Upstate Scout “Asks the Ref”

Upstate Scouting Service is launching yet another new component to the website just in time for the high school basketball season.  USSS will be adding an “Ask the Ref” segment featuring local area referee Matt Fryer.  Matt was a former point guard at St. Rose who went on to become a high school referee and has now also elevated into the college ranks.  Upstate Scout will ask Matt about different plays, scenarios, and rulings that happen during high school games.  We will ask Matt a variety of questions on a bi-weekly basis that he can answer with definitions, rulings and/or experience so that he can relate to our readers how certain rules are interpreted at the high school level.  Our readers can be assured that we will do our best to make sure we ask the questions that relate to situations that may occur at any time during the season.  Upstate Scout would like to welcome the newest member of our team Matt Fryer!

Q:  If a basketball official calls a foul on a player and then notices that the team that committed the foul had 6 players on the court what is the penalty and procedures for carrying out this penalty?

A:  “If one of the officials has knowledge that the team has six players on the court participating simultaneously and this was detected prior to time expiring, a technical foul would be assessed against the team with six players.  Since it was not recognized by either official, but was called after time went off the clock, you continue with the foul called on the court and assess the technical foul against the defensive team as well. You would have everybody off the foul line and shoot the 2 free-throws and the offense would get the ball at the division line opposite the table.”

 Q:  If a player has the ball and straddles the half court line would it be considered a back court violation?  Why or why not?

 A:  “If a player is straddling the the division line (half-court), he is technically not over with both feet and the ball, so the official would still have his 10 second count going.”

Q:  If a defensive player tries to block a shot and accidentally strikes the backboard with his palm or fist is this considered goal-tending?

A:  “If the official believes that the defense was making a play at the ball with his palm and was not intentionally striking the backboard to keep the ball from entering the basket, then it is a legal play. If the official sees the defense use his fist at an attempt to block the ball, then you could have a technical foul which would give the offense two free throws and the ball back. This is a very tough call and it should almost always be made by the trail official who has the better angle for this play unless the lead official is the person getting back on this play (fast break) and cannot get to the end line in time, so he stops at an angle to make the correct call.”