Screening vs Guarding

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally posted by Hawks Coach
Rule 4
SECTION 23 GUARDING
ART. 1 . . . Guarding is the act of legally placing the body in the path of an offensive opponent.
ART. 5 . . . Guarding a moving opponent without the ball:
a. Time and distance are factors required to obtain an initial legal position.
b. The guard must give the opponent the time and/or distance to avoid contact.
c. The distance need not be more than two strides.

Hedging is not a defensive screen as I understand the rules. It is a new defender establishing legal guarding position on an offensive player, as I read the rules. I cannot conceptualize a defensive screen as the rules are written. Anytime a defensive player steps in the path of an offensive player, it is considered to be guarding. If the offensive player does not have the ball, screening rules effectively apply, but the act itself is not considered screening. And I don't see the difference related to blind screens as applying to the defense. That is, I have always believed that offensive players are supposed to be able to see where they are going, defensive players are not assumed to be able to do so.

I am not saying this to be argumentative. I have tried to run through various defensive scenarios in my mind, and every time I find myself seeing legal guarding position rather than a screen. Is this wrong?

First I would like to thank Hawks Coach for quoting the definition of guarding. It saved me some typing.


NFHS R4-S39: Screen

A1: A screen is a legal action by a player who, without
causing contact, delays or prevents an oponent from
reaching a desired position.

A2: To establish a legal screening position:
a. The screener may face any direction.
b. Time and distance are relevant.
c. The screener must be staionary, except when both
are moving in the same path and the same direction.

A3: When screening a stationar opponent from the front
or side, the screener may be anwhere short of
contact.

A4: When screening a stationary opponent from behind,
the screener must allow the opponent one normal step
backward without contact.

A5: When screening a moving opponent, the screener must
allow the opponent time and distance to avoid
contact. The distance need not be more that two
strides.

A6: When screening an opponent who is moving in the same
path and direction as the screener is moving, the
opponent is responsible for contact if the screener
slows up or stops.

The definition of guarding defines what a defensive player can and cannot do with respect to defending against an offensive player. The defintion of screening defines actions that any player on the court can and cannot do with respect to any opponent.


Example of a screen by a defensive player:

Team B is playing a 2-3 zone defense. Team A has control of the ball in its front court. A1 runs along the endline going from one corner to the other corner. As A1 running from one corner to the other corner, B4, who is playing the middle position of the three backline defenders takes a step backwards just as A1 gets to him. Contact occurs between A1 and B4. B4 was not guarding A1, but he was attempting to set a screen against A1. B4 is not facing A1. B4 did not A1 time and distance. Therefore, B4 is guilty of a blocking foul.


I have seen this type of defensive maneuver many times. I have called it many times. One coach in an AAU girls tournament did not like and continued to have his players do it. We must have called that foul eight times in the first half before the players finally learned not to do it.