Screening vs Guarding

[Adam]

Originally posted by rainmaker
Okay, I'm confused. let's see if we can ask the questions that will straighten this thing out a little.

1) (a)It appears that screening and guarding are two different animals and (b) the rules that apply to them are different. Is that the case? (PS This is a two-part yes/no question. No essay required).

Yup

2) From the rule book it seems that guarding is done only by defenders. The definition appears to exclude offense from guarding. Right? Yes/No -- with some small explanation

Agree.

3) The rule book doesn't seem to eliminate the possibility that a defender would set an illegal screen. It apparently doesn't happen very often, but it's still within the legal definitions?

It's not the illegal contact that needs to be defined, it's the legal contact. I can't see any instance where guarding rules wouldn't apply when it comes to defensive initiated contact.

4) What are the subtle differences between illegal screens and legal guarding? between legal screens and illegal guarding? etc

Bingo! This is the question we all want answered from those (MTD) who say the defense can set screens. In what instance would a defensive player set a legal screen that would be illegal guarding?
Mark, you called a foul on the baseline defensive screen, correct? Was she in legal guarding position but not legal screening position? Why did you call a foul?