Bumping the Cutter

[PGCougar]

Was watching a fall game and sat behind a coach listening to him tell his players how to bump the cutter.

Sitch: Player without the ball on the weakside short corner is attempting to cut into the paint to the high post. Defender in the paint closes the gap alter the path of the cut. Instead of maintaining a traditional "deny" position (partly facing the cutter while keeping an eye on the ball handler), coach tells the players to open up to the ball, widen their stance, and bump and block the cutter using their legs, backside, and rear end.

Didn't see any blocking fouls called in the game as a result. Legal or not?

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally posted by PGCougar
Was watching a fall game and sat behind a coach listening to him tell his players how to bump the cutter.

Sitch: Player without the ball on the weakside short corner is attempting to cut into the paint to the high post. Defender in the paint closes the gap alter the path of the cut. Instead of maintaining a traditional "deny" position (partly facing the cutter while keeping an eye on the ball handler), coach tells the players to open up to the ball, widen their stance, and bump and block the cutter using their legs, backside, and rear end.

Didn't see any blocking fouls called in the game as a result. Legal or not?

The definition of screening also applies to defensive players. If a defensive player does not give time and distance when setting a screen against a moving offensive player and contact occurs, the defensive player is guilty of blocking.

MTD, Sr.

[PGCougar]

But can you close the gap facing the cutter and at the very last second pivot in front of the cutter's path, sticking your legs and rear end forcing contact, causing the cutter to have to change his path? Is is solely time and distance without regard to stance? Or does LGP apply? Sorry to nit-pick...

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally posted by PGCougar
But can you close the gap facing the cutter and at the very last second pivot in front of the cutter's path, sticking your legs and rear end forcing contact, causing the cutter to have to change his path? Is is solely time and distance without regard to stance? Or does LGP apply? Sorry to nit-pick...

LGP does not apply to screens. The screener can be facing any direction and has to be stationary, but the screener also has to give the cutter time and distance to avoid the contact- but never more than 2 strides. See NFHS rule 4-39-2 and 4-39-5 for the applicable concepts.

[Mlancaster]

Widen their stance????
This is a foul if contact occurs....A player is not entitled to space wider than their shoulders (or thereabouts)

[mick]

Originally posted by PGCougar
But can you close the gap facing the cutter and at the very last second pivot in front of the cutter's path, sticking your legs and rear end forcing contact, causing the cutter to have to change his path? Is is solely time and distance without regard to stance? Or does LGP apply? Sorry to nit-pick...

PGCougar,
If your players use their peripheral vision and cleverness to *time* that block, it'll probably pass for incidental contact mostly.
mick