charging call

[Eric Huechteman]

Originally posted by readingofficial
I had a game this weekend and was working with a much more experienced partner. We had a call that we did not agree on. I had a charge, the Defender had L.G.P. before the offensive player left the floor to take a shoot and crashed into the defender. My partner tells me it is a block, because the offensive player was in the act of shoot before the defensive had L.G.P. Can someone explain to me the proper call there. Thanks

According to NFHS, once B1 has both feet on the floor while facing A1 within 6 ft., LGP has been established. After that, B1 can move to maintain position. Even if B1 was moving when A1 went up for the shot, contact would be a player-control foul on A1 (unless A1 got head and shoulder beyond B1's torso).

It is a common misconception of players, coaches, fans, and many refs that B1 must be stationary in order to draw a charge. An interesting note: B1 can even jump stop into the path of A1. As long as B1 is facing A1 at the time, he immediately gains legal guarding position. (Rule 4-23-4 states, "Guarding an opponent with the ball...: a. No time or distance is required to obtain an initial legal position. b. If the opponent with the ball is airborne, the guard must have obtained legal position before the opponent left the floor.")

So if B1 had already gained LGP and had not yet lost it, your situation would merit a player control foul on A1.