[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

BLARGES!! Oh how I have an intense dislike of them. The NFHS and NCAA Men's rules require the officials to handle it as a double personal foul. NCAA Women's rules require the official who has primary to take the call.

NCAA Women's does it the correct way. Why? Because by rule a BLARGE is impossible. Either the defender has obtained/established a legal guarding position or he has not.

Last night, midway through the fourth quarter of girls' H.S. game (two-person crew), I was Trail, opposite the table. A1 was dribbling the ball on the strong side of the court just over the division line in her front court. B1 obtains a legal guarding position against A1 about ten feet from her. B1 is standing about three or four feet above the top of the key extended on the weak side of the court. A1 charges into B1 and we have a double whistle. My partner started to signal a block but I took the call away from him because the ball was in my primary, not to mention I was wondering what the heck he was doing looking at the ball way out in the mid-court area (now there is a term only an old geezer like me would use).

After the game, my partner told me that he was not sure if the ball was in his primary but he had a better angle than me at the play. He was straight lined and I was at right angles to the players. I told him that the play was in my primary and that I had the perfect angle for the play and that it was a charge all the way. He did not argue about the play but he thought that a double foul we could have got away with a double foul.

MTD, Sr.