Tapping an airborne shooter

[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.