held ball or foul

[canuckrefguy]

Originally posted by Mark Dexter
I tend to call it, and I'll use the hold signal. (When I then get really funny looks, I'll explain that the guy from behind 'bearhugged' the offensive player.)

Unfortunately, a good number of my partners call this sort of play a held ball.

I guess I fall into this category, then.

In these cases, I tend not to call a foul unless there is contact. Makes sense to me.

I will not penalize a good defensive play.

As described in the original play, more often than not, it's next to impossible for the player to tie it up without some kind of illegal contact. But you shouldn't anticipate it as such - periodically, the offensive player may move and allow the defender access enough to cause a tie-up. And you should call it as such.

If the defender is behind, wait to see what happens and take note of what's around - is there a press going on? Is it keeping the ball-handler from making a play?

Foul sounds good here, but don't be TOO quick on the whistle.


[Edited by canuckrefguy on Jun 2nd, 2005 at 04:01 PM]