What is handchecking? Please help me out here.

Thanks,
Matt

I can only give my own opinion on this because I think every official may explain it alittle different.I call hand checking when a defensive player places a hand on another player and moves them or forces them to go the direction the defense wants them to.Now thats pretty simple and there are other times to call hand checking like when the offensive player is driving to the basket and "B" pushes "A" with a hand on the hip.For me the judgement comes in when you have to decide when a hand is just touching a hip or actully pushing.

Thanks for your response. That really does clear a lot up for me. :)

Matthew

Handchecks violations can be called on the Offense as well
 

If an offensive player is extending their hand(s) behind the body to locate and/or control the defender you also
have a handcheck violation.

Here's a little referee trivia for you. The handcheck signal was eliminated from the official signal list a few years ago. We were supposed to call handchecking as either a hold or a push, depending on the position of the offensive player relative to the defender when the foul occured.

At the request of officials from all over the country, the signal was reinstated this season.

Now - if we could only get the NF rules committee to be as responsive to rules problems, we would be getting somewhere.

I'll keep that in mind, willie.

Mark, here in western NC, they still use the handchecking signal a lot...

Matthew

Re: Handchecks violations can be called on the Offense as well
 

willie,
I'm older than dirt, but I cannot imagine anyone reaching behind themselves and controlling me with a handcheck. With a hold maybe, but not with a handcheck. ;)
mick

Mick
 

It might be a regional thing, but I have heard a "veteran official" use the term in situations I mentioned...

You are right... I personally call it a "Hold" or "Illegal use of the hand(s)."