NTBOA

North Texas Basketball Officials Association (NTBOA)

The Chapter of Choice

Intentional Foul

For some reason, many officials are hesitant to call an intentional foul. However, calling an intentional foul can be a very effective means of gaining control of a game. Rule 4-19-3 sates: an intentional foul is a personal or technical foul that may or may not be premeditated and is not based solely on the severity of the act. Intentional fouls include, but are not limited to: contact that neutralizes an opponent's obvious advantageous position. Contact away from the ball with an opponent who is clearly not involved with a play. Contact that is not a legitimate attempt to play the ball/player specifically designed to stop the clock or keep it from starting. Excessive contact with an opponent while playing the ball. Contact with a thrower-in as in 9-2-10 Penalty 4.

The challenge in applying this rule properly is that it involves judgment and most of the time the plays are not clear cut. Please consider the following case plays when applying this rule.

B1 is charged with an intentional foul on A1 who is in the act of shooting: (a) a successful two-point or three-point try; (b) an unsuccessful two-point try; or (c) an unsuccessful three-point try. RULING: In (a) and (b), A1 is awarded two free throws. In (c), A1 is awarded three free throws. In all situations following the free throws, Team A is awarded a throw-in at the out-of-bounds spot nearest the foul.

A1 drives to the basket with B1 in pursuit. As A1 begins the act of shooting, B1 gets a hand on the ball from behind and the subsequent contact takes A1 forcefully to the floor and out of bounds. RULING: An intentional foul shall be charged when the contact is judged to be excessive, even though the ¬opponent is playing the ball.

Team A leads by three points with four seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Team A is to throw-in from a spot out of bounds on the end line. Players begin jockeying for positions just after the official has handed the ball to A1. B1, while trying to deny a pass from A1 to A2: (a) grabs A2's jersey; or (b) pushes A2 from behind. In (a) and (b), it is an intentional personal foul designed to keep the clock from starting or to neutralize an opponent's obvious advantageous position.

Late in the fourth quarter Team B is trailing by six points. Team B's head coach begins to yell to his or her players to "foul, foul, foul!" B1 responds by (a) grabbing A1 from behind, or (b) reaching for the ball but illegally contacting A1 on the arm. In (a), an intentional foul shall be called. In (b), a common foul shall be called as B1 was making a legitimate attempt to "play the ball."

Please note that fouling near the end of a game is an acceptable coaching and playing strategy. Officials must determine if a foul is intentional by judging the fouling act itself, not whether or not the coach instructed a player to perform the act.

Click here for Rule 4.19.3

Rule of the Week

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