1999-2001 NFHS Mechanics Exam

 NOTE:  The questions in this exaination are to be answered based on a team of two officials - a referee and umpire as outlined in the basketball officials manual.  All questions are based on a two-point field goal, unless a three-point field goal is specifically designated.

 Prerequisites for Good Officiating 

A.  Cardinal Principles

1.  Increase your level of alertness and intensity ner the end of close games.

2.  Do not make any report which might be used by a future opponent as a scouting report.

3.  It is permissible to smoke or use tobacco in the hallway leading to the playing court.

4.  Use of unofficial signals is permissible when necessary to "sell" a call.

 B.  Preparation for Officiating

5.  A physical examination should be taken prior to each session.

6.  A beginning official could send out a letter of "availability" but no official should "solicit" games.

7.  In officiating, the economic law "bad money drives out good" works in reverse.

8.  Rulings for controversial situations which occur should be requested from the most experienced officials in your area.

 Prerequisites for Two Officials

C.  Responsibilities Before the Game

9.  The referee explains to both coaches how the "bench" rule will be enforced.

10.  The umpire checks the net to see if the ball will go through.

11.  The umpire is responsible for approving a player's use of a wrist or arm guard of hard material if it is properly padded.

12.  The referee should count the number of visiting team players and have the umpire do the same with the home team.

 D.  Responsibilities Before the Game

13.  During the pregame, review the procedure for handling an injured-player situation.

14.  Designate the best "tosser" to administer the jump ball to start the game.

15.  Test the bouncing reaction of the ball on the dressing room floor.

16.  For a two-person crew, officials should position themselves on the opposite side of the court from the table, each 28 feet from the neares end line.

 E.  Responsibilities at Halftime

17.  The officials should return to the court approximately five minutes before halftime intermission ends.

18.  The referee should remain at the table to handle any problems while the umpire goes directly to the dressing room at the end of the first half.

19.  The umpire informs the coaches as to which team has the throw-in to start the third quarter.

20.  The umpire secures and relays the ball to the referee at the division line opposite the table to begin the third quarter.

 F.  End of First Half

21.  The scorers will settle any problems at the end of the first half and report their decision to the referee.

22.  The official with the ball should take it to the dressing room.

23.  When returning to the court, officials shall assume the same positions as in the pre-game.

24.  Assemble at the center restraining circle and remain until both teams and coaches have exited the area and then proceed to the scorers' table together.

 G.  End of Second Half

25.  The referee's jurisdiction ends when he or she leaves the visual confines of the playing court.

26.  If an error or mistake occurs, do not leave the floor until it is corrected.

27.  A written report regrading a controversy may be given to the news media.

28.  Be sure the timer watches for the start-clock signal and that he/she has a good view of the administering official before the ball is put in play.

 H.  Court Coverage - Basic Principles

29.  The jump ball, throw-in and free-throw administration dictate the officiating positions.

30.  Each official covers the sideline and end line nerest to him or her.

31.  Rarely does an official actually remain in the area for which he or she is responsible.

32.  The lead official has primary responsibility for calling a three-second violation.

 I.  Court Coverage - Basic Principles

33.  The trail official has responsibility of covering the backcourt and the outer part of the frontcourt.

34.  The official who begins a five-second count may pass it to the other official if the two players involved leave that official's primary coverage area.

35.  There are no "reverse" or "crossover" mechanics.

36.  Officials should switch visible counts from one hand to the other hand when going directly from one count to another.

 J.  Court Coverage - Basic Principles

37.  A narrow band of transition area exists where the two primary areas of responsibility meet.

38.  An official should never make a call in the other official's primary coverage area.

39.  The official who has "off-ball" coverage must concentrate and move to have a line of sight into that area.

40.  A visible count must be used on all time-limit situations except the three-second lane count.

 Basic Procedures and Mechanics

K.  Jump Ball

41.  The administering official's whistle is not sounded prior to beginning play.

42.  The umpire takes a position on the side of the court  facing the table.

43.  The umpire chops-in time when the ball is legally touched.

44.  If the toss is poor, either official shall sound the whistle for a re-jump.

 L.  Throw-In

45.  The administering official may bounce the ball to the thrower following goaltending or basket interference.

46.  The whistle should be sounded prior to the throw-in following a charged time-out, an intermission or an unusual delay.

47.  The administering official's throw-in count should be visible but not audible.

48.  The administering official is only responsible for the thrower, the free official observes all other players.

 M.  Throw-In

49.  All end-line throw-ins are made by the administering official who shall be outside the thrower and the near sideline.

50.  All backcourt throw-ins are administered by the trail official.

51.  The lead official shall stay lead if the ball goes out of bounds below the free-throw line extended on his/her line of responsibility and shall bounce the ball to the thrower.

52.  If a throw-in plane violation occurs, a team warning is recorded by the scorer and reported to the coach

 N. When a Foul Occurs

53.  The calling official shall sound his or her whistle and give the open-hand signal straight and high above the head.

54.  After a slight delay, the calling official's other hand is positioned palm down and with arm extended and simultaneously pointed toward the foulding player's hips.

55.  The calling official should move near the fouling player and verbally inform the player that he or she fouled by stating the shirt color and number.

56.  Lower the foul signal and only indicate the nature of the foul by giving a preliminary signal.

 O.  When a Foul Occurs

57.  If a goal has been scored, signal to count as soon as it is legally scored.

58.  The calling official informs the scorer by using a two-handed signal if the number of free throws is a bonus situation.

59.  The calling official moves to the reporting area rectangle, comes to a stop and communicates with the table official.

60.  A visual signal from the calling official indicating the nature of the foul should be given after indicating the number of the player who fouled.

 P.  When a Foul Occurs

61.  The calling official should try to observe the bench area while reporting to the scorers.

62.  When reporting a foul to the scorer, the official should complete all communication with the table before beckoning a substitute or granting a time-out request.

63.  The free official should freeze his or her field of vision on all players while the calling official is reporting the foul.

64.  The "free" official is responsible to force the change of positions after each foul prior to putting the ball in play.

 Q.  Free Throw

65.  The 10-second count by the trail official is to be silent and with a visible wrist flick on the side away from the shooter.

66.  The lead official will administer all free throws by bouncing the ball to the shooter.

67.  The lead official is primarily responsible for rebounding action near the basket.

68.  The trail official administers and re-administers any single free throw and the first of any multiple throws.

 R.  Free Throw

69.  The lead official is responsible for the first lane space, table side and the opposite lane line.

70.  The lead official stands next to the player in the first lane space during the first of two free throws.

71.  After a technical foul, the trail official administers the throw-in.

72.  When the lead administers, the trail will maintain his or her final position and give appropriate signals.

 S.  When a Violation Occurs

73.  Sound your whistle and fully extend one arm above the head with the clenched fist to stop the clock.

74.  Move toward the violation area and stop, then signal the nature of the violation.

75.  If "A" violates during a free throw and no free throw follows, proceed as if a floor violation.

76.  If "B" violates during a free throw, give the appropriate signal but withhold the whistle until the throw is ended.

 T.  When a Violation Occurs

77.  The signal for the violation is given only if requested by the offending team or player.

78.  Point in the direction of the throw-in team's basket and call out their shirt color.

79.  Make eye contact with your partner before placing the ball at the thrower's disposal.

80.  Following a free-throw violation, the clock does not start if the free throw is unsuccessful and, in case of doubt, the time-out signal should be given when the violation occurs.

 U.  When a Violation Occurs

81.  Report to the scorer if a basket interference or goaltending situation is such that there might be doubt or confusion.

82.  The trail official is primarily responsible for observing basket interference or goaltending.

83.  Avoid calling out the shirt color of the throw-in team.

84.  After stopping the clock and signaling the nature of the violation, point in the direction of the throw-in team's basket.

 V.  Time-outs

85.  During a 30-second time-out, one official will be on the division line halfway between the circle and the table with the other official at the throw-in spot.

86.  During a time-out, the official who will administer the succeeding throw-in will indicate direction of play by where the ball is held in relation to his or her body.

87.  The granting official may relay the time-out request to the official nearest the table.

88.  The opponents of the throw-in team may be granted a time-out until the thrower releases the ball on the throw-in.

 W.  Injured Player

89.  An official's time-out shall be called to protect a player.

90.  If a coach enters the court because of an injured player, the team is either charged with a time-out or the player must be removed.

91.  A player determined to be apparently unconscious may not return to play unless written authorization is provided by physician.

92.  The official should beckon the coach or other bench personnel onto the court if it appears a player is injured and needs attention.

 X.  Three-point Try

93.  The trail official is responsible for the entire near side of the three-point line to the free-throw line extended on the far side.

94.  The covering official is required to give the successful three-point-goal signal.

95.  If the lead official is the covering official, the trail shall mirror the successful field-goal signal.

96.  If the try is from near the three-point line, but is not a three-point attempt, the covering official shall indicate two with a preliminary signal.

 Y.  Ruling on Last-second Shot

97.  The expiration of time causes the ball to become dead if a tap is in flight toward the tapper's basket, but not if it is a try.

98.  Each official has responsibility for making the call depending on the location of the shot.

99.  The referee will make the final decision in the case of disagreement between the officials or if it is necessary to consult the timer.

100.  If there is any irregularity at the table, the signal and decision should be delayed for a conference at the table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWERS 1999-2001 NFHS MECHANICS EXAM

1.  F (18k)                                             51. T (223)

2.  T (18m)                                            52. T (Diagram p. 222)

3.  F (18l)                                              53. F (230a)

4.  F (18h)                                             54. T (230b)

5.  T (22)                                               55. T (230c)

6.  T (36)                                               56. T (230)

7.  T (33)                                               57. T (230g)

8.  F (31)                                               58. T (231e)

9.  F (105)                                             59. T (231a)

10. F (105g)                                          60. T (231c)

11. F (106b)                                          61. T (231f)

12. T (105i; 106e)                                   62. T (231g)

13. T (102l(2); 102a(7) b(2))                     63. T (232)

14. F (102b(3))                                       64. T (233)

15. F (102c(4))                                       65. T (241h)

16. T (103a)                                           66. T (241c)

17. F (109g)                                          67. T (243d)

18. F (109f)                                           68. F (240)

19. T (109k)                                           69. T (Diagram p. 41)

20. T (109l)                                            70. F (243)

21. F (109b)                                          71. T (248)

22. F (109e, l)                                        72. T (242)

23. T (109i)                                            73. F (260a)

24. T (109a)                                           74. T (260b)

25. T (110g)                                           75. T (261)

26. T (110f)                                           76. T (262)

27. F (110k)                                           77. F (260a, b)

28. T (110b)                                           78. T (260d)

29. T (202)                                             79. T (260f)

30. T (204)                                             80. T (262)

31. F (204)                                            81. T (264)

32. T (205)                                             82. T (264)

33. T (207)                                             83. F (260d)

34. F (207)                                            84. T (260b,d)

35. T (202)                                             85. T (273 & Diagram p. 45)

36. T (207)                                             86. T (273)

37. T (Diagram p. 23)                             87. F (271)

38. F (Diagram p. 23)                             88. F (271, 278)

39. T (Diagram p. 24)                             89. T (276)

40. T (205)                                             90. F (276)

41. F (211)                                            91. T (277)

42. F (213)                                            92. T (276)

43. T (213)                                             93. T (281)

44. T (212)                                             94. T (281)

45. T (220)                                             95. T (281)

46. T (220)                                             96. F (281)

47. T (220)                                             97. F (284)

48. F (221)                                            98. F (284)

49. T (218)                                             99. T (284)

50. T (218)                                             100. T (284)