two free throws. Correct decision from the referees in goaltending situation, Black 5 touched a ball when the ball was in upward flight and touched backboard only after Black 5 touched it, a legal play.
In Light team offense, Light 1 drives to the basket and makeds a field goal attempt, defender Blue 5 blocks the ball. Referees call a goaltending violation and count a basket. Blue team head coach uses 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 referee to verify the goaltending decision of referees by using the IRS. The HCC may be requested at any time in the game. After referees use IRS, they determine that a goaltending was not called correctly, cancel a basket and the game restarts with a Blue team throw- in, because in the moment of call, Blue team controlled the ball.
In Light team offense, Light 4 makes a shooting attempt, while defender Blue 5 tries to contest the Light 4 shot. After a shooting attempt Light 4 steps on Blue 5 foot. Referees call foul an act of shooting by Blue 5.
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 3-point field goal area is unsuccessful, 3 free throws.
Outcome: correct decision from the referees. Blue 5, trying to defend the shot, moves inside the legal Light 4 landing place, touches Light 4 foot. Personal act of shooting foul by Blue 5 and three free throws awarded for Light 4.
Author: Oskars Lucis, ENBL head of referees
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