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Originally Posted by Scrapper1

4-23-3c clearly says that the defender maintains his position (which is a LGP, according to the previous article), by moving laterally.

The 2009-2010 Points of Emphasis Bulletin further clarifies what a defender can do to maintain his LGP.


4. BLOCK/CHARGE. The obtaining and maintaining of a legal guarding position on a person with and without the ball has been a point of emphasis over the years, but yet, remains one of the most difficult plays to coach and officiate.

A. The basics. To correctly understand the guarding rule, the following points are critical:

1) To obtain an initial guarding position on a player with the ball, the defender must get to the spot first without contact, have both feet touching the floor, and initially face the opponent. (not in dispute here)

2) Once the initial guarding position has been obtained, the defender may move laterally or at an angle or backwards in order to maintain a legal guarding position. Keep in mind that when a defender obtains an initial position with both feet touching the floor and facing his/her opponent, the defender need not be stationary but may continue to move in order to stay in front of the person with the ball. (clearly defines that movement at an angle or backwards movement is permissible to maintain LGP)

3) Once the defender obtains a legal guarding position, the defender may raise his/her hands in a normal stance or may jump vertically within his/her vertical plane. (not in dispute here)

4) A defender may turn or duck to absorb the shock of imminent contact. (not in dispute here)

5) A player is never permitted to move into the path of an opponent after the opponent has jumped into the air. (If a players already has LGP, then he is already in the path of the opponent. His backward movement is not moving into the path.)