Closely Guarded

[gostars]

A1 is standing within 6ft and facing B1 but not actively guarding her (just standing there upright). Do you have a 5 second count?

[SamIAm]

Yes.

[totalnewbie]

I am a newbie.

In two scrimmages over two days with two different senior supervising guys I have had two very different answers to that question.

Note: I am using your facts, defender is 5 feet away, in a defensive stance, but not playing particularly agressive defense, but is inside 6 ft.

Day 1: I was told to call it and to call it right at 5 seconds.

Day 2: I was told that just inside 6 feet isnt enough, it has to be more agressive and that I should wait a second before starting my count, and not blow it until at least my hand had come back to my chest after the 5th count.

Frankly, to me, I liked the second bit of advice better. If the concept is to reward good defense, it seems a bit harsh to count and call it in the first example but seems entirely appropriate to call it in the second (particualrly when you tack a half a second "bring the hand back to chest" lag time to the count).

But I dont want to learn bad habits early. I'd love to hear the consensus of teh board (if there is one ) about this from a newbie's stand point.

Clark

[gostars]

I did some research in the rulebook. Here is what I found. The definition of closely guarding (NFHS 4-10) says, "A closely guarded situation occurs when a player in control of the ball in her/her team's frontcourt, is continuously guarded by any opponent who is within 6 feet of the player who is holding or dribbling the ball."

Then I went to the definition of guarding (NFHS 4-23-1). "Guarding is the act of legally placing the body in the path of an offensive opponent."

I think standing in front of another player would be placing yourself in their path. I would have a 5-second count.