How Long Can A Defense Stay in a Zone?

[cshs81]

A has the ball leading by 1 with 4 minutes left in the game. B is sitting in a tight 2-3 zone while A1 dribbles near the midcourt line. I know there is a rule that says a team cannot let a game become actionless. Does that apply here in this situation? Do you warn the coach to bring his team out of the zone?

[Texas Aggie]

No rule. Fed lack of action rule ended in or around 1990. The game CAN be an actionless contest.

[BillyMac]

From Texas Aggie: "The game CAN be an actionless contest"

Texas Aggie: Please check out this Forum thread:

http://forum.officiating.com/showthread.php?t=31728

I remember, previous to 1991, when officials had to know which team was ahead or behind and call out to the team to "Playball" or a technical foul for lack of action would result. I believe that if the defensive team was behind, they had ten seconds to move into a closely guarded situation, which back then would result in a jump ball, not a violation, no alternating possession back then, at the nearest jump ball circle, there were three back then. If the offense was behind, after ten seconds, they had to advance the ball over the old, although we still see it in some older gymnasiums, 28-foot hash mark. In 1982 the warning for lack of action was changed from 10 seconds to 5 seconds.

There are still some NFHS rules that deal with an actionless contest. Please see Rule 10-5 and note the words "similar acts". I'm not sure, but the situation described in the thread that I noted above may fall into the category of being a "similiar act" resulting in an "actionless contest". The noted thread would only occur in a real game with revised rules, in this case not allowing a press, however, a similar question was asked on an IAABO refresher exam a few years ago. Maybe one of our Forum members can recall the situation, the question and the answer from that exam.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by cshs81

A has the ball leading by 1 with 4 minutes left in the game. B is sitting in a tight 2-3 zone while A1 dribbles near the midcourt line. I know there is a rule that says a team cannot let a game become actionless. Does that apply here in this situation? Do you warn the coach to bring his team out of the zone?

How is team B preventing team A from taking shots?

[cshs81]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

How is team B preventing team A from taking shots?

Obviously, they're not, thus, the question. If there is a rule that deals with inaction, how is it applied? Is this a situation?

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by cshs81

Obviously, they're not, thus, the question. If there is a rule that deals with inaction, how is it applied? Is this a situation?

The situation that you decribe is not illegal.

The offensvie team can stand in the frontcourt and bounce/hold the ball for an entiure quarter if they choose.

The defense can stand there and watch them for the entire quarter if they so choose.

[deecee]

how the @#$#$ can you warn a coach to bring his team out of a zone?????? why not start calling plays and helping out on defense too...

where is W&S with his obituary on common sense?

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by deecee

how the @#$#$ can you warn a coach to bring his team out of a zone?????? why not start calling plays and helping out on defense too...

where is W&S with his obituary on common sense?

deecee, at one time, you could warn the defense to pressure the ball or you could warn the offense to advance the ball. After a count, it was a technical foul not to comply.

[cmathews]

Originally Posted by deecee

how the @#$#$ can you warn a coach to bring his team out of a zone?????? why not start calling plays and helping out on defense too...

where is W&S with his obituary on common sense?

deecee, man what are you saying, they help us all the time, this is just our turn to help them out LOL

[WhistlesAndStripes]

Originally Posted by deecee

how the @#$#$ can you warn a coach to bring his team out of a zone?????? why not start calling plays and helping out on defense too...

where is W&S with his obituary on common sense?

You asked for it:

OBITUARY: THE SAD PASSING OF COMMON SENSE

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouth wash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Panadol, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a student, but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended - his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

[gsf23]

Originally Posted by cshs81

A has the ball leading by 1 with 4 minutes left in the game. B is sitting in a tight 2-3 zone while A1 dribbles near the midcourt line. I know there is a rule that says a team cannot let a game become actionless. Does that apply here in this situation? Do you warn the coach to bring his team out of the zone?

Why are you going to make the defense come out of the zone?? Why don't you tell the offense to run a play?

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by gsf23

Why are you going to make the defense come out of the zone?? Why don't you tell the offense to run a play?

When the rule was in effect, the team behind had to force the action. In the case described, that would be the defense if the rule was still in effect.