True. But sometimes the defender's foot is outside the shoulders so the "trip" is the proper call.

I don't get it.:D

Bob, however in basketball a proper defensive stance the foot will ALWAYS be outside the shoulder. I dont see how a defensive player can get low to play defense and keep his whole body within his shoulder. Physically impossible.

I saw his post and had a movement.

Is that the same thing?

Sure, but it's not getting him into the hall, no matter how many times you do it.

That's fine, but don't forget the rule on guarding (4-23-1): "A player who extends an arm, shoulder, hip or leg into the path of an opponent is not considered to have LGP if contact occurs."

Iirc, there was an interp that stated the defender's legs could only be shoulder's width apart. (Or was it a college interp?)

Maybe he'll be like Jim Rice and get in on the last ballot.

(Anything I can do to link him with the Red Sox...) :D

This might be what you're thinking of:

From the POE's in last year's NFHS rule book:
POE#3-DISPLACEMENT-(B): <i>"A legal screener must be stationary prior to contact within his/her vertical plane(hands, arms, <font color = red>legs and feet</font> no more than shoulder width apart).

Shut up.

Well, at least he verified his identity.

I agree -- I am just talking about the defender playing on ball defense -- there is no mention of shoulder width -- as that would make playing defense impossible on ball.

You might want to double-check the Old One's post on last year's POE.

It doesn't make playing defense impossible. If the player can play better defense by standing on thier head, more power to them. They just have to be aware of the rules on guarding and who would be more responsible for contact if and when it occurs.

Bob,
I am sure that you will be able to quote this one, but I could not find it. I see that when a SCREENER is setting a screen, the screener must "stay within his/her vertical plane with a stance approximately shoulder width apart, but I could not find that requirement under legal guarding position.

As has been pointed out, a good defensive stance really requires the players feet to be outside the shoulders. Additionally, it would be impossible for a defender stay with the dribbler with this requirement since the offensive ballhandler does not have the same restriction.

But, I have already observed that you are spot on with every rule interpretation I have seen thus far.

The old ones POE pertained to legal screen.

Right, but that same theory applies to guarding as well. I posted the rule on guarding, and the fact that the player cannot extend a leg into the path of the player. The POE just clarifies where "extending" starts (outside shoulder width).

Remember, it doesn't say the player cannot have their feet out there, just that they no longer are considered to have LGP and are thus more reponsible if contact occurs.