Closely Guarded

[Camron Rust]

According to Dan_ref's interpretation, a defender must be in the PATH of the opponent to have a closely guarded count. Let's assume that is true.

Does a stationary player have a path? Since path, as Dan is defining it, is the direction a player is actually moving, the answer must be no.

This precludes a player that is holding the ball from ever violating the closely guarded rule.

It is quite clear that the intent is for a player holding the ball to be liable for being closely guarded.

Therefore, PATH can not strictly mean the direction a player is actually moving.

Another way to look at it. If I go hiking and come to the point in the woods where 3 paths intersect. No matter which one I actually take, they are all still paths. The unchosen paths don't disappear just because they are not taken.

PATH is any direction that the play may wish to take.