Tough Calls: March 6, 2026
- marisnoviks
- 6 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.
At the end of the second quarter, Light 11 receives a pass and makes a shooting attempt simultaneously with a game clock signal. Ball goes in. Referees cancel a basket, but use an Instant replay system, to verify their decision. After IRS, they count a basket.
FIBA OBRI F.1.
The Instant Replay System (IRS) review is the working method used by the referees to verify their decisions by watching the game situations on the screen of the approved video technology.
FIBA FIBA OBRI F 3. The following game situations may be reviewed:
FIBA OBRI F.3.1 At the end of the quarter or overtime,
• whether a shot for a successful field goal was released before the game clock signal sounded for the end of the quarter or overtime.
FIBA OBRI 9. Beginning and end of a quarter, overtime or the game.
FIBA OBRI 9.7. A quarter, overtime or game shall end when the game clock signal sounds for the end of the quarter or overtime. When the backboard is equipped with red lighting around its perimeter, the lighting takes precedence over the game clock signal sound.
Outcome: correct decision from the referees, basket counts. Additional correct process, first cancel basket as the ball was in the hands of Light 11 when the game clock shows 0,00, but after IRS- when the red LED light came on, the ball had left the hands.
Black team in offense, in off ball situation, Black 12 pushes defender Light 0, but before Light 1 pushed Black 12. Referees call a defense foul by Light 1.
FIBA OBRI 33.5. A player who does not control the ball is entitled to move freely on the playing court and take any position not already occupied by another player. When guarding a player who does not control the ball, the elements of time and distance shall apply. A defensive player cannot take a position so near and/or so quickly in the path of a moving opponent that the latter does not have sufficient time or distance either to stop or change his direction.
If a defensive player does not respect the elements of time and distance in taking his initial legal guarding position and contact with an opponent occurs, he is responsible for the contact.
FIBA OBRI 33.15. 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.
Outcome: correct decision from the referees, because Light 1 pushed Black 12 in off ball play first. Second action, Black 12 contact with Light 0 dismissed.
In Light team offense, Light 45 sets a screen to his teammate Light 16 defender Black 3. Contact occurred between Light 45 and Black 3. Referees call an illegal screen by Light 45.
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. Light 45 set an illegal screen, because he was moving when contact occurred with defender Black 3. Personal offensive foul by Light 45 and a throw-in for Black team.
Light 8 drives to the basket and makes a shooting attempt. But before he releases the ball, contact between Light 8 and defender Black 12 occurs. Referees call offensive charge by Light 8.
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. Black 12 has established an initial legal guarding position, faced his opponent and had both feets on the floor, contact occurs on the torso. Offensive charge personal foul by Light 8.
Author: Oskars Lucis, ENBL head of referees
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