Tapping an airborne shooter

[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.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

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.

A tap on the shooting arm never affects the shot? Sorry, Skippy, but I ain't gonna buy that one.

There's little taps in certain places that can throw a shooter completely off. That usually includes any tap, no matter how light, on the shooting arm if the tap happens while the ball is being released. A light tap on the shooter's elbow can put the shot in the stands. That's the oldest trick in the book too.

And....if the tap is in a spot where it can break the shooter's concentration, and it does so imo, then I'll call the foul. If it doesn't, also imo, I won't.

It doesn't take much contact either on an airborne shooter to put him on his azz. Just brushing him on the way by will do it. You can't judge whether it's a foul or not by trying to factor in the severity of the contact.

Jmo.....soooooo.....I guess we disagree.