ALBERTA BASKETBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION

2008/09 ABOA EXAM REVIEW

The lowest responses were found on questions:

Question 36 - 40% wrong

A1 jumps from his team’s frontcourt, intercepts a pass thrown by B1, and lands in
control of the ball with both feet simultaneously straddling the mid-court line. While still
straddling the line, A1 dribbles the ball. Is this legal?
No Article 30.1.1
This is part of this year’s rule changes. A player cannot dribble while still straddling the
centre line as such action would constitute a violation. The only way a player could
begin a dribble would be to lift the foot in the backcourt prior to releasing the ball and
then move that foot into the frontcourt.

Question 5 - 37% wrong

On a final free throw by A4, after the ball has struck the ring and while it still has a
chance to enter the basket, defensive player B4 reaches through the basket from below
and touches the ball. The official counts the free throw and credits A4 with one point. Is
this correct?
Yes Article 31.2.5
The free throw has not been completed as the ball still has a chance to enter the basket.
The interference is on a 1-point attempt. As the violation occurred on last or only free
throw a technical foul that would be charged to B4. Perhaps some officials were
confused and answered incorrectly due to this wording. Nonetheless the first step is to
charge the interference and award one point to A4.

Question 45 - 33%wrong
A1 has the ball for a throw-in. A1 reaches across the plane of the boundary with the ball
and B1 taps the ball out of A1’s hands. Is B1’s action legal?
No Article 17, Interpretations, Statement 1
B1 has interfered with the throw-in, thereby delaying the resumption of the game. Until
the ball has left the inbounder’s hand a defensive player cannot touch the ball. A
warning shall be given to B1 and communicated to coach B and this warning shall apply
to all team B players for the remainder of the game. The repetition of a similar action by
any team B player may result in a technical foul
ALBERTA BASKETBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION

Question 21 - 30% wrong

A4 is dribbling the ball near a sideline. A4 loses his balance and steps out of bounds
without touching the ball. A4 returns to the court and continues his dribble. Is this legal?
Yes Article 23.1.2
Simply put the player was not out of bounds when he touched the ball. Leaving the court
and returning to the court re-establishes the player’s status, as being in bounds and
therefore the play is legal.

Question 22 - 27% wrong

After the horn has sounded to end playing time in the fourth period, the score is tied and
the possession arrow favors Team A. A1 is then assessed a technical foul. After the free
throws, shall the overtime period start with a Team A throw-in?
No Article 38.4.2
Any time there is a single technical the next throw-in will be to the non-offending team.
Note the game is not over as at the end of the 4th quarter the score was tied so therefore
overtime must be played. If the free throws are successful by rule they have been
scored during the overtime period.

Question 24 - 27% wrong

A2 is assessed a second unsportsmanlike foul in the game. May A2 be permitted to
remain on the bench for the remainder of the game?
Yes Article 36.2.4
It is very clear that there is confusion with the application of this rule. The player is
disqualified from further play but no further penalties are handed out. Players who
commit two separate unsportsmanlike fouls are treated like players who have committed
5 fouls. They cannot re-enter the game but they may remain on the bench.

Question 37 - 25% wrong

A1 dribbles the ball in Team A’S backcourt. A1 while still dribbling straddles the mid-court
line. Does the 8-second count continue?

Yes Article 28.1.3

Again, another rule change this year. As the player is still dribbling he has not achieved
frontcourt status until the ball and both feet touch the frontcourt so by rule the 8-second
count must continue.
ALBERTA BASKETBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION

Question 10 - 24% wrong

A4, from his backcourt, throws a pass that bounces off the leg of an official who is in Team
A’s front court. The ball bounces directly back to A4 who recovers the ball in his backcourt. Is
this a back over violation?
Yes Articles 28.1.3, 30.1.2
This is always a complicated one. Remember the conditions necessary for a backcourt
violation to occur. A team must be in control of the ball, be the last to touch the ball in
the frontcourt and the first to touch it in the backcourt. When A4 passed the ball ahead
he is deemed to have been the last player to touch the ball in the frontcourt; this occurs
by rule when the ball touches the floor or an official in the frontcourt. When the ball
returns to the backcourt and Team A again touches the ball a backcourt violation occurs.
In other words no Team B player touched the ball in between the pass by A4 and his
subsequent touching of the ball.

Question 23 - 24% wrong

A1, in team A’s backcourt, makes a throw-in pass to A3 who leaps from Team A’s frontcourt,
catches the ball and then lands in Team A’s back court. Has A3 committed a violation for
illegally returning the ball to the backcourt?
Yes Article 38.4.1
This is a question designed to see if officials understand that the airborne exceptions
added to this year’s rules DO NOT apply when a player from a team that is in control of
the ball jumps from the frontcourt catches a pass and then lands in the backcourt.
Unless the official allows the player to straddle the centre court line an inbounder is
deemed to be in the either the front or backcourt depending on his location. Members of
the same team can never pass the ball from the frontcourt to the backcourt regardless of
whether they are inbounds or out of bounds.