aggressive block out

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

I used the term "box out" for a long time. About 15 - 20 years ago, a varsity coach that I assisted used the term "block out" for the same act as "boxing out."

While some of the posters here have implied something sinister or illegal, it is simply the act of getting/staying between the basket (and eventually, the ball) and the opponent. Generally defensive players "box out", but offensive players can "box out" if they are able to get inside position -- frequently when the defense is playing a zone defense.

Coach, our comments regarding blocking out were meant to be rather tongue in cheek. Whatever it's called in your locale, the concept as you present it (and as it is executed 99% of the time) is obviously legal. But we've all seen situations where an overly aggressive box out displaces the opponent by several feet, or knocks him to the ground, or puts him into the third row. And sometimes the coach will respond to the foul call with a heartfelt claim that, "He was just boxing out."

I don't think anyone meant to imply any aspect of this is sinister. I believe they meant to imply that the coach's response is completely idiotic.

When this happens in my games, usually in lower level games, the coach has blown all credibility with me. And if the coach's delivery is aggressive, his leash for the rest of the night can be measured in microns.

[CMHCoachNRef]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

Coach, our comments regarding blocking out were meant to be rather tongue in cheek. Whatever it's called in your locale, the concept as you present it (and as it is executed 99% of the time) is obviously legal. But we've all seen situations where an overly aggressive box out displaces the opponent by several feet, or knocks him to the ground, or puts him into the third row. And sometimes the coach will respond to the foul call with a heartfelt claim that, "He was just boxing out."

I don't think anyone meant to imply any aspect of this is sinister. I believe they meant to imply that the coach's response is completely idiotic.

When this happens in my games, usually in lower level games, the coach has blown all credibility with me. And if the coach's delivery is aggressive, his leash for the rest of the night can be measured in microns.

What you describe here is simple displacement, of course. This is not a "box out", but rather a push to gain more space to secure a rebound. Since MANY referees do not call this very frequently, coaches have taught their players to displace as a habit.

[Back In The Saddle]

What I quite clearly described was "an overly aggressive box out displaces the opponent by several feet, or knocks him to the ground, or puts him into the third row." If you wish to label that "simple displacement," then by all means do so. But if we're picturing the same activity, your sense of scale is calibrated very differently from mine.

[Adam]

Had three of these in a row on the same girl once; we called them all and she walked off the court crying after injuring a shooter. It was almost surreal. We'd called her on it once, then did it again on the next shot putting them into the bonus. Offense rebounded the free throw and she did it to that shooter. It was not "simple" displacement, and this particular play is one that you just don't see missed by an official.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

She walked off the court crying.

I thought that Tom Hanks' character in "League of Their Own" said there was "no crying in basketball"?