4-19-3: An intentional foul is a personal or technical foul designed to stop or keep the clock from starting, to neutralize an opponent's obvious advantageous position, contact away from the ball or when not playing the ball. It may or may not be premeditated and is not based on the severity of the act. A foul also shall be ruled intentional if while playing the ball a player causes excessive contact with an opponent.
4-19-4: A flagrant foul may be a personal or technical foul of a violent or savage nature, or a technical noncontact foul which displays unacceptable conduct. It may or may not be intentional. If personal, it involves, but is not limited to violent contact such as: striking, kicking and kneeing. If technical, it involves dead-ball contact or noncontact at any time which is extreme or persistent, vulgar or abusive conduct. Fighting is a flagrant act.
Both result in 2 shots for the offended team and the ball by throw-in. Intentional fouls are shot by the fouled player, flagrant may or may not be shot by the offended player (because it may be a flagrant technical)
A flagrant foul does result in disqualification (4-14-1), an intentional foul does not (unless it happens to be his/her 5th)
Since an intentional foul is "not based on the severity of the act" you will have to use your judgement. I get the impression that the defender in your situation that there was very little attempt to play the ball. You did say the foul was pretty hard and from behind, that sounds like an intentional. I would have to see it before I call a flagrant. Would you say it was of a violent or savage nature? Doesn't sound like you thought it was.
Hope I got that right, I'm fairly new.
Vets, be kind
[Edited by LarryS on Dec 21st, 2001 at 02:45 PM]