[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Here are somethings that should be remembered.

1) Only the defense can guard.

2) Anybody on the court can set a screen. That means that
the ball handler is subject to the provisions of the
screening rule and defenders can set screens.

3) The pricipal of verticality applies to all players on the
court.

4) Time and distance applies for guarding or screeing only
when the guarding and screening is against a player with-
out the ball.

5) Time and distance does not apply when guarding or scree-
ning is against a player with the ball as long the player
with the ball is not airborne. If the player wiht the
ball is airborne, only distance applies. That means the
player who is guarding or screening must only allow the
player with the ball to come down.

6) A player who has control of the ball must expect to be
guarded at all times starting with the instant he esta-
blishes player control. A player without the ball does
not have to be expected to be guarded all of the time.

A1 is occupying a space on the court prior to B1, who has control of the ball, becomes airborne and makes contact with A1 before returning to the floor. Has a foul been committed and if so who has committed the foul? Those are the questions that must be asked.

In the above play B1 has committed a personal foul. The foul is a common foul and if foul occurs during a try it is a player control foul.

One can find a plethora of plays covering guarding and screeing (I prefer guarding and screening to block/charge) in publications by the NFHS, NCAA, IAABO, FIBA, and Referee Magazine.