Basketball faceguarding!!!
 

A couple of weeks ago in a rec league basketball game we had a game where the official called a violation on a player for faceguarding another player on a long pass. I said that the play is legal, what say you?

Your brother was right. It's not legal.
In fact, it's not a violation; it's a technical foul.

Can you give me the NF rule book number for this?

10-3-7d.

I found it in the case book, it's rule case 10.3.7 situation A. Thanks for your response!!!

For Coaches And Fanboys Who May Not Have A Rulebook ...
 

NFHS 10-3-7-d Player Technical: Commit an unsporting foul. This includes, but is not limited to, acts or conduct such as: Purposely obstructing an opponent’s vision by waving or placing hand(s) near his/her eyes. NOTE: Purposely diverting an opponent’s attention by waving is different than holding or waving the hands near the opponent’s eyes for the express purpose of obstructing the vision so that he/she cannot see.

This year the rule number has changed. It's now 10-3-6d. Go figure.

Good call, Snaqs !
I've got this year's books and last year's books on the same snap ring.
You can guess which book I opened.
I kicked another one.
Thanks.

Just checked, and sure enough, the case number has changed to match. 10.3.6A

HA! I was really confused for a few moments. I thought I was going to have to go get another cup of coffee because either my book was misnumbered or I have lost my mind over night. Good catch!

-Josh

Am I misinterpreting this rule or misunderstanding the OP?

Faceguarding is not an illegal. Faceguarding an opponent is having your back turned to the ball and you face your opponent in an attempt to deny him/her the ball. The illegal part of this rule is to "purposely obstructing an opponent’s vision by waving or placing hand(s) near his/her eyes." I believe we have two distinct actions in the case play (10.3.6 SITUATION A) and they might be misinterpretted as one action. Faceguarding does not mean having your hands in the opponent's face (or at least that's not the way I've been taught as a youth and seen it been taught by many collegiate coaches).

"10.3.6 SITUATION A: Does holding or moving a hand or hands in front of the
face of a player who has the ball, by an opponent who is in a legal guarding position, constitute unsporting tactics? RULING: Yes. The described action is illegal. It is unsporting for a guard to take a position behind a post player, or to take a position facing an opponent, or to take a position with his/her back to the ball and facing the opponent and then in either case, wave or hold the hands in front of the opponent’s eyes so that the opponent cannot see. Holding or waving hands near the eye for the ostensible purpose of obstructing an opponent’s vision is unsporting. (10-3-6c)"

Just my thoughts

-Josh

My read of the OP was that by "faceguarding," he meant obstructing the vision with the hands.

Josh - I was thinking the same thing as the post developed.

"Faceguarding" (as possibly this ref interpreted the play) as the "NFL-like" term of guarding a player with your back to the ball and never "playing the ball" is not a basketball violation or technical foul. My interpretation for basketball is the part about "waving or holding the hands in front of the opponent’s eyes so that the opponent cannot see" is the definition of "Faceguarding" I use. JMO

This is why I wanted to make the statement. I think it's a little confusing, especially for newer officials to read. Waving of the hands in front of the opponent's eyes is to obstruct the opponent’s vision is unsporting and earns a technical. The mere act of facing an opponent (guarding) with your back to the ball, is a legal act. (Or that's my interpretation)

-Josh

I guess I never would have considered that to be what someone means when they say "faceguarding."