But...but...butt...doesn't the rule book clearly outline what a foul is????

 

And it is region to region...

 

1. No

2. Disagree

Well how the hell does anybody ever get a foul called on them?

What about "points of emphasis" (hand checking, physical play in the post..)

 

And you can disagree all you want but the game is called very much differently in the 7th, and 11th than it is in the 15th, 16th.

Definition of a personal foul from the rulebook:

 

 

...player foul which involves illegal contact with an opponent while the ball is live, which hinders an opponent fro performing normal defensive and offensive movements.

 

 

 

And people say there is no gray area or need for interpretation/judgement?

How are officials taught what to call and what to let go? Theoretically I can slap a shooter in the face and the official could let that go because there is no clear definition of a foul?

What constitutes illegal contact? Especially if its based on "interpretation/tolerance level"?

Well how the hell does anybody ever get a foul called on them?

What about "points of emphasis" (hand checking, physical play in the post..)

 

And you can disagree all you want but the game is called very much differently in the 7th, and 11th than it is in the 15th, 16th.

 

It may be but I can tell you that within the 9th (the one I watch the most) there is no "way" of calling. Every official has their own threshold. It will always be subjective.

How are officials taught what to call and what to let go? Theoretically I can slap a shooter in the face and the official could let that go because there is no clear definition of a foul?

 

Officials learn and adjust until they get to a consistent level of what they will allow.

What constitutes illegal contact? Especially if its based on "interpretation/tolerance level"?

 

I will assume your question is rhetorical since that is the point I am making.

What constitutes illegal contact? Especially if its based on "interpretation/tolerance level"?

 

Illegal contact is in the eye of the referee.

 

Also the rulebook says "normal defensive and offensive movements". What is normal? Once again that is in the eye of the referee.

 

Someone may claim that there should be a foul called because there was contact (which the ref may agree) but now the question of was the movement "normal" must be asked. A ref may say no but because there was contact the fans are clamoring for a foul.

Well hell, since there is so much subjectivity there is no need for a rule book. Let the officials use their own judgment on what is a block or charge. They miss that one at all levels. Traveling? Not if he doesn't think so....

Well hell, since there is so much subjectivity there is no need for a rule book. Let the officials use their own judgment on what is a block or charge. They miss that one at all levels. Traveling? Not if he doesn't think so....

 

Traveling is clearly defined. Bad analogy. Block/charge is (pretty) clearly defined. Just really hard sometimes.

It may be but I can tell you that within the 9th (the one I watch the most) there is no "way" of calling. Every official has their own threshold. It will always be subjective.

 

Which is why people get so upset. There has to be a "way" of calling. A foul is a foul. A travel is a travel. A charge is a charge. There should be universal training and repurcussions for incompetent officials.

Traveling is clearly defined. Bad analogy. Block/charge is (pretty) clearly defined. Just really hard sometimes.

 

Ok...we'll all tell our bosses that our job is "really hard sometimes" so we aren't going to perform today. Let's see how that works out.

Edited March 10, 201511 yr by Colonels_Wear_Blue
Fixing The Quote

Which is why people get so upset. There has to be a "way" of calling. A foul is a foul. A travel is a travel. A charge is a charge. There should be universal training and repurcussions for incompetent officials.

 

I just gave you the written wording of the rulebook so "a foul is a foul" is simply not true. Too subjective.

 

Universal training? This isn't the NBA where the officials are full-time.

Which is why people get so upset. There has to be a "way" of calling. A foul is a foul. A travel is a travel. A charge is a charge. There should be universal training and repurcussions for incompetent officials.

 

For the bolded, that is true. But as for the "a foul is a foul" part I'm still waiting for you to tell me what a foul is in a cut and dry fashion.