Contributed by reader
Controversial refereeing marred a recent basketball match where Anglican High School (AHS) edged out Raffles Girls’ School (RGS) 49-48. A lot was at stake in the game with both teams in contention for a spot in the quarter-finals of the National B Division Basketball Championship.
This recalls another refereeing controversy going back to a match held last year in the National C Division, where a last second shot by a Woodgrove Secondary player was counted despite errors in time keeping.
A few incidents in the last two quarters of the game made RGS coach Guangyi furious as he felt that AHS were handed a great advantage in the final moments. These calls came on top of other dubious calls throughout the game.
Incident 1: (3rd quarter 4m32s)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4x8AJ72FD0
While RGS was defending, AHS #5 set up a screen for PG #10. The screen was not established and it happened that RGS defensive player #7 crashed into the screen. The AHS #5 fell to the ground in a dramatic way. A foul was called on the RGS #7 instead of the AHS #5.
It was clearly a badly executed screen with the screener at the wrong position and still moving while setting up the screen.
Incident 2: (4th Quarter, 4m23s)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmHrqnwNWag
Hannah Ng went for a breakaway lay-up, and the AHS #6 made contact with her. A call from the tailing referee was clearly heard, while the front leading referee stopped and looked at the trailing referee. Although the foul was obvious, and the referee had even blown her whistle to make a call, she changed her mind.
Incident 3: (4th Quarter, 16.9secs)
With 16.9secs on the clock, in the crucial moments of the game, RGS called a time-out and set up a play. Hannah Ng managed to find a place under basket for a lay-in.
However, it was clearly seen that the AHS #5 slapped her shoulder while Hannah was making the shot. The basket tied the game and if the foul had been called and the free throw awarded, there would be a chance for RGS to take the lead, which would have made a the difference in the game.
Incident 4: (4th Quarter, 6.2s)
[Violation of FIBA Official Rules, ART 18.2.4 & ART 18.2.5]
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6DzDx7uQmc
Cross-referencing to the FIBA Official Rules, as quoted below:
[Art 18.2.4: A time-out opportunity ends when the ball is at the disposal of a player for a throw-in or a first or only free throw]
[Art 18.2.5: Two (2) time-outs may be granted to each team at any time during the first half; three (3) time-outs at any time during the second half and one (1) during each extra period.]
After RGS #9 Hannah Ng made the basket to tie the game, AHS started the ball quickly. AHS managed to bring the ball up to half court and suddenly a 3rd time-out was awarded to AHS. It was obvious that AHS called for a time-out after the throw in yet the time-out was given.
Refer to the following videos:
AHS first time-out in 3rd Quarter, 4min38sec left on the clock.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ONCUWA2Zsk
AHS second time-out at the 5min39secs mark of 4th Quarter.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s8Gmo7dZ2A
RGS first time-out in 4th Quarter 7min36sec
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nkjMdGqeBc
RGS second Time-out in 4th Quarter 36.7sec httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNdlZEQq5N4
RGS third time-out in 4th Quarter 16.9sec
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkCoUiEtuQM
Incident 5: (4th Quarter, 6.2s)
After AHS called for a 3rd time-out, AHS attempted a throw-in at mid court. RGS #9 Hannah Ng managed to slap the in-bound pass out. The game clock did not move at all although the ball had already come into contact with the player on court. It could have wound down 0.5s, to 1s on the clock and mount extra pressure on AHS.
Incident 6: (4th Quarter, 6.2s)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCJiRwZ5COM
[Violation of FIBA Official Rules, ART 18.2.4 & ART 18.2.5]
[Art 18.2.4: A time-out opportunity ends when the ball is at the disposal of a player for a throw-in or a first or only free throw]
[Art 18.2.5: Two (2) time-outs may be granted to each team at any time during the first half; three (3) time-outs at any time during the second half and one (1) during each extra period.]
After the first attempted throw-in, the AHS #6 received the ball from the referee again. With the tall Hannah blocking her view, she had difficulty in finding a teammate to pass to for the throw-in. With the 5-second violation winding down to only 1 second, the 4TH TIME-OUT was awarded.
Although the RGS coach made a protest at the official table, the senior referee choose to stand near the game clock and did not clarify with the table officials.
Incident 7:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWj_5KoXtdI
AHS managed to throw in successfully, and the ball reached the hands of the AHS #5. She drove in and two RGS players were guarding her. With the slightest contact, a foul was called on the RGS #5. If they were to be consistent, the same type of foul should be already been called while Hannah was making the last under basket.
Although there are qualified FIBA referees refereeing the game, questionable calls are affecting the outcome of the match.
I think it is not important whether there were fouls from RGS that were not shown. The facts is the referees were unable to discharge their duties properly, despite having 4 officials in one game, is a very serious matter. The mistake with rgds to the timeout and the clock are very basic which all referees should know and with four officials present, it should not have happened. If you watch the NBA game, very often the referees will consult the table official and many decisions were overturned after the consultation.But it is very rare to see referees doing that here.
It is also kind of strange why the referees were so eager to help AHS by allowing extra timeout, not letting the clock run and the foul calls.Why all the critical mistakes happening at the most critical time. Only the referees know the reasons and it is up to the BAS to look further into the matter. It is difficult to believe that four officials cannot handle a simple school game, how can Singapore handle the youth olympic?
I think it is about time the relevant authorities start looking into the matter seriously otherwise the standard of school basketball will be greatly affected.
Raffles, please stop whining.
seriously this post is very biased, and if rgs lost, they lost. they should just be good sportsmen and accept it. if rgs were good enough they would have won by a land slide regardless of the calls by the referees. whats done is done, we cant do anything about it.
I agree with player. It’s quite obvious that this whole post is about 2 things, 1 is the referee’s bad calls, and 2ndly is to talk about how the referee helped AHS to win, and through this post, it’s quite clearly shown that the person who posted it, totally supported RGS and was not satisfied that AHS won through the referee’s help, and it’s a total one-sided post. Please, I suggest that this post be changed to talk about the referee’s bad calls towards RGS and AHS.
Player, same sentiments!!!
I feel unfair for ahs because it seems to be that only the uncalled fouls for rgs were highly emphasized?? What about ahs? There could have been some, but the person who submitted this post chose to cut those away.. If this post was meant to be directed and questioning ONLY the referees, I feel that this person should also include those ahs ones. By the way, if there is anyone who said there weren’t any, there are BOUND TO BE some right? Probably they feel ahs won because of referees? So could it also be the motive to prove to others that ahs always win because of referees?? If so, then I guess this article is uncalled for because it only shows ONE SIDE.
is the motive of this article telling the public that referees had not done a good job during the match, or to show that AHS did not deserve the win?? in my opinion, it is the later.
has it come to any of you all that this post is one-sided? i feel that this is totally unfair to AHS because whatever that is posted is ONLY what the referees did not call for fouls when AHS fouled. whatever happened to those sections when RGS fouled AHS players but no calls were made either??
it appears to me that the author of this post had cut away the evidence where RGS had made UNCOUNTABLE pushing and contact fouls during their defence, yet the referees did not call for any foul either.
throughout the match, noises of disapproval were in fact, made by the audience because even they saw how roughly RGS had defend but no fouls were called. this post is written to influence the people who were not present at the game to think AHS had won because of the “referee’s help” which is really not right.
if the writer in only upset about how the referees had not rule the game properly, please show both side of the story where AHS and RGS fouls were not called and not just upload sections where RGS is at disadvantage. thanks.
Singapore referee high quantity but low quality, but we still do have a few excellent one, maybe the referee course is too easy to pass.. imagine so many referee with NO playing experience, how to control??
Yo.. time out cannot be brought forward from first half to second half
It is not the first time that referees had done such bad calls in a game. it happens very often and i believe it’s one of the most crucial problems in basketball competitions these days. despite many bad calls, it is not anglican high’s fault as it is not them who control the game. if the blame was to be named, it should be to the referees and lack of training, instead of placing the blame on either teams
when AHS played against north vista, a player from AHS was awarded a free throw that caused north vista to be out.
Ed’s note: comment edited for unsubstantiated allegations.
Hi, i personally would love to disagree with Ian. I believe that there are no such things as on the spot decisions with the referees. I was a spectator at some games and when a coach disagrees with an obviously bad call, the referees merely tell the coach to calm down. I believe that their ego is in the way, preventing them from changing their minds.
Also, the referees have never been seen to go back on any calls that they have made. Of course that it was wrong of them to point out parts in the video to criticise the referees, but the referees are also at fault here. As can be seen, some calls, although inconclusive, and although referees are just humans too, are really pretty obvious like the screening one where #7 really did not know that a screener was there, that was a bad call.
Even though there is no such thing as a rematch or a formal apologies from the referees (or would not happen), the referees should reflect on their own actions. Being biased CAN definitely affect the outcome of a close game where the teams talent skills and players are similar. They should also understand that their job is to be IMPARTIAL.
This is merely ONE of the games where there is bad refereeing evident, but it is a good enough evidence to showcase the bad refereeing in the sports scene. I am proud that someone finally has the courage to write an article about this.
SOME ACTION MUST BE TAKEN.
Will anyone do anything about this? OR will our calls remain unheard?
ed’s note: LALA left his email as ihateyourefs@ihaterefs.com. This is material background to the writer’s comment.
I agree with Ian that this is not a fair way to point out the mistakes. Of the segments that can be highlighted, there could be many other segments that have gone RGS’ way.
But yet this does highlight the serious obstacle for basketball in Singapore.
We have a refree body that is not subjected to checks by another authority. While this is understandably difficult to achieve, it will help if there is more trust in this group. It is quite common knowledge for insiders that there exists factions and affiliations. It is actually to the advantage of refrees if they are subjected to checks, because then they can stand up and claim that there is a proper channel for feedback (and refuse to accept posts like this).
But even if there was no intentional biasness, it is hard for humans (refrees) to be totally impartial. Part of the problems also lies with players and coaches who abuse refrees – surely that will affect the way refrees look at a team/player – it will affect their judgment.
Lesson: Stop abusing them and start to respect them.
Perhaps frustrations boil over when teams do not have a chance to properly address perceived injustice (or outright biaseness). if there can be a neutral committee who has the power to regulate the body of refrees, we may be able to move forward.
Unfortunately bad incidents like this always hurt a lot because so much training is put in by the teams. Perhaps repeated uproars like this will gather enough momentum to effect some changes.
well, good calls and evidence but ultimately, the match is over. Its a special match because of the refs in charge and their calls on that particular day, on that particular court. Actually people do make errors and its only when scores are that close (or when the time is that precious) will the errors be pointed out, isnt it unfair or how should i put it, strange?
hey. get over it. everyone receives bad calls. you dont see anyone else complaining over it. please get over the loss and just work harder for next year
thanks to RGS coach, bad refreeeing has caused such disappointment in our faith for upholding basketball’s game standard .May the authorites concern do something about it. haix..
Hi reader, while I agree that not all refs are perfect, I think it’s unfair to them to compile a series of videos in this manner and point out their mistakes. Just hear me out…
In every match, there will be some missed calls, because referees are human after all. In any case, it is easy to provide a footage like this (of referee’s mistakes) for any match, not just the AHS v RGS match.
Furthermore, some of these calls are judgment calls where the referees have to make a split second decision on the spot. Even from some of the footages that I have viewed, it is inconclusive that the ref has made a wrong call.
I think both the teachers/coaches/players and referees have to engage each other in order to improve the game. Sometimes an on-the-spot clarification or discussion with the referee can be very helpful and effective (of course all things done respectfully in both ways). To blame each other is not a long term solution. Just my opinion…
i only wanna talk on time out n the 0.5s that RGS slap out an in-bound pass.
may we know how many Time-out AHS call in first half? maybe the writer who knows the rules well can check, if they din call any or only once, the 2nd can be brought to the second half??
the time keeper probably dun have reaction time for the in-bound pass case. this is not NBA where time can be adjusted.video evident can be used. so i think to be fair to the time keeper, the event happened and ended too quickly.
i am never a fan of singapore referees esp when i heard someone saying he can make or break a team if the coach/players dun show him respect. but criticise them must be on fair ground, if not, den we r just downgrading ourselves to be like them. thanks
i agree that a refree should give good calls during the match. The errors of the refree might cause a team to lose. The refree is not important in a game, but the players. Therefore the refree should not throw his weight around on the court because the players come first before the refree. The refree should go home and do some self-reflection. Essentially, the players controls the game and the refree is there only to ensure the game run smoothly.
SO REFREES PLEASE DO NOT THINK U ARE THE KING OF THE COURT,WHEN OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE NOT!
This should be sent to SSSC SSC and BAS(But end of the day still nothing will be done) But good effort. If fact result of many important match are affected by bad refereeing