[M T]

I get so frustrated with referees making their own rules.  I happened to notice a rerun of the USC @ UConn game.  Unfortunately, both teams can't both lose.  I tuned in late in the 3rd quarter when  UConn was down 16.

But immediately I see an obvious carry of the ball by UConn that then becomes a 3-pt basket.  Then they get a steal, and immediately a UConn player takes a stroll before dribbling the ball.  At 1:311 in the 3rd quarter, the player receives a  pass with her right foot on the ground and left foot up in the middle of a step.  So her right foot is her pivot.  She finishes her step with the left foot down.  She obviously thinks her left foot is her pivot foot and steps with her right foot.  She then takes a step with her right foot.  Since the right foot was her pivot foot, she shouid have been called for a travel therel.

But no call by these refs. Ok, maybe they ignored the first travel and decided her left foot is her pivot foot.  So, she then proceeds to begin another step, with her left foot as she releases the ball to dribble.. Even if the officials had mistakenly thought her left foot was her pivot foot, as soon as she lifts her left foot and the ball hasn't touched the ground, she has traveled.  (The ball does hit the ground just before she finishes the step with her left foot but that doesn't matter.)  So, the official should have called traveling there.  That full step was clearly a travel even if her left foot was thought to be her pivot foot.

That set of refs were  Karen Preato, Katie Lukanich, Jeffrey Smith

Two more controversial calls happened right after that but I wasn't able to review them.  Then a UConn player took a pass and took 4 footfalls before scoring.  Heal got called for 3 footfalls (properly).  But her uniform didn't say "Connecticut".
With the lack of enforcement that I saw,  UConn quickly gained back 10 points.  I had better things to do that watch two teams play in a game in which unwritten and inconsistent rules could let either team gain an advantage simply by the whims of the refs.

Rule 9. Section 5. Traveling
...
Art. 4. A player who catches the ball while moving or ends a dribble may stop
and establish a pivot foot as follows:
a. When both feet are off the playing court ....
b. When one foot is on the playing court:
    1. That foot shall be the pivot foot when the other foot touches in a step;
   ....
Art. 5. After coming to a stop and establishing the pivot foot:
a. The pivot foot may be lifted, but not returned to the playing court, before
the ball is released on a pass or try for goal;
b. The pivot foot shall not be lifted before the ball is released to start a
dribble.

 

The first point of emphasis in the rule book is "Enforcing the rules as written"

When officials do
not enforce the playing rules, it impacts the purpose of the playing rules. There
is no room for personal philosophies or using “game management” to ignore
enforcing a playing rule. ... Coaches should continue to familiarize themselves with the
rules and teach the rules to their players; when players know what is legal or
illegal, it reduces the number of stoppages for illegal acts and makes for a more
enjoyable game.

[M T]

I get so frustrated with referees making their own rules.  I happened to notice a rerun of the USC @ UConn game.  Unfortunately, both teams can't both lose.  I tuned in late in the 3rd quarter when  UConn was down 16.

But immediately I see an obvious carry of the ball by UConn that then becomes a 3-pt basket.  Then they get a steal, and immediately a UConn player takes a stroll before dribbling the ball.  At 1:311 in the 3rd quarter, the player receives a  pass with her right foot on the ground and left foot up in the middle of a step.  So her right foot is her pivot.  She finishes her step with the left foot down.  She obviously thinks her left foot is her pivot foot and steps with her right foot.  She then takes a step with her right foot.  Since the right foot was her pivot foot, she shouid have been called for a travel therel.

But no call by these refs. Ok, maybe they ignored the first travel and decided her left foot is her pivot foot.  So, she then proceeds to begin another step, with her left foot as she releases the ball to dribble.. Even if the officials had mistakenly thought her left foot was her pivot foot, as soon as she lifts her left foot and the ball hasn't touched the ground, she has traveled.  (The ball does hit the ground just before she finishes the step with her left foot but that doesn't matter.)  So, the official should have called traveling there.  That full step was clearly a travel even if her left foot was thought to be her pivot foot.

That set of refs were  Karen Preato, Katie Lukanich, Jeffrey Smith

Two more controversial calls happened right after that but I wasn't able to review them.  Then a UConn player took a pass and took 4 footfalls before scoring.  Heal got called for 3 footfalls (properly).  But her uniform didn't say "Connecticut".
With the lack of enforcement that I saw,  UConn quickly gained back 10 points.  I had better things to do that watch two teams play in a game in which unwritten and inconsistent rules could let either team gain an advantage simply by the whims of the refs.

Rule 9. Section 5. Traveling
...
Art. 4. A player who catches the ball while moving or ends a dribble may stop
and establish a pivot foot as follows:
a. When both feet are off the playing court ....
b. When one foot is on the playing court:
    1. That foot shall be the pivot foot when the other foot touches in a step;
   ....
Art. 5. After coming to a stop and establishing the pivot foot:
a. The pivot foot may be lifted, but not returned to the playing court, before
the ball is released on a pass or try for goal;
b. The pivot foot shall not be lifted before the ball is released to start a
dribble.

 

The first point of emphasis in the rule book is "Enforcing the rules as written"

When officials do
not enforce the playing rules, it impacts the purpose of the playing rules. There
is no room for personal philosophies or using “game management” to ignore
enforcing a playing rule. ... Coaches should continue to familiarize themselves with the
rules and teach the rules to their players; when players know what is legal or
illegal, it reduces the number of stoppages for illegal acts and makes for a more
enjoyable game.