When to stop closely guarded count?
 

I have a rookie question that when I have asked at meetings, everyone seems to not be able to give a definitive answer. You have a closely guarded situation at the top of the key. You start the 5 count with your left hand. They start their dribble and are still closely guarded for a 4 count, then make a move to the basket while still closely guarded. Do you blow the whistle at 5 while they are moving toward the basket, or do you stop the count as they are making a "move" to the basket?

Your question is very clearly answered by the new rules book.
The count is terminated if the dribbler gets his head and shoulders past the defender. (4-10)

I should add that if this doesn't happen before the five seconds are up, then a closely guarded violation has occurred.

Memories
 

From Jackson35: "Do you stop the count as they are making a "move" to the basket?"

Many, many years ago, the dribbler earned a new count when he or she made a "move" past the 28 foot hashmark, but that was when we were having several jump balls in a game, players only got two points for a half court shot, and players along the lane line rebounded when the ball hit the rim, or was it on the release? I think that we've reversed ourselves a few times on the last reference.

There is still a lot of confusion on this by veteran officials. The count continues until the dribbler gets his head and shoulders past the defender. A lot of officials still release the count if the dribbler makes a move on the basket. However, the rule is pretty clear when to end the count.

As others have said...it's head and shoulders past the D....

The rule before seemed to favor the O if all they had to do was make a move toward the basket...If the D is still on them, that count continues...

Regarding closely guarded...

the distance from the freethrow line to the top of the key is 4'9", correct?

and closely guarded count starts when the front foot of the ball handler and the front foot of the defender are within 6', correct?

I don't know about you guys, but if I see a player carrying his shampoo on the court, it's a T.

OK - I'll admit that was my lamest post in a long time. :o

A better measurement is gotten by using the center circle, which is 6' in radius. The rule says nothing about body parts, just says guarder needs to be within 6'

The radius of the circle is 6 feet. The same applies to the center circle from the center line.

Peace

c'mon, give yourself some credit - you're typically much lamer than this.

You couldve gone more lamerer by saying "a nobleman bringing his shampoo on the court should be a violation but killing him seems a little extreme"...

Thanks, I tell my guys to use the center circle measurement to guage their distance from their opponent. I was just wondering if why in my head there seemed to be a discrepancy with the freethrow circle. the freethrow line is 15', top of the key is 19' 9", are they measured from different points (baseline versus basket, or vice versa)?

Also, I remember reading in this years rules/case book something about the front foot of each player being within 6', I will try to find the reference when i get to my book when I get home tonight. If someone else can help, I would appreciate it.

Just asking, because different officials seem to have a different perception of how close a defender must be to start a count, but the floor markings should be consistant, barring an earthquake. I've had an official that does Div I NCAA games that occasionally slums it and does HS varsity games tell me that if the defenders not close enough to touch the ballhandler, its not close enough to start counting.

the rule does reference that the distance is to be measured from front foot of defender to front foot of offensive player...don't have my book with me for a reference, but that wording is in the rule...

Not from what I can find in the 2006/2007 nfhs book in both rule 4 & rule 9 and case plays.

I guess you'll post your rule later.

I believe the lane spaces are also three foot and can be used as a guide.