The play described below is provided for your review and discussion. The rulings given are based on NFHS rules. NCAA rulings may be different.
A-2 drives into the lane, jumps and releases the ball on try. B-2 has taken a position in front of A-2 and a collision occurred. The Lead rules a block and the Center rules a player control foul. The ball passes through the basket.
Handle the situation.
Under high school rules, this is a double foul. Since the ball had been released before the foul, the ball remains live until the try ends. In this instance, the ball became dead once it passed through the goal. Since this is not a player control foul but rather a double foul, the basket counts.
A-2 and B-2 will both be assessed a personal foul. There will be no free throws since the penalty for a double foul does not allow for any free throws. The ball is awarded out of bounds at the point of interruption. The point of interruption is the point at which the ball became dead. This is after the score by Team A. So, the point of interruption is after a successful try. Team B will be awarded the ball for a throw-in on the end line and may move along the end line as after any score.
(References: 10 Penalties Summary 1c, 6-7-5 Exception a, 4-36-3)
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Very Interesting Play. This a lot to digest, but correct and should be ruled properly. Thanks!
Addition/Correction: No information for which side of the lane or down the center is given here. The “C” is the primary, middle six in transition, down the center, or on the “C” side. No cadence whistle is noted which would have prevented this. Either way on a double or pray tell a triple whistle this “L” and “C” should briefly “get together” and decide which occurred first.
This play is correct only if no player is determined to have caused contact first.
Incomplete information-
Block/Charge: A block should be called if “B2” DID NOT establish legal guarding position. Meaning by the
time “A1” lifted the dribble for a try.
A charge should be called if “B2” DID establish legal guarding position… in time!
I had this very play on large prep school playoff game in SC. A top college official while attending a camp (NCAA 3rd round) stated my call from c of a block due to “B2” facing the basket THE ENTIRE TIME “A2” was dribbling to the basket from the three point mark to my side of the basket as correct! A prep observer at the time asked at half time if this was a “game interrupter?” I replied: “no, this was the easiest call I have ever made as “A2″ NEVER established legal guarding position!” Addition: A2 missed the try while sliding off the back right side of “B2” who once again never faced “A2”. “A2” missed the try and slammed to the floor. This was a potential dangerous play as “B2” failed to give shooter any room to come down- or anything else! My partners tried to say: “a player has the right to stand anywhere on the floor… to the ceiling”…. I was internally seething, lol, This does not apply when guarding a player with the ball UNLESS legal guarding position is established prior to any contact block/charge.
This is lengthy. A cadence whistle noted above may have prevented this to allow the primary (official) to “take it” The second whistle may have not been needed. The question to leave with is who’s primary did the play occur in? Did the second whistle “L” have a better angle? Figure the correct single answer- Communicate, Communicate, Communicate! This is what pre games are for. Block/charges are fun aren’t they! This is a prime example why for at least thirty years it has been said that it is sometimes better to make a bump call at the top of the elbow rather than have the block/charge down low. Keep working and thinking! -DB “Official (Umpire) dignity is very important, but it is more important to get the call right”- “Baseball” rule book, section Umpire ….last line in the rule book”