Fun With Arm Bars ...

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

... we don't call enough hand-checking fouls at the HS level.

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

... call a few and the defenders just stop doing it. There is a small adjustment period but after that you end up with no more fouls than before.

I think that one may actually end up with a fewer fouls to call.

Coaches and players have to adjust, there really isn't an alternative, other than star players and other starters sitting on benches in foul trouble, lots of player disqualifications, lots of free throws being attempted, and visiting coaches being forced to sit on cold buses in snowy parking lots.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Coaches and players have to adjust, there really isn't an alternative ...

Two minutes into the first period, star guard is called for a "touch" handcheck after placing two hands on the ballhandler for a few seconds. He, and his teammates that saw the foul think, "We're not getting way with those tonight". His opponents that saw the foul think, "We're not getting way with those tonight". Both coaches think, "We're not getting way with those tonight. As long as they call these both ways".

Of course, we occasionally come across a few knucklehead players and a few knucklehead coaches who really aren't very bright and who will fail to adjust and find themselves sitting long stretches, or the rest of the game, on the team bench; or on a bench in the locker room, or on a seat on a cold bus in a snowy parking lot.

[BillyMac]

10-7-12: The following acts constitute a foul when committed against a ball handler/dribbler. A player becomes a ball handler when he/she receives the ball. This would include a player in a post position.
a. Placing two hands on the player.
b. Placing an extended arm bar on the player.
c. Placing and keeping a hand on the player.
d. Contacting the player more than once with the same hand or alternating hands.

10.7.12 SITUATION A: A1 is dribbling in the frontcourt and B1 (a) places two hands on the dribbler; (b) places an extended arm bar on the dribbler; (c) places and keeps a hand on the dribbler; (d) contacts the dribbler more than once with the same hand or alternating hands. RULING: Illegal in all cases. A personal foul shall be ruled any time this type of contact occurs on a player holding or dribbling the ball. (10-6-12)

2014-15 NFHS Basketball Rules Changes
In an effort to eliminate excessive contact on ball-handlers and dribblers outside of the lane area, the committee added Article 12 to Rule 10-6 on contact. As a result, the following acts will constitute a foul when committed against a ball-handler/dribbler: 1) placing two hands on the player, 2) placing an extended arm bar on the player, 3) placing and keeping a hand on the player and 4) contacting the player more than once with the same hand or alternating hands. Rationale: Rather than continuing to make hand-checking a point of emphasis year after year, simply add a brand new rule that requires a personal foul be called any time this type of contact occurs on a player holding or dribbling the ball outside of the lane area. The NFHS game needs this type of illegal contact on the perimeter ball handlers and dribblers eliminated.

2012-13 Points Of Emphasis
Examples of illegal contact are: Hand checking. Any tactic using hands or arms that allows a player on offense or defense to control the movement of an opposing player.
Examples of hand checking foul.
1. Both hands on an opposing player
2. Jabbing a hand or forearm on an opponent.
3. Continuous contact by a hand or forearm on an opponent

Also, at various times in the past:
Regardless of where it takes place on the court, when a player continuously places a hand on the ball handler/dribbler, it is a foul.
Hand checking is a foul and is not incidental contact.
Defensive players shall not have hand(s) on the offensive player. When a player has a hand on, two hands on or jabs a hand or forearm on an opponent, it is a foul.