[BktBallRef]

Guarding is the act of legally placing the body in the path of an offensive opponent. There is no minimum distance required between the guard and opponent, but the maximum is 6 feet when closely guarded. Every player is entitled to a spot on the playing court provided such player gets there first without illegally contacting an opponent. A player who extends an arm, shoulder, hip or leg into the path of an opponent is not considered to have a legal position if contact occurs.

To obtain an initial legal guarding position, the guard must have both feet touching the playing court and the front of the guard's torso must be facing the opponent.

Once the guard legally obtains his spot on the floor, he may rise or jump vertically and occupy the space within his vertical plane. The hands and arms of the defender may be raised within his vertical plane while on the floor or in the air. He should not be penalized for leaving the floor vertically or having his/her hands and arms extended within his vertical plane. He may not “belly up” or use the lower part of the body or arms to cause contact outside his vertical plane which is a foul.

The player with the ball is to be given no more protection or consideration than the defender in judging which player has violated the rules.