TECHNICAL POINTS OF EMPHASIS
July 2011
PREAMBLE

Canada Basketball Initiative

Object:


More consistent enforcement of the
rules within their spirit and intent
Goal:

Improve the game nationally and
internationally
•The rules have
not changed
THE RULES HAVE NOT CHANGED
Basketball is played with the feet first. All players,
must learn to move their feet with precision.
On offence
• To get open
• To attack the basket to score
THE RULES HAVE NOT CHANGED
On defence to keep their body in the proper
position to:
• defend the basket
• defend the ball
• deny an offensive player a spot on the floor
• deny an offensive player from receiving the ball.
RULE INTERPRETATION
The following technical points of reference have
been selected as a means to cleaning up the
quality of the game:
• Travelling
• Illegal physical contact
• Interaction between coaches and officials
TRAVELING
The rule book states:
To start a dribble, the pivot foot
may not be lifted before the ball is
released from the hand(s).
CHANGING PIVOT FEET
• A player establishes a dominate pivot foot to
square to the basket. The player now steps
using the pivot foot to start his/her dribble.
• The post player receives the ball and does a
back or drop pivot. This is immediately followed
by a crossover step by lifting the pivot foot.
TAKE TOO MANY STEPS WITH THE BALL AFTER
CATCHING THE BALL
• The player catches the ball on one pivot foot,
squares and then hops to two feet to shoot.
• When receiving the ball in transition, the player
catches the ball with the left foot, steps to the
right foot and does not put the ball down until the
left foot touches the floor a second time.
MOVING OR LIFTING THE PIVOT FOOT BEFORE
STARTING THE DRIBBLE
Cross over step
• The player lifts the pivot
foot or does a little split
foot hop before starting the
dribble
MOVING OR LIFTING THE PIVOT FOOT BEFORE
STARTING THE DRIBBLE
Straight drive
• When doing a straight
drive on the jab foot
side, the player takes a
long first step and the
back pivot rises before
the ball leaves the hand.
MOVING OR LIFTING THE PIVOT FOOT BEFORE
STARTING THE DRIBBLE
Hopping in the post
• When the offensive post
players is being defended
with a strong arm bar. The
player with often take a
double hop to initiate
his/her dribble.
MOVING OR LIFTING THE PIVOT FOOT BEFORE
STARTING THE DRIBBLE
STEPPING BEFORE
DRIBBLING IN THE POST
• When a post player
receives the ball in a
upright position, very
often he/she will take a
step before putting the
ball on the floor when
dribbling.
ILLEGAL PHYSICAL CONTACT
The rule book states:
During the game, each
player has the right to
occupy any position
(cylinder) on the playing
court not already
occupied by an
opponent.
ILLEGAL PHYSICAL CONTACT
Smashing / Holding the cutter
• When the offensive player
cuts, the defender has not
moved the feet to gain legal
guarding position and uses
the forearm, which is outside
his/her cylinder, to push the
cutter off the direct line of the
cut.
ILLEGAL PHYSICAL CONTACT
Bumping a player driving to the
basket
•When an offensive player drives
to the basket, the defender puts
his/her inside forearm on the
dribbler and rides the player off
the direct line to the basket. The
defender is not allowed to extend
the forearm outside the cylinder.
ILLEGAL PHYSICAL CONTACT
•
players should not hold an opponent with 2 hands.
•
b. The arm-bar (forearm that is away from the body) may not have contact with the ballhandler/dribbler. A defender that has contact with the dribbler with the arm-bar in any way
shall be called for a personal foul.
•
c. Any displacement by either the defense or the offense shall be a foul. Contact resulting
in displacement either with the hands or body is a foul.
•
e. Players may attain a position where their bodies are touching momentarily, however
any attempt to displace an opponent from a position she has legally obtained is a
personal foul.
ILLEGAL PHYSICAL CONTACT
Defending ball screens
A number of situations with illegal
contact occur in a ball screen:
• The defender of the dribbler rides or
pushes the dribbler away from the
screen
• The defender of the screener pushes
the screener out of position
• The defender of the screener appears
late and bumps the ball hander with a
forearm or leg
INTERACTION BETWEEN COACHES AND OFFICIALS
When the communication occurs
•Communication should not occur
when the clock is running.
Appropriate comments can be
made, but there should be no
expectation on the coaches’ part
for the official to turn his/her
attention to the coach.
INTERACTION BETWEEN COACHES AND OFFICIALS
During a clock stoppage the coach can communicate with the official:
• Ask questions that can help you coach your team
• Rhetorical questions are not considered questions and will not
be answered. “ What are you looking at?”
• Questions that are really statements are not considered
appropriate. “Do you know the fouls are 6 – 0?”
• During foul shots the coach can talk to an official, but the official
shall not come over to stand beside the coach and give eye
contact.
• During timeouts, quarter and half time intervals, the officials should
not go over and talk to the coach until the end of the time out or
interval
INTERACTION BETWEEN COACHES AND OFFICIALS
The number of times and
length of the communication
• Coaches should strive for
quality not quantity when
communicating with officials.
• Communication should not
delay the game
INTERACTION BETWEEN COACHES AND
OFFICIALS
The reason for the communication
•Statements are not appropriate communication, especially when they
begin with the word; “You must…”
•Communication should deal with the present not the past or future.
•Communication should be for clarification so that the coach can help
his/her team improve or maximize their performance.
•Communication should not be used to try to gain an edge on the
opponent or influence the official in future calls.
•Officials should answer appropriate questions in a brief and polite
manner
INTERACTION BETWEEN COACHES AND OFFICIALS
How it is delivered
Communication should be done respectfully and sincerely.
Coaches can and should receive technical fouls when:
• Swearing
• Making a comment which attack the integrity of the official(s)
• Using consistent negativity
• Gesturing to influence the crowd or to express displeasure
• Throwing object or holding the ball to make a point
• Making it personal “You”