This thread is getting pretty silly, but I gotta agree with Mick...by definition, a personal foul involves illegal contact...shoving the ball in someone's face is a non-contact situation, so it's gotta be a T, not a PC...the original situation is nothing - play on...just don't let the kid who blocked the shot taunt the one who just ate the ball...

We all call pushing fouls throughout almost every game. Sometimes it's from the rear going after a rebound. A trip from behind on a fast break is a "push." Many are intentional and either soft or excessive... My point is pushing is part of the game and so is our interpretations of the contact we see.

It's not a T "every time!" Consider the amount of banging post players commit and at what point you blow a whistle. If a push using the ball exceeds that threshold of advantage/disadvantage, its player control. It goes to the next level if you deem it intentionally excessive, i.e. poke in face. Also, many kids are fast enough to push another player away without the defense getting a held ball.

It's immaterial to consider a ball or jersey intervening as "armor" to negate a whistle for a contact foul. If you apply this logic, basketball uniforms as we know it will cease to exist...being replaced with motocross pads and helmets. A trip from behind could be legal because the shoe did it, not the player.

BTW - You probably won't see a rule or case on this because some bookworm would have been pretty quick to bring it up.

No, going for the steal is likely to get that fine defender called for a hack; so that fine defender doesn't pick up a silly fouls.

Isn't pushing the defender away with the ball contact?