Offensive Player Tries to Split Defenders

[Spence]

Originally Posted by mick

If the offensive player displaces a legal defender, then yes, a team control foul may be called.
However, the fact that the offensive player may have made some incidental contact going through, does not protect the defenders from being called for any illegal defensive contact.

Give us an example.

My question deals specifically with the offensive player forcing his way between two defenders and tripping as he tries to get through them. If they're not sticking their knee out as he's going through and if they're within 3 feet of each other, aren't the defenders protected should the offensive player fall down or trip as a result of trying to squeeze through?

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by Spence

Give us an example.

My question deals specifically with the offensive player forcing his way between two defenders and tripping as he tries to get through them. If they're not sticking their knee out as he's going through and if they're within 3 feet of each other, aren't the defenders protected should the offensive player fall down or trip as a result of trying to squeeze through?

It all depends on displacement. In your scenario, the defensive players cannot be called for a foul (as long as they don't hold, push, etc). The offensive player should be called for a PC foul if he displaces one of the defenders.

If neither of these happen, and the offensive player creates some incidental contact but doesn't displace a defender, then there is no foul.

[mick]

Originally Posted by mick

If the offensive player displaces a legal defender, then yes, a team control foul may be called.
However, the fact that the offensive player may have made some incidental contact going through, does not protect the defenders from being called for any illegal defensive contact.

Originally Posted by Spence

Give us an example.

My question deals specifically with the offensive player forcing his way between two defenders and tripping as he tries to get through them. If they're not sticking their knee out as he's going through and if they're within 3 feet of each other, aren't the defenders protected should the offensive player fall down or trip as a result of trying to squeeze through?

Spence,
All I was trying to point out was that while the offensive player initiated the contact and went down, the defenders may still be called for illegal action by grabbing, pushing, bumping, holding, slapping, hacking.

The legal positioning of the defenders in your scenario is not a carte-blanche amnesty for the defenders to make illegal contact.

Absent player control or illegal defensive contact, the fact that the player is on the floor is often a no-call.