In the days behind us, we have posted some clips about unsportsmanlike fouls. The answers given were far from unanimous. It triggered us to bring a story about article 37. Let’s run over the U-fouls and the criteria.
Art. 37 Unsportsmanlike Foul
37.1. Definition
37.1.1. An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact foul which, in the judgement
of an official is:
Not a legitimate attempt to play the ball within the spirit and intent of the
rules.
Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent.
An unnecessary contact caused by the defensive player in order to stop the progress of the offensive team in transition.
This applies until the offensive player begins his act of shooting.
Contact by the defensive player from behind or laterally on an opponent in
an attempt to stop the fast break and there is no defensive player between
the offensive player and the opponent’s basket.
This applies until the offensive player begins his act of shooting!
Contact by the defensive player on an opponent on the playing court during
the last 2 minutes in the fourth period and in each extra period, when the
ball is out-of-bounds for a throw-in and still in the hands of the official or
at the disposal of the player taking the throw-in.
ART. 37 UNSPORTSMANLIKE FOUL
37.1.2. The official must interpret the unsportsmanlike fouls consistently throughout the game and to judge only the action.
ART. 37 UNSPORTSMANLIKE FOUL
37.2. Penalty
37.2.1. An unsportsmanlike foul shall be charged against the offender.
37.2.2. Free throw(s) shall be awarded to the player who was fouled, followed by:
• A throw-in at throw in line, opposite to the officials table.
• A jump ball in the centre circle to begin the first period.
The number of free throws shall be awarded as follows:
• If the foul is committed on a player not in the act of shooting: 2 free throws.
• If the foul is committed on a player in the act of shooting: the goal, if made, shall count and, in addition, 1 free throw.
• If the foul is committed on a player in the act of shooting and the goal is not
made, 2 or 3 free throws.
37.2.3. A player shall be disqualified for the remainder of the game when he is charged with two unsportsmanlike fouls or with one technical foul and one unsportsmanlike foul.
37.2.4. If a player is disqualified under Art. 37.2.3, the unsportsmanlike foul shall be the only foul to be penalised and no additional penalty for the disqualification shall be administered.
ART. 37 UNSPORTSMANLIKE FOUL
To facilitate better decision making, referees are required to use 1 of the 5 existing criteria to determine if an Unsportsmanlike Foul should be
called. The criteria are called C1, C2, C3, C4 & C5.
ART. 37 UNSPORTSMANLIKE FOUL
5 CRITERIA
Not a legitimate attempt to play the ball within the spirit and intent of
the rules.
Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball
or an opponent.
An unnecessary contact caused by the defensive player in order to stop the progress of the offensive team in transition.
This applies until the offensive player begins his act of shooting!
5 CRITERIA
Contact by the defensive player from behind or laterally on an opponent in an attempt to stop the fast break and there is no defensive player between the offensive player and the opponent’s basket.
This applies until the offensive player begins his act of shooting.
Contact by the defensive player on an opponent on the playing court
during the last 2 minutes in the fourth period and in each extra
period, when the ball is out-of-bounds for a throw-in and still in the
hands of the official or at the disposal of the player taking the
throw-in.
There is only ONE new criteria C3 added to the existing 2014 rules, after the
latest development of the game and the actions by players guided in most of
cases by coaches.
The purpose of the new rule is to eliminate from the game unnecessary
contacts and ‘not normal’ basketball actions which damage the spectacle and dynamic of the game, outside of the intent and spirit of the rules.
In order to interpret correctly and consistently the rules referees must follow the criteria below:
Not a legitimate effort to directly play the ball,
Not a normal basketball play or action,
Intention to make a foul and being out of the LGP (active),
Being in a LGP to play defense according to the rules (passive).
