Block or Charge? Non-torso contact

[thedewed]

interesting, here is what I would add that hasn't been said.

just because you have contact between a ball handler and a defender and somebody ends up on the ground doesn't necessarily mean you have a call. the old saying of basically 'if you have players on the court, you better have a whistle' isn't appropriate. So for example, a defender have the right to a spot on the floor, and isn't under obligation to move out of the way if a dribbler is coming at him. at the same time, if the ball handler gets his head and shoulders past the defender, you really shouldn't call a foul on him either. so don't call anything.

I got hired into collegiate officiating by being questioned about such a non-call by the group of senior officials in the dead ball huddle of a camp game, explaining why I didn't have a call despite the old wives tale mentioned above, was reported to the head of officials because a female referee was involved as one of the clinicians and it was construed as me being disrespectful with her in attendance (apparently I don't discriminate), and when I got in front of the head, he was impressed with my explanation and balls to lay it out in front of the older officials. best thing that ever happened to me.

secondly, I think if a defender 'guesses' right in terms of a drivers change of direction in a Euro step move, etc, and takes the blow, he's going to likely get the benefit of the doubt from me and a charge call. Seems like I see quite a few plays take place where that isn't the case.

Charges taken by defenders, particularly secondary, are great team defense and one of the aspects that make the game so great, help on defense. the game wouldn't be the same without it. you have drivers these days that are as shifty and quick as running backs and creating a lot of the contact themselves. the rules of the game are great in that they reward position and penalize displacement, most prominently in this b/c play.