Basketball IQ: You are dribbling the ball. But you lose control for a second and the ball rolls off your body. If you don't grab the ball and hold it, can you just pick up the dribble again? Ans: If the ball did not get stuck on your body, and you just continue to dribble without holding the ball, its not a violation.
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Basketball IQ: You have the ball and are falling out of bounds. "Time out" you call. Should the ref grant you the time out? Ans: It depends where your body is when you make the call. If you are inside (though up) the line, the call is good. If you are outside the line, then the call is invalid. So it doesn't matter if you have not yet touched ground, it depends where you are in relation to the out of bounds line.
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Basketball IQ: You have just made a basket, so the other team takes the ball out of bounds. They send their center down court to camp in the paint. It takes them 9 seconds to bring the ball pass the half court line, meanwhile their center has not left the paint. You complain that its a three second lane violation, what should the ref do? Ans: Its not a violation. The three second in the key count does not start until the ball reaches the front court. So the ref can ignore you or explain the rule to you.
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Basketball IQ: You drive to the hoop and shoot. Your defender falls to the ground. You rebound and try to shoot, but trip over the fallen defender. What should the ref call? Refs interpretation: If the defender fell on purpose, then it is blocking. If the defender was knocked down, then it is no call on the trip..
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Test Your Basketball Knowledge: Its the last minute of the game, the clock is running, you are out of time outs, and you have just fouled them sending them to the line. What happens if you call a time out - does the clock stop? Ans: You are assessed a T, but time does stop.
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Interesting Basketball Rules: Often, teams will call a time out just to stop the clock. Did you know that in high school rules, the opposing team has a right to take the full time out. But in college rules, the opposing team cannot take the time out if the team that called it wants to start up the game right away. Walnut league goes with the college rule here.
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It is not required, but as a courtesy, please advise scorers table to announce foul situations of players. For instance, yell out, "Number 123, first personal, xxx team." This is especially helpful if a person has two foul fouls in the first half or third or four in the second half. However, players and their captains should be proactive and check for themselves when they know they might be in danger. Note that technicals are also considered personal and team fouls and double technicals are also double personal and double team fouls. Doesn't matter if offensive or defensive (although offensive fouls do not carry free throws). Once the announcement from the table is made, it is final and commissioner will not overrule. You can also help out by wearing double sided numbered jerseys and raising your hands when whistled. Or you can pay extra fees and the league will insure experienced scorekeepers for your game - this is standard in other leagues, but in the past, all the teams prefer that we try to save the money.
Lastly, you are allowed to talk and question the refs, but the fine line to disrespect them will not be tolerated and you can be sure the league will act to put a stop to such behavior, inappropriate for our church league.
I appreciate your further suggestions.
The Commish -