I know that the ball is consider part of the hand when the ball is in contact with the hand , so my question is why is it that alot of refs call a foul when players atempt to block a shot and hits the players hand when the ball is still in contact with the hand. I have partners who call this a foul and do I call it the same if my p calls it or let it go?

By rule, this is legal. Pregame it with your partner to get consistency between the two of you. Talk it over at halftime if you think you're not calling the same game.

Because they don't know the rule.
Because they didn't see the play.
Because they call the sound of the slap.
Because they're not very good officials.
Because they haven't developed whistle discipline yet.
Because they anticipated that the contact would be on the arm.

Any or all of the above. Take your pick.

NEVER call something incorrectly just because your partner does. If you know the rule, do NOT misapply the rule simply because your partner has misapplied it earlier in the game. If you see your partner missing a rule, talk it about it halftime, or in pregame. "Hey, what's the rule in this situation? I gotta look that up. . ."

If your partner is calling a littler tighter or a little looser than you are, you can adjust to that. But intentional misapplication of a rule is never the answer, in my humble opinion.

Only when making a play for the ball, and only when contact is made by the defender's hand. Deliberately hitting the hand is still a foul, as is hitting the hand with other than the defender's hand.
Does this mean hitting the hand after the ball is released is a foul?

I don't want to over simplify this issue, but
there could be is additional contact that you don't see.

Over and over and over this summer at camps I heard; "let players block shots".

Even though the hand is part of the ball, some refs will whistle that contact on the shooters hand. Another quote we heard; "coaches are not usually as concerned about what you didn't call as they are to what you did call, so long as it's consistant".

Does this mean hitting the hand after the ball is released is a foul? [/B][/QUOTE]

such contact is only with the opponent's hand "WHILE IT IS ON THE BALL" not after it has left their hands

This point comes up all the time in base leagues. The players think that because they got touched on the hand it should be a foul. It gets old..."he ref, what no foul?"..."When he fouls you I'll call it" I always get hit at a dead ball wanting an explanation. Usually I tell them to go get the captain or I'll explain it to the coach one time and then point them all in his direction.

As far as after the ball has left the hand, I try to apply two thoughts (1) was it intentional? If yes, I'll expel some air through the whistle. (2) did it affect the play?

Am I wrong in this thought process? or could I apply it differently for better play?

I think this is a really good topic for a pregame. Tell your partner how you'll call it and get one the same page. You may differ in the locker room but that's where you'll decide how it is as a team on the floor.

IMOHO

Why do birds sing in the morning when you have to go to sleep?

I would not match my partner at all. I would call my game and keep calling my game. If there is someone there evaluating they will make a point of what calls were good and what calls were suspect or bad. You do not want the evaluators to downgrade you for being just as wrong as your partner.

Peace

such contact is only with the opponent's hand "WHILE IT IS ON THE BALL" not after it has left their hands [/B][/QUOTE]

It's not a foul to "high five" the shooter after the ball is gone UNLESS the contact puts the shooter at a disadvantage. If it messes up their landing or knocks them to the floor it is a foul, a minor slap is incidental contact.

I think my opinions are usually offered humbly. Either that, or they're offered sarcastically. I can never keep those two straight. . .

Chuck:

I think your post of this morning was dead on correct. It was a very astute observation of some of the problems that we face as officials.

MTD, Sr.

What does this stand for?

In My Outstreached Humble Opinion
In My Overzealous Humble Opinion
In My Oneandonly Humble Opinion
In My Old Humble Opinion

...hmmmm, maybe it was a typo...;)




[Edited by RookieDude on Oct 8th, 2004 at 03:15 AM]

aaaahhh???
 

Ornery?
Onerously?
Ostensibly?
Occasionally?

:D