The principle is rather direct. Giving the defense the benefit of the doubt, if the potential receiver is a possible threat to the defender, the defender has a right to protect himself. When that receiver stops being a potential threat, the defender no longer can claim self defense.
When a receiver is moving away from a defender, deliberately impeding him is defensive holding (presuming the ball has yet to be thrown). Holding, in this context, includes pushing, knocking off stride with a shoulder of hip or any action that you decide is not related to the receiver being a potential threat.
No two acts are exactly alike and each one requires a unique judgment of what you witness is happening.
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