Team Control Foul and New Throw-In Spots 2023

This play emphasizes the need for officials to recognize team control fouls, particularly in loose ball situations. In this scenario, blue committed a foul, but there was no change in possession, which makes it a team control foul. It's important to correctly identify this type of foul to avoid awarding bonus free throws.

Additionally, with the new 2023-2024 rule change, throw-ins in the frontcourt are now from one of the designated spots. Applying these new throw-in spots is vital to ensure the proper administration of fouls. This play highlights the importance of clear communication and understanding of the rule updates to avoid game-altering mistakes.

LINK TO THE FULL EPISODE

Actionable Tips for Basketball Officials:

1. Identify Team Control Fouls Consistently: Always watch for team control fouls during loose ball situations.
2. Understand New Throw-In Spots: Ensure correct positioning for frontcourt throw-ins under the new rule.
3. Communicate with Your Crew: Ensure everyone is on the same page with foul identification and positioning.

Video Transcript:

Announcer: “This one’s going to be on Cleveland. That’s the kind of diving on the ball you like to see, especially from Aner Kein. She realizes how important this game is — not only for her but for the entire team. She's giving it her all.”

In the fourth period, we have a foul by Blue on White. The officials are in great position, doing great things, and designating the spot. But let’s look at all the things in play here.

When it comes to team control fouls, we need to be diligent. When a player commits a player control foul, defenders in a legal position who are displaced — easy call, we’re going the other way. With a bad screen — easy call, we’re going the other way. But in loose-ball situations, we can sometimes become disconnected from the fact that a team control foul is still in play by rule.

Even though the game says there are only a couple of team fouls, and we’re not close to the bonus, we still need to identify it as a team control foul. This becomes critical later in games when bonus situations come into play. If we don't recognize this now, we’ll end up shooting free throws incorrectly in later situations.

In addition, new this year (2023-2024), we have new throw-in spots. Where would this play be this year? How would we administer the throw-in? How are we going to determine that?

Let's look at all the factors. First of all, on the play, the ball is deflected. Blue commits illegal contact, but there has been no change of possession. This is a team control foul by rule.

So, if our illegal contact occurs here, this would have been our throw-in spot in the past — nearest the foul. However, since this is a frontcourt foul and White will be awarded the ball in the frontcourt, this year, we will go to one of the four designated throw-in spots. In this instance, that would be approximately at the 28-foot line in front of the White bench.

But the key takeaway here is identifying this as a team control foul. We need to do this each and every time because this is an unusual situation — a loose ball and a foul — but we still need to make sure we get it right.

By developing this skill in less common situations, we'll be prepared to get it right in high-pressure, end-of-game scenarios, ensuring that we don’t shoot bonus free throws when a team control foul has occurred in a playoff game, potentially affecting the outcome.

So, we've reviewed the importance of identifying team control fouls, and we’ve also reviewed the new throw-in spots for the 2023-2024 season. This is critical because, as the game progresses and pressure builds, the game may try to “take us” to bonus free throws, and we need to stay vigilant in ensuring the right call is made.