Held Balls

[Bball Girl]

I thought I understood the definition of a held/tie/jump ball, but after this season I'm really confused. I've seen held balls called when a defender "touches" the ball and held balls not called when there are multitudes of hands from both teams on the ball, the ball and the players are being jerked back and forth.

Last week against Baylor...Mik picked up her dribble and a BU player got a firm hand on the ball..Held Ball..that was fine

Last night against OU...I saw at least 2 situations under the basket where the defender (in one case Tech and in one case OU) got a very firm hand on the ball, more players jumped in and nothing was called. Then I saw what I perceived to be a similar situation and one time a foul was called against Tech and one time a foul was called against OU and a couple of other times when held balls were called.

The NCAA rules state...


Section 35. Held Ball
Art. 1. A held ball occurs when an opponent places his or her hand(s):
a. So firmly on the ball that control cannot be obtained without undue roughness.
b. On the ball to prevent an airborne player from throwing the ball or attempting a try.

so what gives...this season

[OhMandy]

Let's face whatever the rules say doesn't really matter. It's how the refs see the play and decide to call the play. I have seen many cases of what you're describing in the past several years. And depending on the refs, where the game is being played, and what stage of the game it is, all the calls have been different.

[Dale8R]

http://www.thesouthern.com/rednews/2003/02/19/build/sports/SPO005.html There is an excellent article on officiating in yesterday's Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, IL) by SI sports writer Les Winkler. He pretty much lays the blame this way ~~ "The evolution of the game in the past decade or so has made it nearly impossible. It seems the game of basketball is no longer governed by rules. Policies are now the rule of the day."

I pretty much stand behind the officials on this one. Their job is a difficult one, and getting more difficult every year. As the game gets more physical and the rules/interpretations get watered down, it becomes increasingly impossible to call a game without controversy. What is a walk? What is a foul? Go on through the list. They just do the best with what they've got, I think.

[Bob_Ballew]

Their best stinks!

[Row6Seat10]

With time running out on the 30 second clock last night in the NU-KU game. Jina Johansen drove the right side of the lane and popped up as to shoot the ball with a couple seconds left but dumped the ball down to a wide open Cepero who scored. But Carla Fujimoto the ref blew her whistle and waved the bucket off and ruled a jump ball. No one but Johansen touched the ball and she or Cepero were fouled by a KU player. I think Fujimoto was particially blocked from seeing the whole play. But yet she called a jump ball.

Now here's my question can the other two officials overrule her on a call like that if they think she was wrong? The three got together after the call and discussed something I don't know what but the call stood.

[swok34]

I don't know much about officiating, but isn't there a "head" official on the floor?

[cctigerfan]

There is a head official on the floor; however, they are not given the authority (within the rules) to overrule another official. They can come to the other official with their opinion and then that official can reverse their own call, but they cannot be overruled.

[YemenBear]

Officials can and do confer on calls. If it is agreed the wrong call was made, they can correct the call. IF the officials agreed there was no jump ball and the shot was made before the whistle blew, the officials could have counted the basket with possession going to other team. If the whistle blew before the shot, play is dead and team with possession is awarded the ball.

In defense of officiating, the refs are impartial enforcers of the rules. You can't play the game without them. Yes, it's a natural part of the game to question a call (or no-call) and vocalize disagreement. The fan who questions every call and continually rides the refs throughout the game is a bore and reflects poorly on his/her team. In my opinion, the mark of pure unsportmanship is the person who blames a loss on the refs.

Remember there has been an explosion of games as women's basketball continues to gain in popularity. The level of officiating will improve over time. I believe this is a case where you truly "need to walk a mile" in the refs shoes. It's not so far fetched. There are youth leagues, church leagues, intramurals, etc.

Okay, I'll get off of my soapbox. I just don't think any official goes into a game biased towards or against any one team.

Sic 'Em,

[DBLTFarmer]

Yemen Bear,

Good post, and I agree with what you said to some extent. What about Coaches. As Ive stated before, I dont like coaches who ride the officials the whole game. It seems more prevalent in the women's game than it does in the men's game. At times Ive been really surprised that more technicals arnt given to coaches.

Take for example the Tech, OU game the other night, I was very surprised that Sherri Coale didnt get a technical. I think she pushed it to the very brink. Ive seen coaches get technicals for far less. She was bending an officials ear every trip down the floor.

Now before you OU fans get upset, I didnt say it was right or wrong. I am saying that Sherri pushes the limits with the refs, but there are lots of coaches that do that.