quote:
Originally posted by JoeT on 12-22-1999 02:02 PM
As coaches, we definitely demand that players initiate some contact on a boxout. How do you distinguish between the legal boxout and a foul?
Joe,
I think that the distinction comes in when the player boxing out starts to displace the other player. There is nothing wrong with "contact" - meaning that the players are touching each other as they are trying to get into a favorable position to rebound. But once pushing starts it has to be called. This could either be "backing out" when a player just keeps backing up into the player behind him, or it could be the common shove in the back (a la Dennis Rodman) in order for the player furthest away from the goal to secure the rebound.
Too many players today "box out" by reaching both arms back, grabbing the player, and backing up - that is a foul! The severity of the contact is going to determine whether there is a call or not. Also, where the ball rebounds to is going to have an impact on the play - if the rebound goes all the way out to the free throw line and you have a guy pushing a bit right under the basket it is probably a no call (but maybe a warning). If the rebound comes right to two opposing players and one pushes the other, which results in him getting the rebound you should have a foul.
Later,
Brad