[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I do not have my rule books in front of me. But if one goes to the personal foul section of Rule 10, as well as the definitions of guarding and screening in Rule 4, in both the NFHS and NCAA rules books, one will find the information to make the correct call in this play.

The first thing to remember is that the definition of guarding applies to the defensive team only. The definition of screening applies to all ten players on the court. That means defensive players as well as offensive players can set screens (both legally and illegally). Rule 10 also states that the screening rules apply to the player in control of the ball as well as a player who is not in control of the ball.

For the sake of argument lets change the play so that it reads as such: A1 is dribbling the ball in a straight line down the court with B1 following directly behind A1. It can be said that B1 is guarding A1. If A1 suddenly stops and B1 runs into A1, B1 has committed a personal foul.

But the original play is not as simple as the play that I described in the previous paragraph. B1 is moving in a straight line down the court. He cannot be considered to be guarding A1. A1 dribbles across B1's path and causes B1 to run into him. This is a blocking foul on A1. He took a position in front of a moving player (B1) and did not give B1 time and distance. This would still be a blocking foul by A1 if he moved into B1's path and stopped there. A1 must give time and distance to B1 when setting a screen.