Stiff Arm

[ChuckElias]

The NBA does not address this as clearly as the high school rules. The applicable rule in the NBA set is Rule 12B - Section I - a: "A player shall not hold, push, charge into impede the progress of an opponent by extending a hand, forearm, leg or knee or by bending the body into a position that is not normal. Contact that results in the re-routing of an opponent is a foul which must be called immediately" (emphasis mine.)

The rule does not specify offense or defense, so it applies to both. I think holding off a defender with a forearm would fall under this rule.

[ike301]

thank you sir.

RULE NO. 12
Section I--Types
a. A player shall not hold, push, charge into, impede the progress of an oppo-nent by extending a hand, forearm, leg or knee or by bending the body into a posi-tion that is not normal. Contact that results in the re-routing of an opponent is a foul which must be called immediately.

http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_12...av=ArticleList

Actually, that rule applies to the defender, not the ball carrier.

If you look in same rule 12, but section II - by dribbler. it doesnt speak about that 'stiff arm'.

ok. so let me switch up the comment a little bit. ok, 'stiff arm' may have been too strong of a description. Look at the photo below. HOWEVER, ignore the hand on payton's thigh.



Imagine the touching palm was facing out instead on his thigh. would that drive constitute as a foul? i just cant imagine driving to the hole limp arm.... so instead of a 'stiff arm', it's more like a guarded, flexing bicep/tricep move....

thoughts?

[WhistlesAndStripes]

OK dude, just spill the beans. What kind of rec league game did you feel like you got screwed on a call in?

[ike301]

Originally Posted by Whistles & Stripes

OK dude, just spill the beans. What kind of rec league game did you feel like you got screwed on a call in?

ok ok. you got me.

basically, at the end of the game (which we won), i keep hearing mutters that I was fouling on each drive. i did a 'protective arm' gesture waist high, but never pushed off, nor hit. i.e., the only time i would tense up on the arm would be when they would try to attempt to steal the ball.

no calls were made, and none of them said diddly if/when these allegations occurred.

trying to get some ref insight or literature....

[Adam]

Originally Posted by ike301

ok ok. you got me.

basically, at the end of the game (which we won), i keep hearing mutters that I was fouling on each drive. i did a 'protective arm' gesture waist high, but never pushed off, nor hit. i.e., the only time i would tense up on the arm would be when they would try to attempt to steal the ball.

no calls were made, and none of them said diddly if/when these allegations occurred.

trying to get some ref insight or literature....

A "stiff arm" is a push. The "swim" stroke is a hold. Sounds like you put your arm up to hold them back. Reads like a foul to me, but I can't see exactly what you did; unless you made Sports Center's Rec League Play of the Day.
As for their groaning, ignore it. If the ref doesn't see it or call it, it's not a foul in rec games; at least until he sees it and calls it the next time. Don't be surprised if it gets called, and don't b!tch when he misses some other calls.

Good luck.

[BktBallRef]

That's routinely called a foul Ike, in all leagues.

[JRutledge]

The photo does not tell us anything. The photo only shows they were touching. You cannot tell if he used the arm to pass him or was he already by the defender (Gary Payton it looks like) on the dribble. I would rather see the video than just a picture. Either way it goes this is a judgment call.

Peace

[ChuckElias]

Originally Posted by ike301

thank you sir.

RULE NO. 12
Section I--Types
a. A player shall not hold, push, charge into, impede the progress of an oppo-nent by extending a hand, forearm, leg or knee or by bending the body into a posi-tion that is not normal. Contact that results in the re-routing of an opponent is a foul which must be called immediately.

http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_12...av=ArticleList

Actually, that rule applies to the defender, not the ball carrier.

If you look in same rule 12, but section II - by dribbler. it doesnt speak about that 'stiff arm'.

Ike, can you show me anything in that rule or in Section I to indicate that it applies only to a defender? You can't. I double-checked. It just says a "player" shall not. . . A player is anybody on the court, including the dribbler.

The fact that specific things are laid out that relate to the dribbler does NOT mean that Section I doesn't also apply to the dribbler. Section I applies to everyone. JMO.