Back screens
 

Coaching now. I know dark side. In the half court can a back screen be set just short of player contact or must the screener allow opportunity to avoid?

The rule for a blind screen is that you must give the screened player a step. If you do that, whether they can change direction or avoid the screen is irrelevant. Also even if that does not happen, the contact still has to displace an opponent in some way. So they could make contact, but if neither player is displaced illegally, then it is not a foul. A lot of judgment involved on this kind of play.

Peace

Doesn't this also only apply to screens away from the ball?

A blind screen can be set around the ball or away from the ball. Where the ball is does not change the basics of the rule.

Peace

Doesn't time/distance apply off ball?

The rule is that if you set a back pick on a stationary opponent you have to give him a step. By rule, if you dont give him a step...and you prevent him from getting from point A to point B its a foul. Rule doesnt deal with displacement.

Now, in practice, im not sure when the last time i saw a back pick where a full step was allowed. If they come short of contact its never called...unless, as Jeff said, there's some form of displacement. screener knocks him off etc.

Rule doesnt say that but that's way game has been played...

If they're short of contact it can't be a foul. I'm sure you must mean contact but no displacement?

"Time and distance" phrase really involves moving opponents without ball v stationary opponents.

If you set a back pick two inches away from the player, instead of a full step. He attempts to move to follow his man and makes contact w the screener-- he's stopped. ( i dont see that as displacement but prevented from going to point B). That's a foul under the screening rule. Again, its not called that way. Stopping short of contact anywhere on the floor is accepted in practice.

There must be some contact for there to be a foul obviously. Similarly, if im going to screen a moving opponent and jump in front of him just shy of contact...completely set etc. ..he then hits me and is prevented from getting to point B because that's a foul on me. Did not give him time and distance to avoid contact. Rule tells us where the legal position on floor is that we can set the pick.

Time and distance applies to all screens, not just the ones off ball.

Peace

Thanks for the clarification

In NCAAW, the phrase "time and distance" applies only to guarding and not to screening. Is that true in FED (i don't have the books handy)?

For screening (and I think this is the same in all the codes):

If the opponent is moving: Must give room to stop or change directions

If the opponent is stationary and the screen is "blind": Must give one step

If the opponent is stationary and the screen is within the visual field: Short of contact.

ART. 5

When screening a moving opponent, the screener must allow the opponent time and distance to avoid contact by stopping or changing direction. The speed of the player to be screened will determine where the screener may take his/her stationary position. The position will vary and may be one to two normal steps or strides from the opponent.

ART. 6

When screening an opponent who is moving in the same path and direction as the screener, the player behind is responsible if contact is made because the player in front slows up or stops and the player behind overruns his/her opponent.

ART. 7

A player who is screened within his/her visual field is expected to avoid contact by going around the screener. In cases of screens outside the visual field, the opponent may make inadvertent contact with the screener and if the opponent is running rapidly, the contact may be severe. Such a case is to be ruled as incidental contact provided the opponent stops or attempts to stop on contact and moves around the screen, and provided the screener is not displaced if he/she has the ball.

Phrase "time and distance" is in screening rule and also guarding dealing with moving opponents without ball.