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THE NBA'S EXTRA STEP: WHAT HAPPENED TO TRAVELING?
http://www.newsweek.com/nbas-extra-step-what-happened-traveling-254154
Discussion Questions:
- Should something be changed about the ruling?
- Should referees be punished in some way for not making these calls?
- Who should be in charge of fixing this? Players? Coaches? Referees?
As it is right now, the NBA needs to fix how they call traveling. While I understand a referee missing the one extra step on the drive to the basket I don't understand how refs miss 6, 7, 8 plus step travels. On a breakaway dunk or a drive to a lay up taking the third step isn't the biggest call to miss. But when players are shuffling or even blatantly walking around traveling should be called. It's very hard to punish a referee for missing a call. In the moment, it can sometimes be difficult to make the perfect call so a ref will call it how he/she sees it which isn't a problem and can't be punished because it is human error. To fix this problem refs would have to make traveling calls more often first and if they did players would stop traveling because it's a turnover.
ReplyDeleteI do not think anything should be changed about the ruling and I believe that standard of only two steps allowed for each player with the ball should stand. There should not be an addition to the amount of steps or a reduction from the original two steps, I just believe that there should be more attention focused on the violation that is rarely called at the professional level. I also do not think the referees should be punished for missing this but they should be encouraged to pay more attention and must be scrutinized if they continue to miss the blatant violations that occur frequently every game. Within the common NBA game there are several traveling violations that occur that go un noticed by players and referees but are examined by the viewers. It is quite surprising to me and assuming for other viewers that such impressive players can walk that often but can do seemingly anything on the basketball court. I think that it is the leagues job to crack down on the players and to not let violations like these go un-noticed.
ReplyDeleteCurrently, I think there is nothing wrong with the travel rules they have now. I believe that the rule they have in place, only two steps allowed for each player with the ball should stand. I think the real issue is the referees not calling the violation. I think the referees should be trained more for travels calls and be more strict on the rule. I see too many players traveling even up to 5 or 6 steps on dunks, and that is ridiculous. I don't think that the referees should be punished. I believe this because at the moment it may be hard for them to see a play and they may not catch a travel. Although some of the missed calls our crazy it wouldn't be fair to punish the refs without evidence that they let the play happen. I think that both the referees should be in charge of fixing this. On the player's side, they should play by the rules and not take a 6 step dunk because that's not allowed. On the referee's side, I think they can pay attention more to travels and make sure they crackdown on it. The fact that players can get away with this kind of stuff in this age of basketball is becoming a little bit ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI think that in the NBA this is a problem and there are a lot of calls that are missed that do piss players off. I don't think that there should be a rule change because that is going to just cause more problems. With a rule change it wouldn't change anything because its the refs that are making these calls so if they miss one then they miss it like they are human its going to happen. Like a rule change isn't going to help the refs eyesight. There should not be a fine because people miss things its what happens its a part of life, even though they are being paid to do this, they are going o miss things. I think that it should be the refs just looking out for this a little more so that all the calls don't just go by without anything happening.
ReplyDeleteI think similarly to the NFL's catch rule, there needs to be a more clear definition and the referees need to stick to the ruling on the pitch/field. I think that if they are going to make a more strict rule, referees need to stick to it in order to provide authority and fair ruling for both teams playing. I think that they also need to not change the rule depending on who is playing. Say Lebron James dribbles and is travelling he should be called for a foul the same as any other player. This is similar to soccer where some players are allowed to talk to the referees more than other players with bad reputations. The ruling needs to be for all players. Referees should not be punished, at the end of the day refs are humans and humans make mistakes, whether it be not concentrating or not seeing it. The NBA referees and committee should be in charge of determining what a travel is, coaches cant decide because they aren't in control of the game or others fouls. NBA officials have to take charge.
ReplyDeleteI believe that in the cases of many uncalled travels the fault usually falls on the referee. In most cases when players take more than "2 steps" it is usually when their possession of the ball is in question. If anything needs to be changed or adjusted it should be adding clarification on what full possession is and when your first step is counted. I do not think that referees should be punished for this because there will always be some level of human error in sports and a referee does not deserve to lose his job over an unclear rule. However if this problem is going to be fixed the league has to make an effort to change the rule.
ReplyDeleteI think that it should be three step, rather than 2 step. I don't think that the problem lies with the ruling, as much as the rules are simply not being followed and enforced. In the clips we saw, it is very apparent the referees were in clear site of the violation, and did nothing to penalize the action. I do not think it has to be enforced in every situation. For example, when a player is in his own side of the court with no contest around him, and he is taking the ball down the court, he should not be penalized for taking a few extra steps when he is not actively making a play with the ball. I don't think referees need to be punished specifically for failing to make travel calls, but if the referees continue to fail to uphold the integrity of the game, they should be fired. A referee's job is to ensure the rules are followed, and if it is not done, then they have fail. Plain and simple. The referees are in charge of fixing this, the coaches have little to no say, and the players will continue to do it if they get away with it. If the referees become more strict about travels, then players will not travel nearly as frequently.
ReplyDeleteThe NBA either needs to start enforcing the rule or they need to change the rule. It is not fair that when players break the rule some get charged with traveling while other players do not. There should be clear cut qualifications for what traveling is, it should not be up to the refs discretion. Another option is to change the rule. Maybe instead of having it be 2 steps carrying the ball, they could change it to 3 or 4 steps. I think that the players along with the referees should work together to decide what the new rule is. This way the opinions of all the members involved are taken into account when altering the rule.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the travel rule should be changed so that the players can take 3 steps instead of just two. I think this because many of the referees miss this and do not enforce the rule as much as it should be. I think that it makes it seem like more players are being treated unfairly when others are not called out as much for traveling. If the rule added another step I believe that the referees can enforce the rule much more fairly and there will be less dispute between players and the referees.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think the travel rule needs to be changed. I instead feel the rule just needs to be enforced. Unlike many rules, the 2-step rule has a pretty clear definition and should therefore be relatively easy for referees to notice and call. I don’t think that refs need to be punished for missing a travel call, but there should be attention called to it, so the ref can call it next time. I think everyone is in charge of fixing this problem. The league needs to meet with officials and tell them to start cracking down on traveling. Likewise, I think coaches need to reiterate the travel rule in practice and teach their players that traveling won’t be allowed. Finally, it is on the players to stop traveling. They are highly skilled professionals and are therefore capable of stopping this bad habit.
ReplyDeleteThe nba gets millions of viewers that tune in each game, with many young kids that look up to their favorite players. Should they watch those players get away with a travel almost every time they perform a layup? The answer is no, they should watch good basketball with all of the rules being put in place. The traveling rule should definitely become better enforced, and a players should be allowed three steps. I do not think referees should punished for making a no call, they should be punished if they blatantly do not call an obvious foul. The players should be the ones that fix this issue, or the front office.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that the ruling should be changed, but I do think that the traveling rule needs to be enforced more by the refs. If players do not get called for traveling by the refs for any reason, people should call them out and the play should be reviewed so the refs can call it. I don’t think the refs should be punished for not calling players for traveling if it's just a few missed calls. There are many parts of the game for the refs to focus on and they can be distracting from the player with the ball, so it’s easy for refs to miss how many steps players actually take. If a ref is constantly not calling players for traveling and it might be on purpose, he should be called out or punished so in the future, refs would call traveling every time they notice it. Everyone needs to be involved in fixing this too, not just the refs. All the people who are watching and notice traveling need to point it out when a ref doesn’t, coaches need to make sure players don’t travel in practices, and players need to practice being more aware of how many steps they are taking in practices and games.
ReplyDeletei don't think that the rule needs to be changed, I just think it needs to be enforced. When watching an NBA games, it seems like players can take unlimited steps as they go to the hoop. In addition, players travel all the time when the ball gets passed into them because they are so focused on setting up the offense that they forget to dribble the ball. I do not think that refs should be punished for missing these calls, as it is hard to make every single call in a game. But, I think the league should put an emphasis on making traveling calls and have the refs look out for it more, because it is becoming something that is very common in the game. I think that it is the responsibility of the league, refs and players to fix the traveling issue in the NBA. I think that the league needs to put an emphasis on it, the refs need to enforce it, and the players need to stop traveling.
ReplyDeleteI feel as thought the ruling does not needed to be changed because the rule is fine. The only thing that needs to be changed is how much or how it is enforced. I think that the refs as well should not be punished because missed calls happen all the time in every sport. They are human, and make mistakes. I think that the board should change/help enforce this rule, because they are the ones in charge of the rule
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that the issue in regards to traveling is due to the rule itself, rather the enforcement of the rule. There is a clear cut requirement for calling a player on a travel, however, often times travels are missed by refs or simply not called. I believe that the blame for these missed calls can only be placed on the refs themselves, but I do not think that they can or should be punished for this. In the end of the day they are only human and do make mistakes. Additionally, in order to enforce punishing the refs, the NBA would need to add an extra layer of judgment which can create more inconsistency in the determination. While some times traveling calls can be the difference between winning and losing, many times the calls in question are relatively insignificant to the outcome of the game. Because of this, while I do believe the enforcement of this rule must be more consistent, I do not think anyone should be punished for the missed calls.
ReplyDeleteThere will forever be unfair calls in professional sports. Specifically, however, there has been an increase of confusion among fans, players, and refs regarding the 2 step rule in the NBA. Personally I do not feel as though the weight should fall on the ref's shoulders completely, however, they are the ones who in the end determine the call. (or no call) The rule is not carried out correctly, with much oversight of the travelling aspect of the game. The rule must be changed and enforced more frequently. Although human error is inevitable and a refs will miss things in the future, there's no time to review twenty plays during a game, so the entire NBA franchise must change the rule starting off with no player coach or ref in particular.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion nothing should be changed about the ruling. I think that what constitutes a travel is very clear. The problem is the referees do not always see when someone travels so they are not able to make the call. If a ref sees a travel and doesn't call it on purpose for some reason then i think they should be punished for that because its giving and unfair advantage to one team. But, people make mistakes and it is impossible for a ref to see every singe thing that goes on on the court. If it was an honest mistake I don't think they should be punished in any way, but if it happens several times they should be fired because obviously cannot make accurate calls. I do not think players, coaches, or the refs themselves should be responsible for fixing this because they could all be biased in some way. I think other unbiased sports officials should be responsible for fixing this problem and making sure referees make the right call.
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ReplyDeleteFans of the NBA have always found controversy over the 2 step rule. Like all sports sometimes calls are made that people are not happy with weather they are right or wrong in the given situation. I dont think that the NBA need to change their rule drastically, but it may need slight improvement. I dont think that punishment should fall on the referee unless that call made is blatantly unfair, or incorrect. Most fans have trouble putting them selfs in the shoes of referees who have to make difficult calls on the spot every game. Everyone makes mistakes, and there is also good room for argument in ruling. I think ultimately it falls on the referees responsibility. However, I think if there is a call that is especially questionable there should be opportunities for a second ruling.