Airborne Player Catching a Pass

[Back In The Saddle]

Yep. Guarding principles.

From NFHS 4-23:

ART. 4 . . . Guarding an opponent with the ball or a stationary opponent without the ball:
a. No time or distance is required to obtain an initial legal position.
b. If the opponent with the ball is airborne, the guard must have obtained legal position before the opponent left the floor.
ART. 5 . . . Guarding a moving opponent without the ball:
a. Time and distance are factors required to obtain an initial legal position.
b. The guard must give the opponent the time and/or distance to avoid contact.
c. The distance need not be more than two strides.
d. If the opponent is airborne, the guard must have obtained legal position before the opponent left the floor.

If the airborne player secures control, the guard is not required to give time or distance. If the player does not secure control, time and distance is required.