The Anti-Packer
 

Did anyone catch the NC-Nevada men's game on ESPN last night. Second time I had heard Fran Fraschilla properly elucidate a rules justification. NC played was dribbling down lane on the way to a shot when defender slid over and got hit in torso. He properly noted during slo-mo that defender established LGP and therefore was entitled to move laterally and take contact. Had a few other choice rules related comments that were also on point.
Refreshing breath of fresh air from the talking heads. Kudos to Fraschilla.

Yeah, I saw the game too and recall the play you're referring to. I thought it was great that the UNC player called for the charge had a little grin on his face, but popped right off the ground without argument, and ran the other way to play defense. A good lesson for all the whiners and complainers!

The commentators were Steve Lavin and Bob Wischusen. Fran Fraschilla was not on the game.

I think that may have been Fran making that comment at the Notre Dame - Depaul game. But I did catch it... and I said to my father (who is a HS coach) that everything that he just said is absolutely correct, ruleswise.

Fran tends to bend over backwards to explain the rule. He even talks about things as POE that really is not. But I appreciate his comments because he even explains how fans see things and points out how they are wrong as it relates to the rules.

Peace.

[QUOTE=justacoach;563421]Did anyone catch the NC-Nevada men's game on ESPN last night. Second time I had heard Fran Fraschilla properly elucidate a rules justification.

You keep using words like "elucidate" and no one will talk to you anymore!!:)

"She walks in beauty, like the night" ...
 

Not true. mbyron will not only understand the post without using a dictionary, but he will respond in similar fashion.

I attended the NC @ NV game last night in person, so I did not hear the TV commentary. :D

However, I did watch the Villanova @ Marquette game today and Fran Fraschilla most definitely was one of the broadcasters for it. He made a number of excellent rules comments and properly assessed several situations.

One of his comments following a PC foul was spot on as he stated that even though the defender (James of Marquette) was moving on the play, he had established LGP with both feet on the floor and facing the opponent and then was allowed to be moving sideways or backwards when the offensive player ran over him. He even added that this is not what most fans think. :eek:

He is doing a wonderful job. :)

So he'll be fired soon?

(I know that your comment was intended to be amusing.)

Not if I can help it.

I plan to write a letter to ESPN praising the job that he is doing and urging them to hire more announcers with a quality understanding of the rules or getting the people that they already have to spend some time increasing theirs.

Could someone explain what Legal Guarding Position is, and, how it relates to taking a charge?

Consider this scenario:

A defensive player is stationary hoping to take a charge, but the offensive player is athletic enough to slide to one side to avoid him. As the offensive player avoids him, the defensive player slides and is moving when contact is made.

Isn't that a blocking foul?

1. Is the offensive player airborne? blocking foul.
2. Is the defender sliding towards the non-airborne offensive player? If not, PC.

Only if the offensive player has gotten his head and shoulders past the torso of the defender or if he has gone airborne. Otherwise the defender is allowed to be moving sideways or backwards at the time of the contact. The rules do not require the defender to be stationary.

Here are the rules for guarding:
Rule 4
SECTION 23 GUARDING
ART. 1 . . . Guarding is the act of legally placing the body in the path of an
offensive opponent. There is no minimum distance required between the guard
and opponent, but the maximum is 6 feet when closely guarded. Every player is
entitled to a spot on the playing court provided such player gets there first
without illegally contacting an opponent. A player who extends an arm, shoulder,
hip or leg into the path of an opponent is not considered to have a legal position
if contact occurs.
ART. 2 . . . To obtain an initial legal guarding position:
a. The guard must have both feet touching the playing court.
b. The front of the guard’s torso must be facing the opponent.
ART. 3 . . . After the initial legal guarding position is obtained:
a. The guard may have one or both feet on the playing court or be airborne,
provided he/she has inbound status.
b. The guard is not required to continue facing the opponent.
c. The guard may move laterally or obliquely to maintain position, provided it
is not toward the opponent when contact occurs.
d. The guard may raise hands or jump within his/her own vertical plane.
e. The guard may turn or duck to absorb the shock of imminent contact.
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.

3. The defender gets to the spot before the offensive player. PC. If not, block.

Who You Gonna Call ??? Mythbusters ...
 

A defensive player does not have to remain stationary to take a charge. A defender may turn away or duck to absorb contact, provided he or she has already established legal guarding position, which is both feet on the playing court and facing the opponent. The defender can always move backwards or sideways to maintain a legal guarding position and may even have one or both feet off the playing court when contact occurs. That player may legally rise vertically. If the defender is moving forward, then the contact is caused by the defender, which is a blocking foul.