Tapping an airborne shooter

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

I guess I'm in the minority, but there's no way I'm calling a foul for a "tap" on the shooter's leg.

Even if the tap slightly displaces the shooter? Doesn't take much when he's in the air and that's all that's needed to alter a shot. It's like that l'il wee tap on the elbow .....it doesn't look like much but that'll put the shot in the third row every time.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Even if the tap slightly displaces the shooter?

There's no way a "tap" displaces the shooter. It's not a push, not a slap, not a hold. He tapped him. I'm picturing a tap like tapping somebody on the shoulder to get their attention. That tap might displace a 3 pound basketball, but it absolutely does not displace a 100+ pound teenager. It just doesn't.

It's like that l'il wee tap on the elbow .....it doesn't look like much but that'll put the shot in the third row every time.

It's not like the tap on the elbow. The tap on the elbow actually changes the shooting motion. A tap on the leg doesn't change anything, and doesn't inhibit the normal offensive movement of the player.

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

There's no way a "tap" displaces the shooter. It's not a push, not a slap, not a hold. He tapped him. I'm picturing a tap like tapping somebody on the shoulder to get their attention. That tap might displace a 3 pound basketball, but it absolutely does not displace a 100+ pound teenager. It just doesn't.


It's not like the tap on the elbow. The tap on the elbow actually changes the shooting motion. A tap on the leg doesn't change anything, and doesn't inhibit the normal offensive movement of the player.

I'm with Scrappy on this.

That's got to be 1 healthy tap to displace a human. If that's the case then we're not discussing a tap, we're discussing a push.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

I'm with Scrappy on this.

Sycophant.

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Sycophant.

Sackosh1t.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

Sackosh1t.

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.

Furthermore...I wave my private parts at your aunties.

[Dan_ref]

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Sycophant.

Oooh, Greek roots. Good for you! Show the fig, baby!

[lmeadski]

This is a foul for this reason: the stomach area is a bit more sensitive than other areas of the body. A tap there can force the stomach muscles to contract. That contraction will most certainly affect a kids shot. Now, can we tell if the tap truly distracted the shooter and caused a muscle reflex? Unless the shooter doubles over, probably not. However, having played and having been tapped in the stomach while shooting, I can tell you it can be a MAJOR shot altering event. Players attempt this/do this because they KNOW the affect it has on the shooter. No question in my mind: foul. I called this last year during a tourney. The kid asked why the call. I explained the stomach tap and the distraction. He just smiled, he understood. He didn't do it again the rest of the game. Foul.

[Chess Ref]

Originally Posted by lmeadski

This is a foul for this reason: the stomach area is a bit more sensitive than other areas of the body. A tap there can force the stomach muscles to contract. That contraction will most certainly affect a kids shot. Now, can we tell if the tap truly distracted the shooter and caused a muscle reflex? Unless the shooter doubles over, probably not. However, having played and having been tapped in the stomach while shooting, I can tell you it can be a MAJOR shot altering event. Players attempt this/do this because they KNOW the affect it has on the shooter. No question in my mind: foul. I called this last year during a tourney. The kid asked why the call. I explained the stomach tap and the distraction. He just smiled, he understood. He didn't do it again the rest of the game. Foul.

Thanks for reminding me what it was like to "tapped" in the stomach.

I will be more aware of this from now on.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by lmeadski

This is a foul for this reason: the stomach area is a bit more sensitive than other areas of the body. A tap there can force the stomach muscles to contract. That contraction will most certainly affect a kids shot.

No offense, but this is the silliest thing I've read in a while.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

There's no way a "tap" displaces the shooter. It's not a push, not a slap, not a hold. He tapped him. I'm picturing a tap like tapping somebody on the shoulder to get their attention.

What if a defender does taps the shooter on the shoulder then? And does get the shooter's attention? Is that OK? How about a tap on the nose with no displacement just when the shooter is letting the ball go on the shot? Little flick of the ear OK too?

Iow, I'm not talking "displacement"; I'm talking "breaking the shooter's concentration. Does that make any difference to you?

[Loudwhistle]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

What if a defender does taps the shooter on the shoulder then? And does get the shooter's attention? Is that OK? How about a tap on the nose with no displacement just when the shooter is letting the ball go on the shot? Little flick of the ear OK too?

Iow, I'm not talking "displacement"; I'm talking "breaking the shooter's concentration. Does that make any difference to you?

I agree with JR 100%, I'm a ticklish guy and if somebody touches me on the stomach or ribs while I'm shooting, it totally blows my shot.

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Loudwhistle

I agree with JR 100%, I'm a ticklish guy and if somebody touches me on the stomach or ribs while I'm shooting, it totally blows my shot.

I'm thinking we might need a new foul category -- Tickling? And a new signal?

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

What if a defender does taps the shooter on the shoulder then? And does get the shooter's attention? Is that OK?

Of course it's ok, and it happens all the time. Guy goes to block a shot, but the shooter is able to move mostly around him, defender ends up missing the ball and getting a light tap or brush on the arm or shoulder. This happens all the time. It doesn't affect the shot. I've got bigger things to worry about in my games than an "and 1" for a tap on the leg or shoulder.

Iow, I'm not talking "displacement"; I'm talking "breaking the shooter's concentration. Does that make any difference to you?

As others have said on this forum, "This isn't golf". If a tap on your leg distracts you to the point that you can't focus on your shot, you need to find a new sport.