Legitimate Play?

[TimTaylor]

Originally Posted by Adam

Here (US, NFHS rules), if you think a player is intentionally aiming the ball at someone's head, a flagrant foul (NCAA FF2) is in order and the player would be disqualified. In other words, he's lucky you let him continue playing.

I wouldn't have.

I agree. Had something like this happen about six years ago - JV boys game, player with an attitude didn't like it when my partner called a travel on him. When I asked him for the ball, he turned and threw it as hard as he could straight at my head from about 10 feet away. I managed to knock the ball away enough it didn't hit me in the face, then hit him with a flagrant T.

[Pantherdreams]

This is really a had to be there. Basically my rule of thumb would be if in the attempt to save the player has enough body control to pick a target, then if they target the head its a problem. If they are just trying to make a play and throw it hard and while off balance or off aim it hits them in the head I'll probably let it pass. Hard to determine intent but time/balance/control all come into play here for me.

On unrelated note I dislike the FIBA rule change to make the tech less punitive then the unsportsmanlike.