Swinging Elbows: Violation or Foul?

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by deecee

if a defender turns normally with elbows out and a defender has his ol face where it shouldnt be -- ie right on the pivoting player -- and gets it in the chin with an elbow what do you got?

i got no call. there is a difference between swinging and pivoting and protecting the ball.

The difference is that pivoting without swinging will not be a violation but it is still possible to be a foul. In the case you mention, why shouldn't the defenders face be there??? I allow defenders to keep their heads on top of their torsos...and I expect the defenders to get right up to the opponent. They don't have to give them ANY room whatsoever. If the defender is there, they player with the ball should go the other way.

[BillyMac]

According to the 2002-03 NFHS Rule Book, page 4, Comments on the Rules Revisions: The penalty for excessive swinging of the elbows was changed back to a violation from a technical foul. The previous rule of a technical foul (changed in 1993-94) was very seldom called, as the penalty was very severe, without contact with an opponent. The committee hoped that by changing this infraction back to an enforceable and less severe penalty (a violation), that the call would be made more frequently and will acheived the desired result of reducing the potential of rough play.