[BillyMac]

Disclaimer: Below is not a NFHS interpretation, it's only an IAABO interpretation which obviously doesn't mean a hill of beans to most members of this Forum

https://storage.googleapis.com/refqu...Oom8K4YtrW.mp4

IAABO Play Commentary

Correct Answer: This is a player control foul.

This is an outstanding discussion play to outline the important aspects of the rules surrounding blocking, charging, and legal guarding position. Guarding is the act of legally placing the body in the path of an offensive opponent. (4-23-1) When talking to officials about legal guarding, they are very quick to point out there are two primary elements to LGP (1. The guard must have both feet touching the playing court, 2. The front of the guard's torso must be facing the opponent.) But we cannot forget about the path of the offensive player.

So does the defender obtain a legal guarding position? The answer is yes. When the offensive player catches the ball and faces the lane, the defender is directly in front of the ball handler with two feet on the floor and facing. Then the dribbler attempts to dribble around the defender and make a move toward the endline. In other words, the "path" has now changed. Now legal guarding moves from the "obtaining" mode to the "maintaining" mode. If the defender wants to maintain his LGP, he may move laterally or obliquely in an attempt to "stay in the path" of the ball handler. However, the defender may not be moving toward the opponent when contact occurs. (4-23-3c)

As it often does, plays such as this come down to did the dribbler get head and shoulders past the defender. If a dribbler can get his head and shoulders in advance of that opponent, the greater responsibility for subsequent contact is on the opponent. (10-7-8) From the sideline view of the play, it does appear the defender successfully gets both feet in the path of the dribbler with a wide stance when the dribbler's right shoulder contacts the defender in the torso area. From the endline view, you can see the dribbler's head, but not his shoulders, get in advance of the defender's torso as contact occurs. Also, it does not appear the defender is moving forward from this angle but is actually stationary when the contact occurs.

Based on these factors, this would be considered a player control foul. This can be a challenging play. When ruling on dribbler/defender contact, the head and shoulders concept can really help simplify the ruling for officials. Look and see where the contact is committed. If the ball handler did not get head and shoulders by the defender when contact occurred, there is a high probability the defender was successful in getting into the path to obtain or maintain LGP.

Here is the breakdown of the IAABO members that commented on the video: This is a player control foul 78% (including me). This is a blocking foul 22%.