slammin'08
Years ago
Unsportsmanlike Foul rule clarification
I have seen so much said about the fact the foul was called in a "deadball" situation. This is NOT the rule. From the FIBA official basketball rules as copied below it is only when the ball it "out ofbounds" in the hands of the official or player making the inbounds pass. Not the same thing. Also it can only be called against the DEFENSIVE player unless it meets any of the other criteria. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
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.
• 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.
• Contact by the defensive player on an opponent on the court during the last 2
minutes in the fourth period and in each extra period, when the ball is out-ofbounds
for a throw-in and still in the hands of the official or at the disposal of
the player taking the throw-in.