[williebfree]

Hello Whistle...

(Response geared to Natl Fed HS Assoc.)

Rules Book (Section 27) Incidental Contact

Incidental Contact is contact with an opponenet which is permitted and which does not constitute a foul.

ART. 1 ... The mere fact that contact occurs does not constitute a foul. When 10 players are moving rapidly in a limited area, some contact is certian to occur.

Art. 2 ... Contact which occurs unintentionally in an effort by an opponent to reach a loose ball, or such contact which may result when opponents are in equally favorable positions to perform normal defensive or offensive movements, should not be counsidered illegal, even though the contact may be severe.

Art. 3 ... Similarly, contact which does not hinder the opponent from participating in normal defensive or offensive movements should be considered incidental.

Art. 4 ... A player sho is screened whithin his/her visual field is expected to avoid contact with the screener by stoppong or going around the screener. In cases of screens outside the visual field, the opponent may make inadvertent contact witht he screener and such contact is to be ruled incidental contact, provided the screener is screener is not displaced if he/she has the ball.

Art. 5 ... If, however, a player approaches an opponent from behind or from a position from which he/she has no reasonable chance to play the ball without making contact witht he opponent, the responsibility is on the player in the unfavorable position.

As you can see, there is a lot of lattitude in the official's discretion and interpretation.

Hope this helps!