Continuous Motion

[Hartsy]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

I think the real question you're asking is when does the "usual throwing motion" start on a layup? My answer is when you know he's going for a layup. If you know what the player is attempting you have seen the ususal motion associated with it. That's how you recognized it.

As far as passing on the foul, I try not to pass too much on layup fouls. A player making a layup has gotten great position and is pretty vunerable. Make a clear statement that you aren't going to tolerate contact in that situation.

I like your thinking here.

Just last week I called a foul during fast break that most everyone but me, including my partner, thought had to be before the shot. When asked at the half why I deemed it a shooting foul, I told him it was clear to me the dribbler was beginning her layup, and even though the ball was not in flight, I wasn't going to take away her attempt at a basket.

Lots of other contact on shooters occurs before the ball is actually in flight, but this sitch is the one that seems to be called as "on the floor". Think of all the times you see a rebounder in the paint try to get the ball back up to the basket but gets held on the arm before the ball is above her head. That isn't often called a non shooting foul.