“How can that be a continuation play? The foul wasn’t on the shooter!”

In Part 1 the focus was on the actions that defined the beginning of the act of shooting. In Part 2 the focus shifts to some of the finer points involving continuous motion.

Most officials have heard the above statement at one time or another. Under the rules it does not matter whom the defense fouls. Any defensive foul during the act of shooting, even off-ball, gives the shooter the right to complete the try. Perhaps the most frequent occurrence of this is a defensive player trying to block the shot by pushing through a screen. Obviously good communication among the crew is a must for this play to be ruled accurately.

While rare, another possibility for an off-ball foul during the act of shooting is a free throw. Due to the 2014-15 rule change allowing players into the lane upon release of the free throw, it is possible for a defender to foul prior to the release of the free throw. If this happens, the continuous motion rule would apply.

Regardless of the nature of any off-ball defensive foul, the shooter is allowed to complete the try and the goal will count if successful. The officials will then penalize the foul appropriately. Since an off-ball foul is not against the shooter, one must be ready to explain why the ball is being giving back to the offense (or bonus free throws are being awarded) if the goal is scored. Be prepared for disbelief from coaches and players. Only the more astute will understand this finer point of the rule.

“She couldn’t be in the act of shooting. Her feet were still on the floor!” All officials have heard something like this from time to time. Of course, there are some people who would claim that Larry Bird never left the floor when he was shooting.  A key concept that was laid out in Part 1 is that almost all tries whether they be layups, jump shots, post moves or runners, begin on the floor. Any official who yells “on the floor” to indicate that the player had not started the act of shooting is doing a disservice to the game. Conveying this kind of misinformation, that is, that a try cannot start on the floor, to players, coaches and fans makes it more difficult for those officials who correctly rule a continuous motion play when the player is fouled while “on the floor.”

When ruling on these types of plays, that is, whether an attempt may or may not count, officials should use the approved signals. Doing so provides clarity and eliminates potential confusion. If the foul occurs just before the start of the act of shooting, the official should use the “No Score” signal to indicate that a try is not underway. The official could also verbalize “No Score” or “No Goal” to emphasize this fact further.

Proper communication is vital to a smooth flowing game. Unapproved signals such as, pointing to the floor to indicate a foul occurred before the act of shooting began, can lead to confusion and discontent. Several years ago, a Lead official ruled a blocking foul in a block-charge situation. He then pointed to the floor to indicate that the foul occurred before the act of shooting had started. The ball passed through the goal.  A player was injured on the play. After the injured player had been replaced, the official began to resume play with a throw-in. At this point the coach became quite agitated because he claimed he saw the official count the goal. This is the problem with pointing to the floor. It can be confused with the signal for ruling a goal good. The unapproved signal of pointing at the floor should be sent to the same trash heap as the verbiage “on the floor.”

Officials should always use proper signals and should signal in a professional and composed manner. An official should never run onto the court to count a goal. This looks like the official is some kind of cheerleader for the team that scored. Overly emphatic signals should always be discouraged.

Does the player have to release the ball to be in the act of shooting? There are some people who believe this.  However, a player’s arm could be held after the preliminary movement has begun. In the picture #13 is unlikely to be able to release the ball due to the holding foul by #4. This does not negate the fact that #13 was trying to shoot. Also a player could stop as a result of the severity of the contact.

In all of this, it is important to remember that the motion of the try needs to be continuous. If a player stops and resets, the try has ended and the ball is now dead. No further action is possible. If, after stopping, a player then powered up and through to release the try, he/she has released a dead ball. No score is possible at this point.

Continuous motion plays can only come into existence as the result of a defensive foul. A double foul is not a defensive foul.  Rather it consists of a foul on each team.  If a double foul occurs before the try is in flight, the ball becomes dead immediately.  No score is possible.  Continuous motion plays are not possible in a double foul situation.

What is the effect of the whistle sounding during a continuous motion play? In most situations in the game, when the whistle sounds, the clock stops and the ball becomes dead immediately. Here, however, while the clock stops, the ball remains live until the try ends. Defenders may continue to defend. A foul near the floor can be followed by a blocked shot high in the air. Basket interference and goaltending are still possible.  Officials, particularly off-ball officials, must remain alert to these possibilities. In addition, the “shooter” can demonstrate that he/she was not shooting by passing the ball to a teammate.

How can an official get better at ruling on continuous motion plays?  Obviously a thorough understanding of the rule is a necessary 1st step.  Once this is accomplished, video can be a great help.  Reviewing video can help the official to see the moment when the act of shooting begins.  It can help to build the judgment process involved in these plays.  Looking at video of one’s own games can provide needed feedback on the accuracy of one’s own rulings.  Mistakes on these plays can make the difference of several points for each instance.

Summarizing, a thorough understanding of the various ways that a try for goal can be attempted is necessary for an official to make accurate rulings of continuous motion plays. Videos can help officials get better. Proper signaling enhances communication. Off-ball fouls can provide challenges to the correct enforcement of this rule. Officials who apply the concepts shared above will achieve greater accuracy and consistency in ruling on these plays.

“No way! He was on the floor!” “This is not the NBA!” As an official, how often have you heard these and similar exclamations when you ruled a goal to be good? Have you ever heard “On the floor!” from an official or seen an official pointing to the floor just as an acrobatic and athletic move had the ball going through the goal? Was that official correct? Just what are the rules governing when the act of shooting starts? Are there any differences between high school, college and the NBA?

The continuous motion rule (Rule 4-11 in the NFHS Rules Book) can be a source of discontent and consternation during some high school games. Observers report that inaccurate judgment of when the act of shooting begins is sometimes part of the problem. Are differences between the high school, college and NBA versions of this rule part of the problem?

While there are minor differences in wording, there are absolutely no differences in how each level wants the rule enforced. The main difference in application between the NBA and the other levels has to do with the distances that can be covered from the moment of the foul to the release of the shot. In the NBA this distance is enhanced by the traveling rule difference that, in effect, allows an NBA player to take an extra step beyond what is legal for a high school or college player.

So, by rule, when does the act of shooting start?

The NFHS Rules Book states that the attempt to shoot begins “…when the habitual throwing movement starts a try or with the touching on a tap…” The Rules Book further states that a player who is fouled after starting to shoot “…is permitted to complete the customary arm movement, and if pivoting or stepping when fouled, may complete the usual foot or body movement in any activity while holding the ball.”

Just what does all this mean? How is this applied to the various ways that a player may attempt a shot?

Many rules instructors use the concept of “gathering the ball” to help define when the try and coincidentally the act of shooting begin for a player in motion. In the image #5 in red is about to gather the ball, that is, end her dribble. Using this concept makes it easier to identify when the start of the try may occur.

How does this apply to the different ways a player may attempt a shot? For a layup the “gathering of the ball” coincides with the end of the dribble. The dribble ends when the ball comes to rest in a player’s hand(s). After the dribble ends, all subsequent movement leads directly to the release of the layup. It includes any and all legal foot movements. These are the customary and habitual movements that precede the release of the try. Therefore, the possibility of a continuous motion play begins with the end of the dribble and ends when the ball is released. This is illustrated in the multiple exposure image below. If a foul occurs at any point during this period of time, the player should be allowed to finish his/her movements and, if the ball passes through the goal, it should be counted.

For running one handers or floaters, the concept is the same as the layup. The only real difference is that the try is attempted from further away from the basket. After the player ends the dribble, the possibility of a continuous motion play begins. Any foul committed by an opponent up to the point when the ball is released should lead to a continuous motion foul ruling.

Sometimes, a running one hander or floater happens after catching a pass. Once the player has control of the ball, all subsequent motion leads directly to the release of the try. So a continuous motion play would be possible during this period of time.

Post plays highlight other aspects of the continuous motion definition. This includes a player’s pivoting as part of the habitual throwing motion. Post players often receive the ball with their backs to the basket. They often pivot as a preliminary movement leading to the release of the try. A foul occurring during this movement should be considered as part of the act of shooting if such movements are continuous through the attempted release of the try.

Post players also often take a step as part of their preliminary habitual movements. This could be part of an “up and under” move. It might also be done in order to release a hook shot or jump hook. A defensive foul occurring after the start of such stepping movements should be ruled as occurring during the act of shooting. This is illustrated in the photo sequence below.

Jump shooters bring the need for a different set of judgments. Jump shooters may be stationary before beginning to shoot. They may be dribbling. They may be looking to pass the ball. They may receive the ball on a kick-out pass from a teammate driving to the basket. When does the act of shooting begin? All jump shooters, whether they are great leapers or are basically floor-bound, must bend their knees before shooting. The potential for a continuous motion play starts once the shooter bends his/her knees. This is illustrated in the multiple exposure below.

There are two other types of attempts that need to be discussed, taps and free throws. For a tap the Rules Book clearly defines the period for continuous motion to be from the touching of the ball until the ball is in flight. A foul that occurs before the touching of the ball should be ruled a common foul.

Free throws bring up another concept which will be discussed in Part 2.

In summary, the act of shooting for almost all shots starts on the floor. The concept of gathering the ball is critical to understanding when the act of shooting starts for layups, floaters and running one-handers. Stepping and pivoting can be part of a try particularly for post players. The bending of the knees begins the act of shooting for a jump shot. Officials who apply the concepts shared above will achieve greater accuracy and consistency in ruling on these plays.