During its meeting in July 2017, the FIBA Central Board approved several rule changes which are valid in MSDBA Games from the start of the 2018 Winter Season.

This document and the video links below are for players to get an understanding of the rule changes.

The new rules affect the way the game has been played for many years, adapting particularly to the new travel rule, unsportsmanlike rule and its interpretation will take a lot of getting used to by players, coaches and referees. While we all strive to be perfect we need to accept referees will be right and wrong just like some players will adapt quicker than others and make errors trying to change.

MSDBA expects everyone to be understanding during this season as everyone gets used to the changes, supporting all people trying to learn and remind those around other there are tough changes and people need to be more respectful and understanding.

Travelling rule (Art. 25.2)

Purpose: To have a common worldwide travelling rule that better reflects the actions on the court.

New wording:

  • While moving and having one foot on the floor while catching the ball or ending a dribble the next foot or feet to touch the floor is “Step 1” and will become the pivot foot.
  • Please refer to the additional material on the new travelling rule which is included in a separate presentation.

BV FIBA Travel Interpretation 2017 from Basketball Victoria on Vimeo.

Player in the act of shooting (Art. 15.1.3)

Purpose: To clarify the definition of the act of shooting.

Change: When a player is in the act of shooting and after being fouled, he passes the ball off, he is no longer considered to be in the act of shooting.

Game disqualification (Art. 36.3.3 and Art. 37.2.3)

Purpose: The game disqualification is now also valid for 1 technical foul and 1 unsportsmanlike foul.

Changes: A player shall also be disqualified for the remainder of the game when he is charged with 1 technical and 1 unsportsmanlike foul.

A player coach shall also be disqualified for the remainder of the game when he is charged with 2 technical fouls against his person where 1 of these fouls may also be an unsportsmanlike foul against him as a player.

Unsportsmanlike foul (Art. 37.1.1)

Purpose: To gain more clarity on when to call an unsportsmanlike foul and protect the dynamics of the game in transition.

New wording:
An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact foul which, in the judgement of an official, is:

  • Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent.
  • Contact by the defensive player with no legitimate attempt to directly play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules causing an unnecessary contact in order to stop the fast break or the progress of the offensive team in transition.

This applies until the offensive player begins the act of shooting.

Art. 37 Unsportsmanlike foul
37.1.   Definition

37.1.1. An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact foul which, in the judgement of an official is:

  • Not a legitimate attempt to directly play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules.
  • Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent.
  • An unnecessary contact caused by the defensive player in order to stop the progress of the offensive team in transition. This applies until the offensive player begins his act of shooting.
  • Contact by the defensive player from behind or laterally on an opponent in an attempt to stop the fast break and there is no defensive player between the offensive player and the opponent’s basket. This applies until the offensive player begins his act of shooting.
  • Contact by the defensive player on an opponent on the playing court during the last 2 minutes in the fourth period and in each extra period, when the ball is outof-bounds for a throw-in and still in the hands of the official or at the disposal of the player taking the throw-in.

FIBA Unsportsmanlike Foul New Rule TOC from Basketball Victoria on Vimeo.

 This document was based on the release from FIBA – http://www.fiba.basketball/OBR2017/summarychanges.pdf