Tough Calls: March 3, 2026
- marisnoviks
- 2 days 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.
Black 20 drives to the basket and makes a shooting attempt. Defender White 24 blocks the ball, it touched Black 20 and went out of bounds. Referees call out of bounds and show that the ball goes to the White team for a throw-in.
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 33.2. As soon as the player leaves his vertical position (cylinder) and body contact occurs with an opponent who had already established his own vertical position (cylinder), the player who left his vertical position (cylinder) is responsible for the contact. The defensive player must not be penalised for leaving the floor vertically (within his cylinder) or having his hands and arms extended above him within his own cylinder.
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.
Outcome: correct decision from the referees, no violation from defender White 24 side. White 24 was in a legal guarding position, jumped vertically, moved backwards, with hand bloced a Black 20 shot, played to the ball. When ball goes out of bounds, last touch by Black 20.
Blue team goes on a fast break and Blue 2 makes a shot. Defender White 12, while trying to block a shot, touches a Blue 2 hand. The ball goes out of bounds. Referees call out of bounds and show that the ball goes to the Blue team for a throw-in.
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 33.2. As soon as the player leaves his vertical position (cylinder) and body contact occurs with an opponent who had already established his own vertical position (cylinder), the player who left his vertical position (cylinder) is responsible for the contact. The defensive player must not be penalised for leaving the floor vertically (within his cylinder) or having his hands and arms extended above him within his own cylinder.
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 33.1. 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.
Outcome: incorrect decision from the referees. White 12 with a hand out of his cylinder blocked the Blue 2 shot, trying to play on the ball, didn’t touched a ball, but Blue 2 hand. Referees should call an act of shooting foul by White 12, and award Blue 2 with two free throws.
In Dark team offense, Dark 7 made an unsuccessful shooting attempt, in rebound play, between two Blue team defenders and Dark 20, Dark 20 falls on the court. Referees call a personal foul by Blue 22.
FIBA OBRI 33.9. Blocking is illegal personal contact which impedes the progress of an opponent with or without the ball.
FIBA OBRI 33.2. As soon as the player leaves his vertical position (cylinder) and body contact occurs with an opponent who had already established his own vertical position (cylinder), the player who left his vertical position (cylinder) is responsible for the contact.
FIBA OBRI 33.12. 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: correct decision from the referees. When Dark 20 tried to get the ball, he was pushed out of his cylinder by Blue 22.It was the reason of his fall and why Blue 22 received a ball with illegal action. The personal blocking foul by Blue 22.
In Yellow team offense, Yellow 44 sets a screen to his teammate Yellow 31 on defender Green 1. Contact occurred between Yellow 44 and Green 1, at the same time Yellow 31 made an open shot and scored a basket. Referees stay with no call.
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: incorrect decision from the referees. Yellow 44 never set a legal screen, because he was moving when contact occurred with defender Green 1. Should be personal offensive foul by Yellow 44 and cancellation of basket.
End of quarter, In White team offense, White 9 received a pass and started a drive to the basket , but referees call illegal White 9 action – travelling.
FIBA OBRI 25.1.1.
Travelling is the illegal movement of one foot or both feet beyond the limits outlined in this article, in any direction, while holding a live ball on the playing court.
FIBA OBRI 25.1.2. A pivot is the legal movement in which a player who is holding a live ball on the playing court steps once or more than once in any direction with the same foot, while the other foot, called the pivot foot, is kept at its point of contact with the floor.
FIBA OBRI 25.2.1. Establishing a pivot foot by a player who catches a live ball on the playing court:
• A player who catches the ball while standing with both feet on the floor:
▬ The moment one foot is lifted, the other foot becomes the pivot foot.
▬ To start a dribble, the pivot foot may not be lifted before the ball is released from the hand(s).
Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. White 9 left foot considered as a pivot foot and when starting a dribble, he lifted a pivot foot.
Author: Oskars Lucis, ENBL head of referees
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