Maintaining a keen understanding of the rules and principles surrounding legal guarding position is crucial for a basketball official, particularly when making accurate foul calls in high school basketball. Here's a guide to help you ensure that you don't mistakenly call a foul on a defender who is in a legal vertical guarding position:
Understanding Legal Vertical Guarding Position
Established Position: Ensure the defender has established a legal guarding position. They must have both feet on the floor, facing the opponent, and be stationary or moving laterally or backward (not forward).
Verticality: The defender is entitled to a vertical plane extending from the floor to the ceiling. Check that the defender has maintained verticality by keeping their arms straight up and not leaning or reaching into the offensive player's space.
Jumping Vertically: If the defender jumps to block or contest a shot, ensure they have jumped vertically and not into the offensive player.
Evaluating Player Contact
Initiator of Contact: Determine who initiated the contact. If the offensive player jumps into a vertically positioned defender, it should not be called a foul on the defense.
Displacement: Look for displacement. A defender in a legal guarding position is entitled to their space, and if the offensive player displaces them, it's typically an offensive foul.
Key Tips for Officials
Positioning: Make sure you are in the right position on the court to see the play clearly. This often means being in the lead or trail position, not directly under the basket.
Patience: Give the play time to develop before making a call. Sometimes what initially looks like a foul may not be once you see the entire action.
Consultation: Don’t be afraid to consult with fellow officials if you are unsure of a call. Use your crew to get the call right.
Continuous Learning and Improvement
Study the Rulebook: Regularly review the high school basketball rulebook and casebook, especially the sections regarding guarding and fouls.
Watch and Learn: Utilize video resources, like those provided by “Come on, Refs,” to study plays and understand how to properly adjudicate them.
Seek Feedback: If possible, get feedback on your officiating from more experienced referees or use a mentorship program.
By diligently applying these principles and continuously striving to improve your officiating skills, you can confidently make the right calls on the court and support the integrity of the game. Remember, your mission is to help players and coaches understand the rules and ensure a fair and enjoyable competition.
ART. 1 . . . Guarding is the act of legally placing the body in the path of an offensive opponent. There is no minimum distance required between the guard and opponent, but the maximum is 6 feet when closely guarded. Every player is entitled to a spot on the playing court provided such player gets there first without illegally contacting an opponent. A player who extends an arm, shoulder, hip or leg into the path of an opponent is not considered to have a legal position if contact occurs.
ART. 2 . . . To obtain an initial legal guarding position:
a. The guard must have both feet touching the playing court.
b. The front of the guard’s torso must be facing the opponent.
ART. 3 . . . After the initial legal guarding position is obtained:
a. The guard may have one or both feet on the playing court or be airborne, provided he/she has inbound status.
b. The guard is not required to continue facing the opponent.
c. The guard may move laterally or obliquely to maintain position, – provided it is not toward the opponent when contact occurs.
d. The guard may raise hands or jump within his/her own vertical plane.
e. The guard may turn or duck to absorb the shock of imminent contact.
ART. 4 . . . Guarding an opponent with the ball or a stationary opponent – without the ball:
a. No time or distance is required to obtain an initial legal position.
b. If the opponent with the ball is airborne, the guard must have obtained legal position before the opponent left the floor.
ART. 5 . . . Guarding a moving opponent without the ball:
a. Time and distance are factors required to obtain an initial legal position.
b. The guard must give the opponent the time and/or distance to avoid contact.
c. The distance need not be more than two strides.
d. If the opponent is airborne, the guard must have obtained legal position before the opponent left the floor.
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