[mick]

Originally posted by Hawks Coach
I like Jeff's way of doing it. If you think they are getting a little to active on the measuring up and it could devolve into something more, talk to them. But in realtiy, there is no significant advantage gained on this type of contact, it just can begin to lead to a little more undesirable activity. If you warn them off the touchy feely stuff and they then choose to continue, hit them with the foul. But let players play the game and call what needs to be called.

A cheap foul on the starting point guard early in the game when no meaningful advantage was gained is not worth calling. It may look like a little message from the ref in the first quarter, but it may turn out to put a player in foul trouble. If you can accomplish the same end (stopping the unnecessary contact) without calling the foul, and not really disadvantage anybody in the process, talk them out of the silly stuff.

Tony, I know you can quote chapter and verse of the rules. But since the handcheck rules aren't commonly enforced that tightly. By stepping in and enforcing tightly without first warning, you do potentially impact the game without having changed the way it gets played.

Hawks Coach,

Dribbler in front court five feet offthe division line being hand touched my defender.

Post Player, back to the board, with the ball faking right and left with defenders hand riding him.
You want a warning? ...On ball?
Except for a few noted exceptions, you have to make the call/no-call. Verbal warnings are acceptable in many cases, but applicable to only off-ball situations.
If you want to coach hand riding by your point guard to test the officials, that is certainly your right, and... your gamble.
mick