PIAA District 2 Basketball
Officials Pre-Season Guide
James P. Gross
PIAA District 2 Basketball Rules Interpreter
November 24, 2013
One Rule…One Interpretation
• CONSISTENCY is achieved when ALL Officials are on the same page.
• CONFUSION is achieved when ANY Official is not.
• Be a CONSISTENT Official, with an Expert Knowledge of the Rules,
Flawless Mechanics and Approved Signals. Your stock will RISE.
• Veteran Officials OWE the Non-Veterans GOOD Advice and Guidance.
Professionalism
• You are compensated, and therefore a Professional Referee
• Act Like It – before, during and after the contest
• Look Like It – Shirt, Pants, Shoes
• Talk Like It – Get rid of the Slang, use your Officials Language
• Move Like It – Get to the proper spots on the floor, and don’t lean
• Know the Pitfalls and Excuses that make the Criers Cry
• Learn from Everyone – what to do, and what not to do
Team and Player Control
• THREE Things that cause Team Control to END:
• A. An Attempt for Goal, including a Tap
• B. When the ball becomes DEAD
• C. If the Opponent gains control of the ball
• Player Control exists when a Player is holding or dribbling a LIVE ball
• NOTE: While the Ball remains LIVE, a Loose Ball always remains in
Control of the Team whose Player last had Control – UNLESS it is a try
or tap for a goal
ALL Contact is NOT a Foul, BUT…
• 1. INCIDENTAL Contact – Don’t Call this a foul
• 2. ILLEGAL Contact – MUST be called a foul, night in and night out
• 3. JUDGMENTAL Contact – Earn the Check
• Excessive Contact should ALWAYS be Ruled as INTENTIONAL, and if
the Contact is Savage in Nature, it should be called FLAGRANT.
• SENDING THE MESSAGE THAT YOU ARE IN CHARGE EQUALS RESPECT
The BALL is Either Live or Dead -- The
CLOCK is Either Running or Stopped
• 1. Live Ball with the Clock Running
• A.
• 2. Live Ball with the Clock Stopped
• A.
• 3. Dead Ball with the Clock Running
• A.
• 4. Dead Ball with the Clock Stopped
• A.
Correctable Errors – KNOW THEM
• 1. Awarding an Unmerited Free Throw
• 2. Failure to Award a Merited Free Throw
• 3. Wrong Player attempting the Free Throw
• 4. Player attempting the Free Throw at the Wrong Basket
• 5. Erroneously Counting or Canceling a Score
• Correction must happen before the end of the first Dead Ball AFTER
the Clock has started.
• Know the Rules of RE-Engagement
• PREVENT them from happening by being engaged in the game
Miscellaneous Discussion Points
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Get to the gym on time – recommendation is 75 minutes prior
Have a THOROUGH Pre-Game Conference with ALL Involved
Talk about the New Rules and the Points of Emphasis
Communicate with Partners DURING the game
Don’t put your Assignor in an uncomfortable position
Be prepared to make the TOUGH Call in the game
Work like you’re fighting for post-season assignments
Don’t ever think you know it all; attend all Chapter Meetings