[mick]

Originally posted by Hawks Coach
Mick, we aren't coaching to play defense differently, but I am watching your hand to know when you are actually considering a person to be closely guarded. The rule and its enforcement are usually quite different. If you use the rule, the person does not appear to be "closely guarded," and most refs use something around 3 feet to start their count.

I have never noticed anyone starting the count midway through the closely guarded situation, and I think I would wonder WTH you were doing if the distance between O and D didn't change and the count started well after the closely guarded began.

Okay.