Blocked shot with contact

[williebfree]

Not in the BASKETBALL officials manual.... Prudent use of it is advised, for issues of ball tipped out of bounds, last touched in the front court by the defender, etc....

I have worked with partners who are "Foul tip fanatics." Unfortunately, I had an incident where partner (reaching out of his primary) giving his "almighty signal" as the "shot blocker's" momentum carried him solidly into the shooter.

It is ugly when you make the the correct call (in your primary), on a game-deciding, buzzer-beating shot ---- "overruling" your "clean block" foul tip fanatic partner's signal.

Bottom Line:
Your choice to not call a foul should imply you viewed it as a clean block.

[wisref2]

I like using the guidance that if you think the block would not have been possible without the somewhat substantial contact, call it a foul. If the player is on the floor, you can also call a good block followed by a foul (if the shot is missed).

On the tipped shot issue - it looks silly, first off. Secondly, if you don't blow the whistle, that's a pretty good signal that no foul occured. Thirdly, you really look silly if you signal a blocked shot and your partner blows a whistle for a foul (and how many times have we seen that!). Fourthly, it's not communicating anything that hasn't been seen by everyone. Fifthly, it's usually seen done by rookies so if you do it, you look like a rookie.