Europcar Ref Review | NBL21 Round 3

Thanks to Europcar, each round the NBL's referees will review plays providing comprehensive explanations around rules and subsequent outcomes, showcasing the decision making required in real time from the NBL's Referee Panel.

Below are a series of plays and clips from Round 3 of NBL21 that have been reviewed.

Goaltend Review

This is an example of a Goaltending Review referred to the Replay Centre. In this play Red #11 drives to the basket and a foul is called on White #3 with the offensive player in the act of shooting. After the whistle White #26 blocks the shot of Red #11.

In NBL21 the league has introduced two categories to their Replay Centre’s criteria for review. One is throughout the entire game any OOB can be reviewed and two, review goaltending and basket interference only when a foul is called. Thus in this instance the referee’s signal for a replay centre review. The review showed the call on the floor is confirmed. White #26 hit the ball whilst it was still on its upward flight and he put the ball onto the board and did not hit the ball after it hit the backboard.

Correct No Call – Legal play – 2 Shots Red #11

Goaltending

This is an example of a ball being legally touched after the ball has hit the ring. In this example Dark Blue #25 releases the ball on a shot for goal. The ball hits the back of the ring and then bobbles around the ring until Light Blue #3 knocks the ball off the front of the ring.

By rule goaltending restrictions apply until the ball no longer has the possibility of  entering the basket or the ball has touched the ring (Article 31.2.3). In this example the ball has touched the ring so goaltending is not relevant on this play. However basket interference is still a possibility and had Light Blue #3 hit the ball whilst any portion of the ball was below the level of the ring he would have committed a violation for interference. He waits for the ball to roll on top of the ring and then knocks it away.

Correct No Call – Legal Play

IRS Shot Clock Error

This is an example of an example of a shot clock not being reset in time after the ball has hit the ring in the front court. In this example Black #34 in an attempt to make a pass throws the ball inadvertently into the ring. The ball rebounds to the top of the key and the referee stops the game as the shot clock has not been reset. To activate a shot clock reset the ball only has to hit the ring and it does not have to be a shot.

By rule (29.6.2) after the ball has touched the ring of the opponents basket, the shot clock should be reset to:

• 24 seconds, if the opponents’ team gains control of the ball. 
• 14 seconds, if the team which regains control of the ball is the same team that was in control of the ball before the ball touched the ring

As Melbourne United retained possession the shot clock should have been reset to 14 once Black #20 retained possession of the ball. The clock ran a further 2 seconds after possession was gained and thus the shot clock was reset to 12 upon IRS review.

Correct Call – Shot Clock Reset to 12 seconds

Clear Path Illegal Screen

This is an example of an illegal screen. An offensive player must be stationary at the time of setting a screen and cannot extend arms or legs outside their cylinder to illegally contact their opponent. In this example, B#33 is driving to the basket when teammate B#6 uses a double forearm to shove his opponent W#1 backwards and clears a path for B#33 to the basket. The broadcast angle shows some illegal action but the baseline camera angle shows B#6 clearing the path for the penetration. The referee correctly calls an illegal screen on B#6.

IRS Status Of The Ball

This is an example of a correct IRS review procedure to determine status of the ball at the time of a foul. Referees can initiate IRS reviews for a number of administrative matters through the Replay Centre, including to determine which team had control of the ball at the time a foul occurs.

In this example, W#12 fumbles the ball while driving to the basket. During the loose ball, B#4 gains control of the ball with two hands and then W#12 commits a foul by jumping into the back of B#4. Blue team is in the bonus. The referees call a foul on W#12 and initiate an IRS review through the Replay Centre to determine if B#4 had in fact gained control of the ball, and thus, be awarded two bonus free throws. If B#4 did not control the ball then White team would still retain team control and bonus free throws would not apply. The Replay Centre confirms B#4 gains control of the ball and the referees award B#4 two bonus free throws.

IRS Shot on the Buzzer

This is an example of a correct IRS review procedure to check if a field goal attempt at the end of a period was released before the game clock signals sounds. Referees can initiate an IRS review through the Replay Centre for shots on the buzzer in any period, including overtime. A period ends when the game clock signal sounds, but when the backboard is equipped with red lighting around its perimeter, the lighting takes precedence over the game clock signal sound. The referees can also check if the field goal was a 2 or 3-pt attempt at any time of the game.

In this example, B#16 attempts a 3-pt shot from the corner at the end of the first quarter. The ball goes in and the referees award a 3-pt basket. The referees then initiate an IRS review through the Replay Centre which shows the ball was out of the hands of B#16 when the red lights on the backboard flash to indicate the end of the period. The shot was also determined to be a 3-pt basket during the review. B#16’s 3-pt basket counts.

IRS Shot Clock Error

This is an example of a correct IRS review procedure to check a shot clock error. Referees can initiate an IRS review through the Replay Centre if there is a shot clock or game clock error during any time of the game.

In this example, B#8 blocks W#22’s shot and the ball spills loose. B#8 then grabs the ball with both hands as he is falling out of bounds and throws the ball back into play – this is team control by Blue team. W#9 then gathers the ball and kicks it out to a teammate on the perimeter. The shot clock is incorrectly reset to 14 secs - instead of 24 secs where Blue gains control of the ball - and the referee stops the game to fix the shot clock error. The referee initiates an IRS review through the Replay Centre to determine the correct time on the shot clock. The review determines that the game clock had run on 3 seconds beyond where the shot clock should have been reset to 24 seconds. The referee then puts 21 seconds on the shot clock and resumes play.