Low Contact

[drinkeii]

I have noticed between coaching and reffing that a lot of players use their second hand on the hip or side of a shooter and push, often inducing a significant amount of displacement. They get very upset when you call this, because their other hand and arm were straight up in the air, and if there was any contact there, it was completely legal. Coaches seem to be very upset with this call being made as well. Many officials seem to miss it. I'm doing what I'm supposed to - watching the entire body as well as the ball, rather than just focussing on the ball.

Has anyone else had experience with this?

It also seems to lead to a comment I posted about camp stuff. Would anyone say that if the player has a clean block up top, but pushes down low in the process (not the "follow through" - at the same time) that one should pass on this foul? I say no - a foul is a foul, and too many people are passing on fouls (or being told to pass on fouls) to let spectacular plays that have fouls as part of them go un-addressed.