[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Gentlemen, I am very familiar with the NCAA Women's rules. I only officiate a couple of women's game each year because of family obligations, but in 1974-75 I became the first male to officiate a women's college basketball game in the State of Florida. That is how long I have been involved in the women's game. I have many friends who still officiate women's basketball at the Div. I level (including two who also officiate in the WNBA and one who has officiated in the Olympics).

The NBA/WNBA rule that is used the NCAA women's game (without the semi-circle on the court) is just plain bad for the game. In the other thread I have listed the reasons why the NFHS/NCAA Men's rules are the correct way to handle this situation. The ball handler cannot drive anywhere he/she pleases without immunity. A ball handler who drives to the basket must be able to complete his drive without making illegal contact with any defensive player who has a legal position on the court. I think that everybody will agree that a layup is a higher percentage shot for the ball handler, than having to stop short and take a jump shot. That is the reason for allowing a defensive player to take a legal position anywhere on the court, even if it is under the basket. The ball handler must make a decision, drive to the hoop for the high percentage layup and risk making illegal contact with a defender who has a legal position on the court or stop short and shoot a lower percentage shot and not risk making illegal contact with a defender who has a legal position on the court. This is the reasoning for the way that the rules are written for NFHS/NCAA Men's and how the NCAA Women's rules use to be.

It is not a cheap foul when B1 "slides" over and takes a legal position on the court before A1 becomes an airborne player with the ball and forces A1 to make the decision that I listed above.

Personally, this is not a difficult call to make. The problem is that players, coaches, some assigners, and fans do not know the rule or the basis for the rule. The coaches complain, and in some states where coaches decide who does and does not officiate, dictate how the game is going to be called.

Officials have to know the rules and the basis for why a rule is written in such a manner. And then enforce the rule according to these guidelines and not the way coaches, media talking heads, and other laymen think the game should be officiated.