How late is too late??

[Rusty Gilbert]

We all struggle with what contact is illegal, and what contact is incidental. Sometimes we have to wait a moment and determine the consequences of the contact.

The general rule is to penalize contact that negatively affects a player's speed, quickness, balance and/or rhythm. The contact in this case that "sort of turns A1 around so he is going to start to dribble back the other way" sounds like the kind of contact that may be worthy of a whistle all by itself irregardless of the consequences.

There is also a principle "don't pass on illegal contact that creates a violation, foul, or turnover. Go back and get the illegal contact." (And then keep the response, "You're right, coach. It is a late whistle, but it was still a foul.") The fact that the contact made the steal possible just reinforces that it was illegal. Not blowing the whistle rewarded an illegal defensive play.