[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Without going through my files, Barb Jacobs made a mid-season interpretation four school years ago regarding a defensive player under the basket. Her interpretation did not include the term secondary defender. Ms. Jacob's interpretation was not based upon the rules as they are written but was based on what coaches and fans think the rule is. The following school year, the rule book included her interpretation.

The Jacob's Interpretation (JI) was not based upon the rules. It was obvious that she did not know the definition of establishing a legal guarding position and I doubt if she knew the definition of screening either. The definition of establishing a legal guarding position (both H.S. and men's & women's college) has not changed over the years. There is no particular court position required. By definition, B1 can establish a legal guarding position against A1 and be 93 feet away from A1.

As an earlier poster has said, we have beat this play to death this school year and last school year too. And we will probably beat this play to death again next school year and the next and the next, ad nauseum.

The fact is that Barb Jacob's interpretation is not rule based but based upon what fans want and not upon how and why the rules are written.

The real problem is that Barb has never officiated and wants the women's game to be like the WNBA. If she wants the game to be like the WNBA she should go to work for the WNBA. I say that because of her interpretation of letting defensive players putting their hands on offensive players. Just go to the NBA/WNBA rules books, that section of the NCAA Women's rules book is straight out of the NBA/WNBA rules books.