Contact on Jump Shooter
 

This situation happened last night during a varsity boys game.

Late 4th quarter on a fast break, guard swings the ball to the wing for an open 3 point shot. The defender runs to try and challenge the shot and pokes the shooter in the stomach.

I immediately blow my whistle as the ball falls short of the rim - shooting 3 free throws. The offending teams coach asks me what his player did and I explain that his player committed a foul by illegally contacting the shooter with the poke. He argues that the contact is not foul and should be ignored.

Keep in mind I hadn't seen this at any other point or shot attempt in the game other than this critical point.

Thoughts on this call?

travel

I would've walked away and not even address a ridiculous comment like that. He wouldn't have gotten another answer from me.

I might say, “Coach, at the very least it’s an unsporting act and I could have called something else.”


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Not a basketball play! Could have called intentional.

"Well coach if saying that makes you feel better..." Then walk away.

Peace

"Coach, I know some officials who would call it an Intentional Foul"

or

"I didn't ask for your approval"

Depends on my mood.

I tend to just walk away from dumb comments like that. The alternative is I come off as a jerk because I only have smart alec remarks. It's clear he either thinks I'm an idiot or he's an idiot. Either way, no reason to say anything here.

Then you get accused of being unapproachable because you did not respond or having an attitude. The problem is nothing you do with certain people works. So if you say something they will claim you were wrong and when you do not say anything you were also wrong. My goal, do what you feel is best for the situation and not worry about it.

Peace

Argues is a bit of a vague term. Go with old adage of responding to questions not comments. If he asks a non-hypothetical question you can answer him, otherwise it is just a comment that can be ignored or acknowledge with a non verbal cue.

Easy and great call. No room for that playground/rec league garbage contact. It is a dirty play IMO. As a shooter, it is very irritating/affecting too.

The problem is that is an old adage that does not often work anymore. If you do not ever respond, they escalate the commentary which will result in an action by you if it is never. For example, are you going to allow a coach to say repeatedly things about the foul count and never address those comments because they are statements? Because if you give just a T and say nothing, then the position they will have, "What did I do?"

Peace

Over the past two seasons, I've had my share of plays where a defender contacts the airborne shooter in the stomach or side. If I see it, I call it.