Closely Guarded

[TimTaylor]

Originally posted by Camron Rust
My take....

A1 is closely guarded when B1 is within 6ft and is influencing the path and action of A1.

Once A1 is sufficiently past B1 so as to not need to go around B1 to reach their desired spot there is no count.

Well said Cam... a good common sense approach IMHO

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rainmaker

I wish it was more clearly written, though. I mean this thread started in the first place because a coach and I disagreed about how it ought to be called, and who's to say who's right? The book gives no support to either position. And this discussion hasn't cleared any of it up for me, at all.

Paraphrasing Camron's statement above, if in your judgement as the official A1 moves past the defender such that the defender no longer affects path or action of A1 - end of count. It's the officials' judgement that matters, not the coach's.

Same applies if A1 feints, then backs quickly away from defender & in your judgement opens the distance to six+ feet, EVEN MOMENTARILY, the count terminates & restarts only when defender once again establishes closely guarded status.

[Edited by TimTaylor on Jun 21st, 2004 at 05:15 PM]