Technically Right or Wrong? Dealing With Administrative Ts

Let’s face it, administrative technical fouls just plain suck. Since many of those fouls occur before the game or early on, those fouls can set a negative tone for the whole contest. Although most officials will try to avoid such situations like the plague, it is advisable and practical to know the penalties when administrative technicals do occur. Look at the different situations and review the topics as a part of your regular pregame. You’ll be extremely thankful when faced with such an unfortunate administrative situation.

Differences within the codes. Let’s start with some terminology issues. Under NFHS rules, an indirect technical foul is one charged to the head coach for the behavior of others. Those technicals count only for the disqualification of the head coach. Indirect technical fouls are charged to the head coach as a result of a bench technical foul being assessed to team bench personnel, or a player technical foul being assessed to a team member for dunking or grasping the ring during pregame warmup or at intermission (4-19-5e). In the NCAA, the term indirect technical foul applies to all of the aforementioned situations. Under the NCAA code, foul shots are awarded for indirect technical fouls, but no team fouls are charged.

Another major difference exists between the codes. All technical fouls (except the indirect technical fouls charged to the head coach already mentioned) count for the bonus at the high school level, while indirect technical fouls do not apply toward the bonus in the college game. In addition, each technical foul at the high school level is followed by a throw-in by the offended team at the division line opposite the scorer’s table (excluding a double technical foul). In the college game, play is resumed from the point where the game was interrupted by the technical foul.

Scorebook issues. Both codes make it a technical foul for failing to submit the names and numbers of all potential players and the five starters by the 10-minute mark before the start of the game (NFHS 3-2-1; NCAA 3-3-1a). The purpose of that rule is to ensure that players are clearly identified so that opponents can properly prepare for the players they will face at the start of the game. If that requirement is met, one potential administrative technical foul is averted.

After the 10-minute mark, the rules differ in how subsequent changes in the scorebook are handled. Under the NFHS code, a single additional technical foul is charged to the team regardless of how many of the following are committed: changing a designated starter unless necessitated by illness, injury, illegal equipment or to attempt a technical-foul free throw. Adding a name to the team list, changing a team member’s or player’s number in the scorebook or having identical numbers on team members or players result in a technical foul (NFHS 3-2-2). In NCAA games, a single indirect technical foul is charged for changes in the squad list, illegal changes in the starting lineup or for changing a player’s number without reporting it to the scorer and an official. However, a maximum of one technical foul can be charged for either failing to supply the data on time or for changing it.

Play 1: Team A properly supplies its team roster and starting lineup, but one minute into the game it is discovered that all five players are wearing numbers that are different from those listed in the book. Ruling 1: Under both sets of rules, charge a single technical foul to team A (NFHS 10-1-2). Under NFHS guidelines, one team foul will be charged toward the bonus, any player(s) for team B will shoot two shots, and team B will have a throw-in at the division line opposite the scorer’s table. In NCAA, any player from team B will shoot two shots and the game will resume from the point of interruption where the ball was located when the technical foul was called (NCAA 10-3-2 AR.3).

Play 2: Team A fails to submit its squad list until five minutes before the game and is charged with a technical foul. As team B is shooting free throws to begin the game, the scorer indicates one of the players for team A is listed with a wrong number. Ruling 2: In NFHS, team A will be charged with an additional team technical foul (NFHS 10-1-2). Team B will shoot four free throws in total for the two team technical fouls and will inbound the ball at the division line opposite the table. In NCAA, since team A was already assessed an indirect technical foul for failing to submit the lineup in time, no additional technical fouls are charged. Team B will shoot two free throws and the game will begin with a jump ball (NCAA 3-3-3).

Within the NCAA rulebook, there is an additional scorebook issue. It is a technical foul for the official scorekeeper to take the scorebook to the home team’s locker room during the halftime intermission (NCAA 10-3-2). The nominal recipient of that technical foul is the head coach, but it is not counted toward his/her disqualification. The provision is dealt with in the NFHS rulebook under scorer’s duties (NFHS 2-11-11), but no penalty is spelled out.

Preventing scorebook problems. There are at least two systematic approaches to preventing administrative technical fouls involving the scorebook. The first is to ensure the referee checks the book at 12 minutes before the opening tip. Count the players on both teams and ensure that there is a number and name in the book for each body counted on the court. If such a discrepancy does exist, notify the coach and get the problem corrected in time. Use every piece of information at your disposal to avoid such a circumstance. If a player for team A is warming up with a different number than one identified in the scorebook, bring the matter to the coach’s attention.

The second line of defense against scorebook technicals is to check the numbers of the players as they are introduced. There have been numerous occasions in which the public address announcer used a program to announce the players’ names rather than the official scorebook. Alleviate any potential concerns or issues once that happens by double-checking with the scorer. Rest assured one of the opposing assistant coaches will probably already have brought that to your attention.

Pregame dunking. Under NFHS and NCAA men’s rules, players are not allowed to dunk the basketball before the game or during intermissions until the jurisdiction of the officials has ended (NFHS 10-3-4; NCAA 10-3-13). The women’s game has no such provision. The penalty for such action, however, is decidedly different.

Play 3: A team member of team B is charged with a technical foul for dunking during warmups. Ruling 3: In high school, the player is charged with a technical foul and the coach is also charged indirectly. Whenever the coach is charged (directly or indirectly) with a technical foul, he/she loses the privilege of using the coaching box (for states utilizing the optional coaching box). The game begins with two free throws for team A and the ball is awarded to team A for division line throw-in opposite the table. The possession arrow would then be pointed toward team B’s basket. In an NCAA men’s game, an indirect technical foul is charged to the team B player. Since the technical is indirect, it does not count toward the player’s five fouls for disqualification or the team foul total. Team A is awarded two free throws to begin the game and the ball shall be put in play with a jump ball. In an NCAA women’s game, no penalties would be assessed.

Delay of game. Each code specifies formal warnings for delaying activities before technical fouls are called. Those warnings are to be reported to the scorer and the coach of the offending team. The warnings apply only to the specific behavior warned and only to the team warned. A team could be given several warnings for several different types of delaying action and not be subject to a technical foul.

The warning lists are not the same in the two codes. Both codes cite delaying the ball being made live after a score and delaying the administration of a foul shot by a huddle or contact with the shooter. One warning is given per team, followed by a technical foul for any repeat of that action by that team. Under NFHS rules, that is a team technical. In an NCAA game, it is an indirect technical. The NCAA rules provide for some judgment on whether the delay caused by the prohibited actions was significant. Rules 10-3-20 and 10-5-3 point out that if the delay does not interfere with play it shall be ignored.

The third NFHS warning is for the defense breaking the plane of the throw-in boundary (9-2-11 and 10-1-10). NCAA rule 9-5-5 also prohibits the defender from reaching through the plane of the boundary, but there is no specific warning listed for that violation. The situation in which a defender reaches through the plane of the boundary during a throw-in and causes contact with the ball is very different from the non-contact violation. That action is an immediate technical foul charged to the player under both codes. It is still an indirect technical at the college level, but is deemed to be an intentional technical in high school. If the team had not been warned for a throw-in plane violation prior to that technical foul, the foul also constitutes the warning under NFHS rules.

The third warning under the NCAA code (10-3-1d) is for failure to clear any chairs placed on the court (and/or water spilled) during a timeout in time for play to resume at the final horn ending the timeout. After a warning, any failure to clear things in time would merit an indirect technical foul charged to the team (coach).

The NCAA also lists failure to keep jerseys tucked in as a formal warning, but lists no technical foul for repeated violations (3-5-3). The first time an official must tell a player to tuck in the game jersey, the official shall issue a warning to the head coach. The next time any player has the game jersey untucked, the player shall leave the game until the next opportunity to substitute. The official shall enforce that rule at the next dead ball after observing the violation. The NFHS deals with the untucked jersey issue by requiring the player to leave the game immediately (3-4-15).

One common provision in both codes is the charging of a technical foul to any team that delays the start of either half or extra period by a full minute. That is most likely to happen when a team is not on the court in time for the second half to begin.

Play 4: Team A, which has been previously warned for interfering with the ball after a score, makes a three-point goal to tie the score near the end of the game. A1 taps the ball away from B1. Ruling 4: A technical foul should be called under both codes. In an NCAA game, that would be an indirect technical charged to A1 (NCAA 10-3-20). Play would resume after the foul shots with team B able to run the endline on the throw-in. In NFHS, that is a team technical (10-1-10) with team B awarded two shots and the ball for a division line throw-in opposite the table.

Play 5: A1 is attempting a throw-in after being scored upon. B1 reaches through the plane of the boundary, but A1 completes the pass to a teammate despite the violation. Ruling 5: The college official would ignore the violation. Under NFHS rules, the official blows the whistle, issues a warning to team B, informs the coach and records it in the scorebook. Team A is permitted to run the endline on the subsequent throw-in (4-47-1 and 9-2-11). (If team B had been previously warned for reaching through the boundary, the call would be a team technical foul.)

Play 6: A1 is fouled and entitled to two shots. The official is ready to administer the shots with team B in the required lane spaces. Shooter A1 and two teammates are huddling with their coach near the sideline. Ruling 6: If team A was not previously warned for huddle delays, the college official will warn the team for delay and record the warning in the scorebook. Any subsequent delay results in a technical foul (NCAA 10-3-1c). Under NFHS rules, a technical foul for delay is issued to A1 since the huddle does not occur near the free-throw lane and the free thrower is not ready when the ball is made available. That is different from a huddle delay involving other team members within the free-throw lane area (NFHS 10.1.5.B).

Preventing delays. Use as many ways as possible to prevent such delays from occurring. A few firm words while players are lining up or huddling before a free throw can help alleviate any potential delays. If cooperation seems slow, the captain should be asked to intervene. The formal warning should get the team’s attention if informal efforts fail.

Make sure before leaving for halftime that both teams will be properly notified at the three-minute mark to head off any potential delays.

For college teams that prefer to place chairs on the court for full timeouts, there is usually a manager for each chair and one with a towel to mop up any spills. If manpower is short, perhaps the number of chairs can be restricted. If there is an occasional delay to mop up spills, the team should be moved away from the bench area to end conversation between coaches and players. Clearly, any water must be dried up for safety reasons.

When the scoring team touches the ball after it goes through the basket, officials should end the practice immediately. For those old enough to remember the NCAA men’s final in 1985, the reason is clear. During the game, Georgetown players had been tapping the ball gently toward the Villanova thrower-in after a score. A friendly gesture? Think again. That speeded up play a bit, which was to Georgetown’s liking. However, the real consequence of allowing that practice happened at the end of the game. With five seconds left, the Hoyas scored to cut their deficit to two points. They had no timeouts left, and a Georgetown player slapped the ball away from Villanova. The official blew the whistle to stop the clock. (That was before the rules required the game clock to be stopped after scores in the last minute.) The officials warned Georgetown to leave the ball alone, but that forced Villanova to make a hotly contested throw-in with five seconds left rather than just let the clock run out. It managed the throw-in. But in an interview much later, one of the officials admitted they had been very lucky. By permitting Georgetown to "help" Villanova get the ball after a made basket, it set the stage for the slap of the ball at the end of the game and prompted the reflex whistle when it occurred. The official vowed never again to let even a friendly touch occur in any game he officiates. That is the right plan for all of us. Get the warning done early to prevent any temptations at a critical time and the need for a technical foul.

Miscellaneous issues. The most common of these situations involve excess timeouts and more than five players participating. Both codes penalize those excesses with a technical foul (indirect NCAA, team NFHS). However, NCAA women’s rules add a loss of possession to the penalty for an excess timeout. Despite the increased communication potential afforded by the use of the coaching box, those issues continue to occur.

If a team requests a 60-second timeout but has none left, a 30-second timeout may be used to avert a foul. If an excess timeout is granted, the fact must be discovered before the ball becomes live at the end of the timeout for the penalty to be invoked. Note that under NFHS rules, a timeout, once granted, cannot be cancelled. Thus it pays for the officials to know when a team has used all its timeouts and verify that another request is valid before granting it. Floor officials are not required to inform a coach when all timeouts have been used, but it is a great practice to get into with regard to preventive officiating. Let the coach know, especially near the end of the game, how many timeouts are remaining. Whether that information gets communicated to the players is another matter and not your problem. A player request for a timeout while flying out of bounds with the ball (or other TV-inspired action) might still occur.

As amazing as it may seem, instances of more than five players in the game occur at the highest levels of the game. It is penalized whenever detected. In one game a player realized there were six players and jumped off the court to hide behind the bleachers. The action still merits a technical foul. The foul is charged to the team at both levels. To prevent having too many (or too few) players on the court, it is essential for all officials to count both teams after a timeout or substitution. It is also important to wait to be sure that the player you thought was going to the bench actually leaves the court. The few seconds spent verifying the player count will be worth a lot if you never have to issue a technical foul for too many players.

The use of electronic equipment for coaching purposes in the bench area is banned under both codes. The purpose of that prohibition is to prevent big budget teams from getting an advantage over less affluent opponents. The NFHS code also bans its use in the locker room during intermissions. Television monitors, headsets, cell phones, radio, internet videos and the like are banned. The NFHS also bans megaphones and mechanical sounding devices. However, placards to signal players are permitted.

A brief pregame survey of the bench area and support staff should identify most banned equipment, since it is easy to observe. Today’s cell phones may not be obvious. Remember that evidence a cell phone is being used for coaching purposes demands a penalty. If in doubt, you can ask that all phones be turned off during the game. Any technical foul called is a team technical in a high school game and an indirect technical in college, and the usual penalties apply.

Although some of the wording and specifics of the two codes differ, their purpose is to ensure a level playing field for every game and one that features continuous action. Officials are wise to prevent administrative technical fouls when they can do so fairly, and enforce the rules strictly when such situations occur.

Written by Bill Kenney, Florham Park, N.J., who is the rules interpreter and clinician for IAABO Board 168 and serves on the IAABO Rules Exam Committee. He has refereed high school basketball for 40 years and college games for 25.