[BillyMac]

One of my mechanics class trainees asked me several questions about five second closely guarded violations yesterday, including one question that stumped me, which I further questioned after today's publication of an IAABO Make The Call video play commentary.

We talked about initial legal guarding position (defender's both feet on the playing court and the front of the defender's torso facing the ball handler) and maintaining legal guarding position (defender has inbound status, defender not required to continue facing the opponent, defender may move laterally or obliquely to maintain position).

We discussed six feet being measured from the forward foot of the defender to the forward foot of the ball handler (pointing out six foot radii on the court markings) and that the closely guarded count must be terminated when the offensive player gets head and shoulders past the defensive player.

We also talked about switching arms to change from closely guarded dribbling to closely guarded holding, and vice versa (possible three continued counts: holding, dribbling, holding); and that the visible closely guarded count continues when defenders "switch" as long as the ball handler is closely guarded throughout.

So I figured that we had it all covered until he asked me a final question.

Dribbling ball handler A1 is closely guarded by defender B1. Trail official begins a visible five second closely guarded count. Defender B1 lunges toward the ball in an attempt to steal the ball, misses the steal, and passes slightly behind dribbling ball handler A1, but is still within six feet of dribbling ball handler A1. Dribbling ball handler A1 does not move. Because dribbling ball handler A1's head and shoulders are now "past" (on the other side of) defender B1, should the visible five second closely guarded count be terminated?

I initially told him that the official should terminate the visible five second closely guarded count based on the rule language head and shoulders past the defensive player, but that I would double check with some research.

Today, before I had a chance to research the situation, IAABO published a Make The Call video play commentary, not on this specific situation but on a closely guarding defenders "switching" situation. The IAABO play commentary contained the language (IAABO language not NFHS language) defenders do not need to be in a "defensive stance," actively guarding the ball handler for the official to begin the count. The only requirement is to be within 6 feet of the ball handler.

So, back to my situation of the defender lunging toward the ball in an attempt to steal the ball, missing the steal, and passing slightly behind the ball handler, but still within six feet of ball handler, what say you?

Terminate the count, or continue the count?