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This appeared on another discussion forum. I copied it, along with two opinions posted afterwards.
What do y'all think?
ORIGINAL POST:
This happened in a high school girls game...
A1 drives to the basket. She picks up the ball to start her lay up attempt. With 1 foot still on the floor, B1 establishes position in front of A1. The collision is square in the numbers. An obvious charge. In discussion with the coach following the game, she argues that her player was in her steps to the basket and said A1 could do nothing to avoid the contact. I agreed but said good defense and tough break for A1.
We all agreed the situation would look differently if boys were playing, because the boys can leave the ground more quickly and stay in the air longer, the same situation would have probably been a block because the defender would have to slide under the shooter to get the position.
RESPONSE #1:
This actually sounds like a block.
If the defender only gets into position after the shooter starts her layup by taking her steps and bringing the ball up, I'm not sure the defender made it there in time.
It all depends on the official's judgement as to when the shooter started her layup. You're right, it would've been much more cut-and-dried in a boy's game.
But this is a tough one to offer an opinion on without having seen it happen.
Bet the coach wouldn't want to make that call without instant replay!
RESPONSE #2:
There is no time or distance associated with block charge. "In the steps" of a drive has nothing to do wheather it's a block or a charge. If a defender moves laterally in the the path of a drive to the hoop it's a charge. If the defender moves laterally into the offensive player then we can assume the offensive player occupied the spot before the defender and a block would be called. Who intiated the contact? The offensive person moving forward or the defensive person moving laterally. You also don't have to hit in the numbers for a charge to be called. Shoulder, side of body or back it doesn't matter. If a coach suggests his player couldn't avoid the contact, they should teach them to drive to the hoop when there's a clear path.
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