I've not called any hand checks this year (10 games). I've not seen many called by my partners, either. So here's my question. What do you look for when calling a hand check? Do you call any contact with the hand? Do you wait until the defenders arm is locked? Would you call hand check if the defender placed his/her hand on the offensive player and then immediately removed it? Or does it have to be on the offensive player for some period of time? Do you warn the player ahead of time before making the call? I've had some refs tell me that they say something like "21, get your hands off!". They do that once or twice then they start calling it.

Bottom line, at what point does it become an advantage gained by the defender?

Thanks!

I believe a hand check is always and advantage to the defender. That said, I probably don't call it enough.

Mregor

If he intentionally places his hand on the player, I call it. But they're quick and I don't get'em all.

If he has a hand on him and the dribbler is driving, I'll give the dribbler an opportunity to complete his move, especially if it appears he might be shooting.

If his hand simply touches him unintentionally in the normal course of offensive and defensive movments, I don't call it. The higher the hand or the longer the touch, the less unintentional to becomes to me.

You have to differentiate beween the defender and offensive player making contact that is initiated by the offensive player trying to fight around a defender who is well positioned and moving his feet to maintain that position, and an offensive player who is moving and a defender extending a hand to check the dribbler because he isn't keeping up.

Most of the contact on dribblers, in my experience, is the former. Tight quarters with both players moving - this isn't a hand check and isn't a PC foul. It's just contact. You can start to see handchecking when the defenders aren't keeping up with the dribblers, and then BBR is right - it is clearly being done with intent.

The defender puts 2 hands on the dribbler, automatic hand check.

If the hand on the offencive player is an advantage to the defender, I've got a hand check. If it's not I've got a no call.

My philosophy.
 

I only call it when it affect the direction and the movement of the dribbler. It is always good to get it early in the game, so if you have to call it later no one can say you had not called it all game long. For me it is not about touching, it is about direction or impeding. If they touch them and the dribbler is not trying to go North and South, that is the best time to call it. If they are going East and West, I will wait and see what happens. If the defender is directing, I will try to wait a second to see what the dribbler might do. Basically have a slow whistle so I can see if he makes a pass for a layup or eventually beats the defender. If the dribbler beats the defender, I might not call anything until he gets ready to shoot the ball. Then I will call a shooting foul, usually they get the message then.

But I always think you have to call it early, because late in the fourth quarter or in the second half, if you have not called it is way too late.

Peace

Guys.,

What about one hand on the offensive player's hip at midcourt, do you call it?

If the defender locks the arm i call it. I call it a lock and load.

SBQ.

If the hand affects the ballhandler's Speed, Balance, or Quickness, it's a foul.

Does it slow him down? Foul.
Does it move him to one side? Foul.
Does it take away his first step? Foul.

SBQ.

I see the forearm/wrist check more than the hand check.
I tend to call both early and any time the dribbler is redirected.

Hawks' -- In general, I agree with you, except that a hand out in front is never legal guarding position, so the defender is automatically not "well-positioned." Hands and arms are only legal if they are straight up. I'm not saying I call anything that involves touching with hands and arms out front, but I don't think "well-positioned" is possible with hands not up, unless there's no contact.

Hmmmm....:confused:

Hmmm..... what?

I'm not sure what you're saying.

Except that's the legal way to contact the dribbler (for up to two seconds, without affecting quicknes, direction, balance) in NCAAW ball -- so that's what you see being taught.

A hand -- immediate whistle (by rule ... how it's called might vary)

A forearm -- wait and see what happens.

As far as Hawks Coach's "offensive player trying to fight around a defender who is well positioned and moving his feet to maintain that position" situation, hand-checking is certainly not going to be a possible call if the hands are "well-positioned". The question of whether to call hand-checking is only an issue when the hands make contact by NOT being well-positioned.

Two hands on player - automatic illegal hands.

We allow reaching out and touching - measuring the player. One hand OK but don't keep it on there.

Think what you'd call of offense was touching another player. Should be the same.

I have ceased making hand check calls this year. I have made them in the past and people seem to think if you call them once then everytime anyone puts a hand on the dribbler, it should be a hand check. Instead of calling a hand check, I simply call a hold. It seems that you don't have as many problems with this call as the hand check.