Open Angle | Basketball New Zealand Referee Update

Issue 10: 17 November 2022

RULE CHANGES FOR 2023

FIBA has announced some changes to the Official Basketball Rules that took effect globally from 1 October 2022. Because this date falls within our normal season, the rule changes will apply in New Zealand from 1 January 2023.

Many of the changes are minor or improved wording to aid clarity. There is a quick rundown on the key changes on the BBNZ website.

Some of the changes relate to the Instant Replay System (IRS), including a new coach’s challenge, but these will not apply in New Zealand as the IRS is not being used in any competition here.

More detailed information on the changes can be found on the BBNZ website, including a FIBA document summarising the changes, a video of a FIBA webinar explaining the new rules, and some videos explaining some of the changes. As well, the new versions of the rule book and interpretations document are now on the website.

“TOUGH CALLS” VIDEOS

An interesting learning resource to be keeping an eye on during the summer is the series of “Tough Calls” videos produced by FIBA Europe’s Basketball Champions League. Each week, they pick a few game situations and analyse whether the referees got it right or not.

To see these videos, go to https://www.championsleague.basketball/22-23/news and click on the “Tough Calls” tab.

VIDEOS ON THE TRAVEL RULE

Another couple of interesting videos to watch have been produced by the World Association of Basketball Coaches in collaboration with the FIBA Referees Department and cover the travel rule. You’ll find these videos on the WABC Facebook page.

MORE KIWI REFEREES IN ACTION INTERNATIONALLY

Since our last issue, the following New Zealand referees have been in action at international tournaments:

Matt Bathurst refereed Australia v Iran in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in Melbourne in August and he has just been in Bahrain for the window 5 games Bahrain v Japan and Bahrain v China.
Ryan Jones refereed at the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Sydney, Australia, at the end of September.
Sasha Nicholson refereed at the FIBA Asia Under-18 Women’s Championship in Bengaluru, India, in September after Tayla Ammunson, who was originally appointed by FIBA, had to pull out with injury.
Tayla Ammunson, Sherhon Martin and Sasha Nicholson refereed at the FIBA Polynesian Cup in Kaitaia at the beginning of November, and Jilly Harris was the Referee Supervisor.

UNDER-23 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND D-LEAGUE

Congratulations to the following referees and trainers who attended the combined Under 23 National Championships and D-League tournament, held in Auckland on 17-20 August.

Brad Clive, Campbell Marsters, Corey Hogg, Danielle Kooge, Dylan Mead, Jacob Cromb, Jake Young, Janryll Fernandez, Jayden Rosanowski, Kobe Lucas, Marchy Pang, Mikayla Sharp, Mikey Graham, Nick Choi, Reagan Ashley, Russell Gavin, Sam McFadzean, Sasha Nicholson, Seddon Smith, Shelton Harris, Tamatea Bennett, Taylor Lynch, Teri Cheung, Toni Smith-Hunwick, Tyler Radbourne
Technical Commissioner: Peter Rodgers
Trainers: Gavin Zimmerman, Ken Coulson, Yalla Edwards

TERTIARY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Congratulations to the following referees who attended the Tertiary Championships, held in Auckland on 16-18 September.

Brittney Young, Campbell Marsters, Danielle Kooge, Harry Apes, Jilly Harris, Katie Godber, Marshall McCabe, Melony O'Connor, Mikayla Sharp, Nick Choi, Oceen Reed, Reagan Ashley, Sam McFadzean, Sherhon Martin, Teri Cheung

NATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Congratulations to the following referees and trainers who attended the National Secondary Schools Championships, held in Palmerston North on 3-8 October.

Aimee-Jo Clark, Alana Tombleson, Alex Spurr, Anzac Rose, Austin Smart, Ben McLauchlan, Bethany Mahoney, Bethany Smith, Blake Rosanowski, Brittney Young, Brock Harlum, Charlie Bauchop, Charlie de Prinse, Chloe Marsters, Codey Montgomerie, Corey Woodroofe, Dylan Mead, Ethan Ngarangione-Pearson, Felix Sparks, Greg Scott, Hamish Dale, Jake Young, Jaxson Fisher, Jayden Rosanowski, Jessie Gill, Kirsty Howatson, Le'Che Kingi-McCavana, Leo Shaw, Marshall McCabe, Mia Daly, Mihi Patea, Mikayla Sharp, Mikey Graham, Mitchell Bowmar, Natalie Whitely, Nathan Buchanan, Nick Choi, Peter Marshall, Reagan Ashley, Reponse Tuyishime, Russell Gavin, Ryan Sturgess, Scott Kitto, Shannon Maynard-Pounamu, Sherhon Martin, Teri Cheung, Trinity Hart, Tyler Radbourne, Yao Zhang
Technical Commissioner: Jilly Harris
Trainers: Brian McKenzie, Daniel Hart, Devina Banks, Donnette Daly, Jill Bolger, John Bartlett, Ken Coulson

CONGRATULATIONS

Since our last issue, the following referees have been appointed to national finals:

AON Under-15 National Championships Girls: Blake Rosanowski, Natalie Whiteley
AON Under-15 National Championships Boys: Codey Montgomerie, Ethan Ngarangione-Pearson
Men’s Under-23 National Championships: Tayla Ammunson, Mikey Graham, Reagan Ashley
Women’s D-League: Corey Hogg, Brad Clive, Taylor Lynch
Tertiary Championships Women: Danielle Kooge, Nick Choi, Mikayla Sharp
Tertiary Championships Men: Reagan Ashley, Harry Apes, Brittney Young
A Secondary Schools National Championships Girls: Kirsty Howatson, Leo Shaw
A Secondary Schools National Championships Boys: Ethan Ngarangione-Pearson, Codey Montgomerie
AA Secondary Schools National Championships Girls: Sherhon Martin, Brittney Young, Mikayla Sharp
AA Secondary Schools National Championships Boys: Hamish Dale, Mikey Graham, Reagan Ashley
Men’s National Basketball League: Melony O’Connor, Matt Bathurst, Callum Welch
Women’s Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa: Ryan Jones, Hayden Pipe, Sherhon Martin

Congratulations also to Melony O’Connor for being named the 2022 National Basketball League Referee of the Year and to Hayden Pipe for being named the Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa Referee of the Year.

REFEREE TECHNIQUE FOCUS:
Drive through area 6

When there is a drive to the basket from area 6, it is important that the trail referee stays with the play and keeps primary responsibility for making any calls. This is because the ball has come from the trail’s primary area and it is the trail who will have seen the whole play, from the start through the development to the finish and will, therefore, be in the best position to decide who caused any contact.

The trail should adjust position to maintain an open angle, which might mean stepping into the court, as shown in the diagram.

The lead referee should also adjust position to maintain an open angle on the play, to assist with coverage but must be careful not to call without having seen the whole play.

RULES QUIZ

Test yourself with these rule questions.

Near the end of the first quarter, B1 commits a non-shooting foul against A2. This is Team B’s fifth foul but Team A is incorrectly awarded a throw-in from out-of-bounds. The quarter ends during Team A’s possession from the throw-in. During quarter-time, it is noticed that it should have been two free throws. Is this error still correctable and how do you start the second quarter?
A1 jumps to shoot and is legally blocked by B2 before releasing the shot. Both players return to the floor with both still having their hands firmly on the ball. What is your ruling?
A1 jumps to shoot and is legally blocked by B2 before releasing the shot. A1 returns to the floor still holding the ball and with B2 no longer touching the ball. What is your ruling?
A1 has started the act of shooting on a lay-up when he is fouled by B2. After the foul, A1 passes the ball to A3. Should A1 be awarded free throws?
A1 has started the act of shooting on a drive to the basket when she is fouled by B2. After the foul, A1 commits a travelling violation. The ball enters the basket. What is your ruling?

Rules quiz answers

Yes, the error is still correctable, since the ball has not yet become live following the first dead ball after a clock-running phase after the error. The second quarter should begin with two free throws for A2 (with no line-up) followed by the normal throw-in to start the quarter, according to the possession arrow. – Art 44; Int 44-12
Held ball. Throw-in according to the possession arrow. – Art 12.1; Int 12-12
Travelling violation by A1. Throw-in to Team B. – Art 25.2; Int 12-13
No. When A1 passed the ball, the act of shooting ended. Throw-in to Team A. – Art 15.1.6; Int 15-8, 15-9
A1 has committed a travelling violation. The basket does not count. A1 is awarded two free throws. – Int 15-10, 15-11

Note: The interpretations references are for the new updated document published after the latest rule changes, available in the FIBA iRef Academy Library app and on the BBNZ website.

REGISTERED IN THE BBNZ DATABASE?

If you're active as a referee or a referee trainer, you should be registered in the BBNZ database. To complete a registration if you are not currently in the database, follow this link. You can check and update your details at any time later by going to members.nz.basketball and logging in with the same e-mail and password.