Why won't they call the intentional?

[Old School]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

The thing I struggle with is when to go intentional on a layup. Clearly any contact in the back here is intentional. But what I have trouble with is the strong down chop from the side that gets the forearms. The action is reasonable close to the ball and has a chance to dislodge it but doesn't really seem designed to do so, rather it seems designed just to stop the shot. Additionally this tends to be very forceful which raises the question what is excessive force?

I have a 3-point system that I use on a break-away layup.

1.) Is it a break away layup? That is the dribble has unobstructed path to the basket, no defender in front.

2.) Hard foul from behind, designed only to stop the shot.

3.) Shooter involuntarily knocked to the floor, and is very slow to get up. Possibly hurt.

Other intangibles that are not necessary absolute or;
a.) bigger defender smaller shooter. This excessive contact is much more likely to hurt the smaller player.
b.) Any hard contact to the face on a break-away layup. Page taken from the NBA.
c.) retaliation by the defender for losing the ball and giving up easy play.

Last, coaches teach that if you are going to foul here, make sure the guy doesn't make the shot. This makes the foul that much harder. It is being taught, it is the objective of the defender. Coaches will argue (talk out both sides of there mouth) that my player went for the ball. Most officials will yield to this interpretation and not call it intentional. Not me, if it meets my criteria above. Intentional Foul everytime! And I then tell the coach what he would tell me if it was his player on the floor, protect the shooter!