Hand Checking guidelines
 

The GPBOA website ( http://www.gpboa.org/Rules%20&%20Mechanics.htm )has some good articles for beginning officials.

One in particular is regarding hand checking, and was written by John Basorist, a D1 official in Michigan. The full article is at http://www.gpboa.org/Articles/Handchecking.pdf but the gist of the article is :
Also:
Are these guidelines appropriate for NFHS?

I am not all for the one warning, if you put two hand on the ball handler I am going to call it right now, now warning. I would also call it a hold not a handcheck. If the arm bar impedes the ball handler and is extended out from the body I am going to get it without a warning. I guess it depends if you are a women's or men's college official. On the women's side we have strict guidelines for handchecks and armbars.

These guidelines look very similar to the NCAA-W guidelines, and considering one of the articles on the GPBOA website is written by Don Rutledge, supervisor of officials for the WNBA, it doesn't surprise me there's some NCAA-W influence there. However, I've been told there are no cut-and-dried guidelines such as this in NFHS. I would suggest talking to your assignor or supervisor to see if that's how they want the HS games called.

My personal opinion: I think it takes away some of the judgement involved in the call. For example - two hands on an opponent is a foul. But what if A1 came right at the defender, and B1 puts up their hands as a reaction and A1 contacts both hands. You have to call the foul. But there's also no rules basis for calling it; your explanation to the coach is that's how your association told you to call it. At least in NCAA-W, the guidelines are in the rule book, and when we call it the coach has no basis for a complaint because it's written right there.

Don Rutledge is not the WNBA supervisor, it is Dee Kantner. In women's NCAA we don't give you a warning. The play you decribed is a no call, what I am saying is when a defender put two hands on the dribbler by their own accord.

They do not look like guidelines, but that is never going to take away from judgment of the official on a game.

Also these do look like NCAA Women's guidelines. I would not use these in boy’s varsity games.

Peace

Ok, I got it. Call the contact. It doesn't matter whether it impedes the ball handler.

But. . . you just. . . said. . . Didn't we . . . just agree. . .?

Cough, cough, bulldexter, cough, cough. . .

Are you sure? I thought Dee was originally, but didn't Don take over for her? It mentions Don as the supervisor in the article on the website - under "Articles of Interest", it's "Rutledge's Rules".
I'm aware of that as well. But even NCAA-W have backed off a little from their previous handchecking guidelines because play was being stopped without any obvious advantage being gained. They have put a little judgement back into the call.

The article does kind of contradict itself a little. On one line, it says officials "have the misconception that "I'll call it if it impedes the ball handler". But this is not the direction referees are encouraged to follow." Then it says, "Incidental contact with the hand(s) that does not impede the progress of the ball handler is NOT illegal."

I still think NFHS wants the judgement in there. Maybe we as officials aren't doing a good enough job in calling when it should be called. But I don't think they're ready to put in specific guidelines yet.

Don has not been the Supervisor since around the late 90s. Dee Kanter replaced Patty Broddrick about 2 years ago.

Peace

Dang it Chuck, you type faster than me!

However, I will disagree with your coughing spell. This is directly out of NCAA-W as well - armbars are legal on a post player with their back to the basket, as long as there is no displacement. However, armbars are not allowed on a ball-handler away from the basket, and once the post player has the ball and turns to face the basket, the armbar must come off.

Arm bars are not legal in NCAA-Men's basketball. Do not tell Z this; he might get upset if this is pointed out. ;)

Peace

<font size = +2>AH HA! It's true!!</font size>
You really have been keeping up on the WNBA!

:D

Wasn't Dee originally the supervisor in the beginning as well?

Oh?

The FED has already issued guidelines. Several times. The most recent one iirc was in the 2003-04 rule book.

<b>POE 2A- HANDCHECKING:</b>
<i>1) Any tactic using the hands, arms or body that allows a player, on offense or defense, to "control"(hold, impede, push, divert, slow or prevent) the movement of an opponent is a foul.
2) When an offensive player uses his or her hands or body to push-off for position, for spacing, for getting open to receive a pass or to move the ball via pass or dribble, it is a foul.
3) "Hooking" by the offensive players should be presumed a definite advantage. This is not a judgement call or tactic worthy of a warning. It is a foul and should be called without hesitation.
4) Any act or tactic of illegal use of the hands, arms or body(offense or defense) that intentionally slows, prevents, impedes the progress or displaces an opposing player due to the contact is a foul and must be called.
5) Regardless of where it takes place on the floor, when a player continuosly places a hand on an opposing player, it is a foul.
6) When a player jabs a hand or forearm on an opponent, it is a foul.</i>

Also from a POE the previous year:
1) No displacement of a cutter
2) The measuring up of an opponent(tagging) is hand checking, is not permitted, and is a foul.
3) Use of a forearm, regardless of the duration of the contact, is a foul.

As you already know,M, NCAA Men and Wimmen set out their own guidelines in the appendices immediately following R10 in the NCAA rule book.

When in doubt, use the rule book.

Jim, I would ignore those guidelines completely for NFHS. Several of them are just plain wrong, including the armbars and "tagging" a defender.

I knew this for two reasons. Don Rutledge and I share the same last name. And the WNBA started after my first year of officiating. I had not yet developed an open opinion on Women's basketball. After the first WNBA season, I worked a 40+ varsity girl's basketball and about 20 varsity boys’ and it was clear which was most fun.

I do remember she played some role early on, but it was not the Supervisor. I think she has just broken into the NBA and she might have been asked to do something for the WNBA, but I know Don was the first Supervisor.

Peace

JR - you're right about the NFHS guidelines listed. Maybe I wasn't specific about my specificity?

All of the items you list still have a measure of judgement to them - any tactic used to "control", for example, or words such as "tactic...that intentionally slows, prevents, impedes the progress or displaces an opposing player due to the contact". I was just trying to point out there should still be judgement involved in the call. I was responding to the real specific items, such as "any two hands on an opponent", for example.

I do also have to point out a little inconsistancy on your part. You made the comment, "Jim, I would ignore those guidelines completely for NFHS. Several of them are just plain wrong, including the armbars and "tagging" a defender." Well, in your previous post regarding a POE from a previous year:
2) The measuring up of an opponent(tagging) is hand checking, is not permitted, and is a foul.
So there. :p

So, I'm not saying there shouldn't be guidelines, just not real specific ones like the ones listed that seem to take away the judgement.

Don't worry, I won't tell the rest of the neanderthals around here about your secret love of the WNBA. ;)

:D

I could not even tell you when the playoffs started. I cannot stand the NBA, but I at least watched a game or two in the playoffs. ;)

Peace

M, I was trying to say that the GPBOA guidelines were wrong, not the FED's. The guidelines that GPBOA issued on their website and posted in the first post of this thread stated <i>"The defensive player's actions of feeling for a screen that may be set to the side or rear is NOT a foul"</i>. Well, that, my friend, is a form of "tagging", and the NFHS says that sureashell <b>IS</b> a foul. The FED has been saying that for as long as I can remember too. This ain't the first time that the FED has issued a POE saying that a defender shouldn't be allowed to gain an advantage by feeling for screens, etc. Iow, that GPBOA statement is completely contrary to long-standing FED guidelines, including the one that I outlined in red above. Btw, we teach "warn and call" on that one.

You can either believe something right out of the NFHS rule book, or you can believe something that is posted on the GPBOA web site that is completely opposite. Me? I'm gonna go with the FED.

That's why I would personally ignore everything put out by the GPBOA.

Well, your grumpiness, (or is your neanderthalness?) I'm not sure they are completely opposite. But, you know, we do actually agree in the fact that I wouldn't necessarily follow these guidelines for HS either. As far as the "tagging" line, I thought you were referencing the line that says, "It is a foul if a defender continually jabs an opponent." and saying that doesn't agree with the Fed. POE, when it does. That's all I was trying to point out.

I think this is an example of the what I've been lamenting on another thread - someone feeling they can expand on or change a Fed. ruling or mechanic because they think they know better. Whether or not it really is better is up for debate. But all it seems to do is present confusion. Someone can look at the Fed. books and see one set of guidelines for handchecking, then members of the GPBOA see their leaders' recommended guidelines. When in the GPBOA, do as GPBOA'ers, I guess. But why can't we all do it the same? Geesh!

Even if you use all the guidelines, it is about judgment. You cannot teach judgment no matter how many ways we talk about it. You either have it or you do not. You can give all the guidelines and what is a foul and what is not a foul and when the ball is tipped up judgment is going to take over.

This is why some guys get the big games and some do not. It comes down to your judgment and how consistent you can be with that judgment.

Peace

I agree with that completely. That's why you'll probably never get call uniformity across the country too, in either the FED or NCAA jurisdictions. Different college conferences have different philosophies too, and these philosophies get handed down by their respective supervisors. What might be a foul in the WAC might not be a foul in the Big East.

When in Rome, roam.....

When in Cleveland,......

Cleve? <font = font>

No, leave....

I agree with Rut, basketball is a game that requires judgement on every play and unfortunately, judgement is not uniform even by the same person from moment to moment. So often on the site, I see posters looking for a " book definition" to make calls and it leads to all kinds of speculation and distorted versions/extreme examples of plays where this or that might happen. The rule book is a guideline to help make decisions.

One part of the rulebook that gets overlooked, is the part that refers to incidental contact, that is the by the book answer that can be most helpful. Not every bit of contact needs to be a foul. Automatic/blanket calls can ruin game flow and just put more attention on the officials if a call that "by definition" should be made and for some reason, it is not.

As far as "doing it the same," we can when it comes to mechanics, but that is about it, like it or not.

The guidelines are a modified version of the NBA guidelines for handchecking when above the free throw line extended. I love them and use them in my games. It causes for a more free flowing game and more scoring which is what everyone wants to see.

Thanks everyone. This is a little confusing, but I understand that each official should be following the guidelines put out by their association or assigner. These Hand Checking guidelines are well written, but apparently not appropriate to NFHS.

What is unfortunate is that the articles on this site seem to be well-written and clear. If they were accurate, this would have been a good resource.

Personally, I like to see tough defense. I'm not a fan of the NBA's philosophy that more scoring puts butts in the seats and makes the league profits rise. Thus they wrote their rules to favor the offense. Good for them, bad for basketball. In the NBA a team is better off to be down by a point, but have the ball with under 10 seconds remaining. In HS and college I believe that most teams would take the lead.

The NFHS has a couple of very nice thoughts in the Intent and Purpose of the Rules. They speak of creating a balance of play and equal opportunity for the offense and defense. In the NBA this no longer exists. Instead of a game in which scoring a basket is an accomplishment and something of value, the NBA has created one in which getting two points doesn't really mean much.

So what is with using these NBA guidelines in NFHS and NCAA games? Who are you to dictate the style of play by the teams and decide what "everyone" wants to see? :( If you want to officiate that way get into the D-League or the USBL and quit working the other levels.

Arm Bars are illegal NCAA-M??? Does you TV get Big Ten or Big East games on ESPN, they let much worse than Arm Bars go!

Yes, if the defender keeps it on, or if he prevents a post player of attaining/maintaining a legal offensive position. The NCAA rulesmakers want it called. Whether it actually is a whole 'nother matter.

Nevada, I don't see how this is not considered "a level playing field" for both sides. I agree that I like to see hard defense and that is why HS and college still have the 5-second closely guarded count, but there is no way that you can tell me that the handcheck guidelines in the NBA are not the purest form of basketball and how the game was supposed to be played. If you can't play hard defense without chucking a cutter to keep him from getting to his desired spot, or without putting a hand on a player's hip while he is driving to the hole and rerouting him in the process then the defensive foul should be called. Why is the offensive player being penalized for being quicker than the defender. Yes you have created a level playing field I guess. The offensive player had an advantage on his defender(faster than his defender) and you leveled the playing field by letting him slow him down by putting a hand on him. By calling these plays early you have set a precedent and almost all of the games I have had where we take care of this, there was less whining, more points, and a much smoother game. This is what I was taught, it might not be what you were taught or what you like and I understand, and that is why it is so hard to officiate because night in and night out your crew has to be on the same page and that requires nights for me to either adjust with my crew or on some nights to get the crew to adjust to me.

Officiating!!! Don't you love it!

You must not watch a lot of Big Ten basketball. Not only do I live in a region where Big Ten Basketball is king, I attend the Big Ten Tournament every year for the last 6 years or so. I saw many times there was a call when a defender puts their arm on the post player. This also was a POE last season as well.

I cannot speak for the Big East. I do not see a lot of those games.

Peace

I cannot speak for what is pure as it relates to how the game was. “No defense” seemed to be part of playing the pure game if you ask me.

The NBA calls more hand checks than any other level. They do not allow the defender to put their hands on the ball handler on the perimeter pretty much at all. This is one thing that is pretty much "automatic" in their trainings. They allow more contact in the post and allow the defender to put an arm bar up in some cases.

Peace

Um, the actions outlined in red have been regarded as fouls under NCAA and NFHS rules for many, many years. They also have been established under guidelines as must-call fouls and have been the subject of recent POE's in both rule sets. The NBA has only recently adopted the stricter NCAA and NFHS philosophies on hand-checking, not the other way around as it appears you are trying to claim.

JRut,

I also live right in the middle of Big Ten Country and it is really hard to follow game to game what is allowed (contact) and what is a foul.

Problem number one is you expect the same contact from game to game. All teams in the Big Ten do you have the same talent or the same style of play. You are never going to accomplish that with different sets of officials working every night.

Peace

Problem in the SEC also
 

That's the problem in the SEC also. From night to night its very hard to see any real continuity from the officials.

I'm sure that a lot of that has to do with senority though since many of the senior officials can just about call how they want and get away with it.

Thansk
David