Independent basketball rules & officiating desk

Last second shot mechanics

By Dennis Morris · Originally published January 29, 2015 · Reviewed August 2026

Check the current rules. Rule references here reflect the rulebook in force when this was written. Always confirm against the current NFHS rules and your state association’s published interpretations.

Some officials believe (and cover in their pre-game meetings) – “any official (in any position) can ‘wave off a last second shot’ (meaning ‘not good’), but only the ‘opposite the table official’ can count it. How do some officials arrive at such a mind set when the 2013-15 Officials Manual specifies otherwise? – pg.68; Paragraph 3.3.6 D1, 2 and 3. Response: Please review the mechanics manual as cited above and dispel the notion that anyone BUT the official opposite the table is responsible for the last second shot!

Only that official should be signaling. If one of the other officials believes the official opposite the table has erroneously counted/cancelled a basket, they should confer and resolve the matter.

Dennis Morris

Wrote this page for the Ohio basketball officiating resource that ran on this domain, published 2015. The credit is preserved as it appeared and describes their role at the time of writing, not a current relationship with this site. Contributors

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