GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

2000-2001 BASKETBALL MECHANICS EXAM

DIRECTIONS: Use a #2 pencils on all parts of the answer sheet and mark as indicated at the top of the answer sheet. Be extremely careful in making marks because the machine is super-sensitive, and be certain to erase all marks completely. Be certain to "bubble in" your Social Security number and your name. Be certain to mark it as the "Mechanics" exam. Leave blank the sections entitled: Code, Test Form, and Exam Number. Fill out the information in the upper right-hand corner of the answer sheet.

This is an open-book exam, but please make your first attempt to answer the questions on your own. Answers to all questions are based on the National Federation Officials Manual, the GHSA Policies and Procedures Manual, and information given at GHSA rules clinics. All answer sheets must be submitted by the Association Secretary.

GENERAL MECHANICS:

1. Officials should not share information about games they have worked that could be used by a future opponent as a "scouting report"

2. It is permissible for an official to smoke in a hallway between the dressing room and the court.

3. When officiating a GHSA game, a GHSA patch must be worn on the striped shirt.

4. All technical foul calls (at any level of high school competition) must be submitted in a "Game Report" to the GHSA office.

5. A "Game Report" should be filed with the GHSA when there are problems with security for officials.

6. An official should refuse any game assignment in which there is any appearance of a possible conflict of interest.

7. It is permissible for one official to wear a striped shirt with a Byron collar and her partner wear a striped shirt with a V-neck.

8. Officials are prohibited from wearing jewelry while officiating a game except for a wedding band or a medical bracelet.

9. GHSA officials are allowed to wear shoes on which the manufacturer's logo is marked in white.

10. Before the game, the Referee should review basic responsibilities with the scorer and timer.

11. The Referee is responsible for arranging and conducting a pregame conference at the game site.

12. Before the jump ball to start the game, the administering official should not sound his/her whistle prior to beginning play.

13. Officials should assemble near the center circle at the end of the first half, and should leave the court together

14. Officials should return to the court approximately 5 minutes before the end of halftime.

15. An official's jurisdiction ends when he/she leaves the playing court.

16. A visible count must be used on all time-limit situations except the 3-second count.

17. It is permissible to use an unofficial signal in order to "sell" a call.

18. A bounce pass will be used on all throw-ins in the backcourt.

19. The official administering the throw-in should either give a sweeping arm signal indicating the right to "run the endline" or point at the floor to indicate a "designated spot" throw-in.

20. Officials should continually move to create visual angles so they won't get "straight-lined".

21. When it is obvious that a period has not ended and the horn sounds, the officials may either ignore the horn or stop game action.

22. When a foul occurs, the calling official shall sound his/her whistle and give the open-hand signal with the arm straight above the head.

23. The official calling a foul shall give a "bird-dog signal" with the hand (palm down) pointed toward the offender's waist.

24. The official who has called a foul should state the jersey color and number of the fouling player, and should give a preliminary signal as to the nature of the foul near the spot of the foul.

25. The number of free throws should not be indicated at the spot of the foul.

26. When reporting a foul to the scorer, the official may use two hand to signal a "one and one" situation.

27. On free throw situations, the Lead official should monitor players lining up along the lane, and then shall administer all free throws.

28. When reporting a foul, the official should complete all communication with the scorer before beckoning a substitute or granting a timeout.

29. When a violation occurs, an official should sound his/her whistle and fully extend one arm above the head with a clenched fist in order to stop the clock.

30. If Team B violates during a free throw, the official should give the appropriate signal, and should withhold the whistle until the throw has ended.

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

32. The officials should beckon the coach or trainer onto the court if it appears that a player is injured and needs attention as soon as play has been stopped.

33. The Referee should use time-out situations near the end of the game to check at the table to be certain that no scoring or timing problems exist.

34. An official should switch hands when going directly from a closely-guarded holding count to a closely-guarded dribbling count.

35. The throw-in after a technical foul or a flagrant personal foul shall be administered at the division line opposite the table.

36. When a player picks up his/her fifth foul, a non-calling official notifies the coach and monitors the substitution process.

37. In a foul situation in which shots will be taken, the number of free throws should be indicated visually to a non-calling official before reporting the foul.

38. If a teammate of the free thrower violates and no other free throw is to be attempted, the throw-in spot is the out-of-bounds point closest to the spot of the violation.

39. All officials shall count the number of players on each team before putting the ball in play.

40. All visual count signals are made from the waist outward.

41. When reporting a handchecking foul, it is permissible to use a signal as follows: one arm extended in front of your body with an open palm facing outward, and the other hand grasping the wrist of the extended arm.

42. The same signal is used for both a 30-second timeout and a full timeout.

43. Any timeout call may be "piggy-backed" to a partner for reporting purposes.

44. On any timeout call, the reporting official must get immediate verification from the head coach as to whether it will be a full timeout or a 30-second timeout.

45. On a 30-second timeout, the reporting official should be certain that all substitutes enter before the warning horn.

CREW-OF-TWO MECHANICS:

46. The umpire is responsible for approving a player's use of a padded wrist or arm guard.

47. During pregame warmups, the Referee should count the number of players on the visiting team, and the Umpire should do the same for the home team.

48. At halftime, the referee should remain at the scorer's table to handle any problems while the umpire goes directly to the dressing area.

49. At the end of halftime, the umpire informs the coaches as to which team has the throw-in to start the second half.

50. At the end of halftime, the umpire secures the ball and relays it to the referee at the division line for the throw-in.

51. Each official is responsible for the sideline and the endline nearest to him/her.

52. The trail official has primary responsibility for calling a 3-second violation.

53. The trail official has primary responsibility for covering the backcourt and the outer part of the frontcourt.

54. The lead official is generally ahead of the ball and the trail official is generally behind the ball on all plays.

55. After a jump ball, the umpire chops-in time when the ball is legally touched.

56. After the opening jump, the Referee becomes the Trail official.

57. On frontcourt throw-ins from the endline, the administering official shall be positioned between the thrower and the sideline.

58. On frontcourt throw-ins from the Lead's sideline below the free throw line extended, the Lead shall force a switch.

59. On a throw-in, the administering official is responsible only for the thrower, and the other official observes all other players.

60. All endline throw-ins are made with the administering official to the right of the thrower.

61. The lead official administers some throw-ins in the backcourt.

62. When a foul occurs, the non-calling official should freeze his/her field of vision on all players while the calling official is reporting the foul.

63. The non-calling official is responsible to force the switch after each foul and prior to putting the ball in play.

64. On free throws, each official is responsible for the entire lane opposite his/her position.

65. On a free throw, the trail official shall step into the lane and announce the number of free throws, and then move to the normal position before the Lead bounces the ball to the thrower.

66. After a violation has occurred, the official administering the throw-in should make eye contact with his/her partner before placing the ball at the disposal of the thrower.

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

68. On a three-point try, the covering official is responsible for signaling a successful try.

69. The trail and lead officials shall mirror each other's successful 3-point signal.

70. During a pressing situation, the Lead and the Trail should be spaced about half-a-court apart lengthwise.

71. During a 30-second timeout, the reporting official should be positioned at the midcourt line - about halfway between the sideline and the center jump area.

72. During a 30-second timeout, the non-reporting official will usually be positioned at the spot where the ball will be put in play next.

73. The Lead and the Trail should never be on the same side of the court at the same time.

CREW-OF-THREE

74. When mirroring the ball, the Lead should not work wider than the intersection of the 3-point arc and the baseline.

75. "Closing down" is the process used by the Lead as the ball moves toward the opposite side of the court.

76. "Closing down" is the process used by the Old Trail as he/she is becoming the New Center.

77. As soon as the ball breaks the invisible line that runs from basket to basket, the Lead should begin initiating the rotation to the opposite side.

78. There should be no rotation on skip passes.

79. There should be no rotation if a shot is in progress, or if a player is driving toward the basket.

80. "Settling" is a term used when the ball has been moved from one side of the court to the other and stays on that side for at least two counts without a shot attempt or a drive to the basket.

81. Although the ball determines the need for a rotation, the Lead initiates the rotation.

82. If there is a turnover in the middle of the rotation, the Old Center and the Old Trail must communicate visually about who is the New Lead.

83. The Center official should work within a step or two of the free throw line extended under normal circumstances.

84. The Trail official should work near the 28-foot mark under normal circumstances.

85. On a 3-point attempt from the corner, the Lead has primary responsibility for fouls on the shooter.

86. On frontcourt throw-ins from the endline, the administering official shall be positioned with his/her "back to the glass".

87. On throw-ins in the backcourt, either the Trail or the Center official may administer the throw-in.

88. On throw-ins from the sideline, that sideline should have double coverage.

89. Rotations occur during live ball situations, and switches occur during dead ball situations.

90. The official who calls the foul always takes a position opposite the table when play is resumed with a throw-in.

91. The official who calls a shooting foul always administers the free throws.

92. On a free throw situation, the Center official shall make eye contact with the lead official and signal the number of free throws while moving from the table to the normal position.

93. The Center official is responsible for all last-second shots.

94. At the beginning of the second half, the Center official is responsible for notifying both coaches about which team will inbound the ball.

95. At the beginning of the second half, the Trail official is responsible for checking on proper substitutions with the scorer.

96. There is to be no rotation in the last 30 seconds of each quarter.

97. When administering a throw-in on the endline, the Lead should avoid being forced into the area of the free throw lane extended.

98. After the opening jump, the Referee always becomes the Center official.

99. Center and Trail officials are the only officials who should signal a successful 3-point goal.

100. In a transition situation, the Center should move from free throw line extended to free throw line extended as quickly as possible.