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Welcome to the 2016-17 Season!The NAIA is excited to announce that we have partnered with Referee to provide a preseason newsletter to help you prepare for the upcoming season. We will cover rule changes, points of emphasis and discussion about mechanics.

We encourage you to come back throughout the season to the NAIA Men’s Basketball Hub and check out the materials we will post. We want to help you be the best prepared of� cials for our schools and student-athletes.

To assist us with this new publication, please send us any ideas or suggestions for improvements or topics that you would like to see addressed to blade@naia.org.

From the NAIA membership and staff, thank you for your dedication and service as an of� cial. We appreciate the time commitment you make to work our contests.

Of� cially Speaking,

Bob LadeNAIA Directorof Of� ciating Initiatives

Men’s PreseasonBasketball Guide

2016-17

The 2016-17 NAIA season is upon us. Each year the game evolves and,

as of� cials, there is a need to keep up with the evolutions. An emphasis on reducing the physical play continues. Of� cials will be asked to curtail the physicality speci� cally in the following areas: freedom of movement on-ball and off, contact on and by ballhandlers, body bumping and, most importantly, in the post on rebounds and during free-throw situations.

Freedom of movement. Players should be able to move and cut freely. Offensive and defensive players are not allowed to bump, impede, chuck,

displace or otherwise make illegal contact with opponents.

Contact on and by ballhandlers. There has been a rampant increase of handcheck fouls over the last 15 to 20 years. A slip-effect has occurred where this type of contact has been accepted.

CO

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AIAThe basics of each offi cial’s free-throw

coverage/mechanics are important to

curbing physicality. The offi cials shall

be aware of the second free-throw lane

spaces (or fi rst offensive player). That

player likely dictates whether a foul will

occur. Dan Nowakowski, Kansas City,

Mo. and Jason Horsley, Afton, Wyo.

Doctorate in Physical Examination

Continued on page 2

Men’s Preseason Basketball Guide 2016-17

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Ballhandlers have extreme abilities to do spectacular things with the basketball and they should be allowed to showcase their skills and ability. Illegal contact should be ruled with these types of handchecking actions. Return the skill to the game instead of the physicality.

Body bumping. As the game has worked to curtail the handcheck fouls, players have begun to show their hands to avoid those foul rulings. With that, an increase in the amount of lower-body

action has occurred. Sole focus cannot be just on the hands. Penalize all illegal contact including the increased body bumping.

Post play. An emphasis in reducing physical play includes two areas of importance within the post.

1. Rebounding action. Of� cials should continue to work on their mechanics and positioning fundamentals to ensure the best coverage during rebounding situations. Illegal action should be penalized on all rebounding activities.

Loose-ball action is not a free for all. Penalize rough play on rebounding action with an immediate whistle.

2. Free-throw situations. The actions on free-throws can be similar to rebounding and have similarities to loose-ball situations. Free-throw situations over the years have had a slippage in the amount of unnecessary physicality allowed. Curtailing the physicality in this area will help return the skill back to the game and decrease the amount of rough play. *

Block/Charge C overageAreview of the different coverage

situations with regard to block/charge plays never hurts.

On block/charge plays that result from strongside drives to the basket below the free-throw line extended, the lead of� cial will of� ciate the primary and secondary defenders, as shown in MechaniGram A.

When a block/charge play involves

a secondary defender (including a drive from the center’s side), the lead will be responsible for making the primary ruling, as shown in MechaniGram B.

On block/charge plays that result from drives to the basket that originate from the center’s side, the center will of� ciate all primary defenders, as shown in MechaniGram B.

When the drive does not originate from the center’s side or involves a secondary defender, the center will focus on the restricted-area arc and assist when necessary on restricted-area violations (MechaniGram B).

The trail will focus on the restricted-area arc and assist when necessary on restricted-area violations. *

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LEAD OFFICIATESLEAD OFFICIATESSECONDARY DEFENDERSSECONDARY DEFENDERS

CC

ON CENTER-SIDEON CENTER-SIDEDRIVES, CENTERDRIVES, CENTER

OFFICIATESOFFICIATESPRIMARYPRIMARY

DEFENDERSDEFENDERS

B

Men’s Preseason Basketball Guide 2016-17

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Free-Throw Positioning/CoverageThe basic positioning and coverage of

free-throw situations is important for the crew’s success in proper adjudication.

Positioning.Lead. On initial free-throw attempts, the

lead is positioned a step outside the free-throw lane line extended and a step off the endline. On � nal free-throw attempts, the lead should be wide enough (two to four steps off the free-throw lane line extended) to observe activity on the lead’s side of the free-throw lane.

Center. The center is positioned three feet above the free-throw line and six

feet off the sideline. The center should be positioned to see the free-throw shooter and the players in the opposite free-throw lane spaces.

Trail. On initial free-throw attempts, the trail is positioned near the division line just outside the center-restraining circle. On � nal free-throw attempts, the trail is positioned at or near the 28-foot line.

Coverage.Lead. The lead has responsibility for

violations from the opposite free-throw lane spaces and transitions to foul coverage on the lead’s side of the free-throw lane spaces.

Center. The center has responsibility for violations from the free-throw shooter (including the � ight of the ball) and the opposite free-throw lane spaces, and transitions to foul coverage on the center’s side of the free-throw lane.

Trail. The trail has responsibility for violations from the players not in marked free-throw lane spaces and transitions to foul coverage of the free-throw shooter and those coming in from outside the three-point line. Additionally the trail assists the lead and center in secondary coverage of fouls and violations as needed. *

Lead Rotations It is important that the lead mirrors the

ball and closes down when necessary. When transitioning from old trail to

new lead, the of� cial should hustle to the endline and immediately move to mirror the ball. The lead’s starting position should be based on the ball’s location once crossing the division line.

Knowing the location of the ball is more of a “feel” with your peripheral vision than tracking it with your eyes. Take a quick peek at the ballhandler’s eyes, and that may tip you to where the play is going to develop. If a pass goes to the wing, move out wide as in MechaniGram C and � nd the key players in your area. As the ball is passed to the other side of the court around the perimeter, as in MechaniGram D, mirror the ball by moving with it until you eventually get to the closed-down position. If the strongside quickly becomes the weakside and the post players move, that will help you to know when to rotate.

Further, it is important to recognize when the defense is playing man-to-man or a zone. When the defense is playing ma n-to-man, the lead will want to base rotations off of MechaniGram E. When the defense is playing a zone, the lead will want to base rotations off of MechaniGram F. *

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Men’s Preseason Basketball Guide 2016-17

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Center Positioning

The center’s starting position is based off

the free-throw line. The center will start at

or near the free-throw line extended and move

from that position to obtain a better angle when

plays dictate a movement. The center should

take a step or two toward the division line or the

endline as play dictates. The center should not

leave an open or good angle nor an active play

just because the lead has rotated. *

New SignalsThree new approved signals have been

added for officials’ use.

Walled Up – Legal Defender. The signal indicates a defender was vertical and legal and will be used most often by the lead on drives to the basket after a play has completed. The purpose is to communicate a legal play occurred. Officials should not overuse the new signal.

Out of Bounds – Own Violation. The signal indicates that a player has gone out of bounds on their volition. When the out-of-bounds player returns and is first to touch the ball a violation will be ruled. The signal will be used most often by the lead official and the signaling official should use the “delayed-dead ball: whistle withheld” signal/mechanics.

Defensive Foul – Staying Here. The signal indicates a defensive foul has occurred and the play will resume at the same end of the court. Officials will use this signal when a defensive foul occurs in the offensive frontcourt (e.g. rebounding foul) after using the stop-clock-for-foul signal. *

Trail Positioning

The trail’s starting position is based off the

28-foot line. The trail will start at or near

the 28-foot line and move from that position

to obtain a better angle when plays dictate a

movement. On drives to the basket, the trail

will move to get the best angle on the play. Too

often the trail has been too high on drives to

the basket in the free-throw lane. Trails should

move down to stay connected and especially

be able to assist on jump shots occurring at or

near the free-throw line extended. *

Stop-Clock Signal Required

The use of a stop-clock signal is required

on all violations and fouls. Officials should

use the appropriate stop-clock signal for a

foul or violation on every ruling. *

Multiple-Sequenced Player-Control Foul Signal

On player-control fouls, officials should first

use the stop-clock-for-foul signal, give the

player-control signal (hand behind the head), hold

momentarily and then provide a direction point

toward the defensive team’s basket. *

Two-Hand ReportingOfficials are now required with the

start of the 2106-17 season to use two hands when reporting a fouled player’s number except if the fouled player’s number is a single digit.

Two-hand reporting is shown in PlayPic G, the official indicates number 24 by showing the two (the first number) on the right hand and the four (second number) on the left hand. On numbers 0 - 5, a single-hand report is recommended (either hand). *

Shooting-Foul SignalOn shooting fouls near the basket,

officials should use two fingers pointed at the basket to indicate two shots will follow to resume play. Do not point to the basket with one finger to indicate a shooting foul.

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