Coach's Nightmare - Officials Making Up Rules

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by Pantherdreams

Just looking for some feedback.

Our middle school leagues are discussing some rule adjustments. Currently the only major deviations from FIBA rules is the length of quarters (7.5 min) and a no zone rule. (The no zone rule is to be called as a plugging the key call so you can zone press.)

One of the latest rule changes they are discussing is to eliminate ball screens. They have asked officials if we were to try and remove ball screens from the game how would we call it. Would we want it to be a foul, violation, etc. Since we would enforce it how would we want it called? Then we get into screens that act as ball screens (dribble attacking at a cutter, hand offs, etc>)

Just for fun and so I can get some perspective if the rules changed to get rid of balls screens at developmental levels, how would you like the rule worded/structured?

PantherDreams:

I have never heard the term: "ball screen". Please describe it. It sounds to me like this is something that should be encouraged not discouraged.

While I have always been a propenent of players learning how to play man-to-man defense before they learn how to play zone, I really do not like rules that prohibit the use of zones; the rule is just too dificult to enforce.

MTD, Sr.