Just playing devil's advocate, but who are we to want the players to turn and run back downcourt on defense? I'd be just as happy if he stopped slapping at the ball, but that's allowed too, so why should I want it to stop?

Where'd you get that idea? I was only talking about the risks of slapping.

Call the foul...they get 5 of them.

Maybe from this exchange?

But by rule, it's not a foul. Why would you call it and penalize the offense?

Why is it a foul? If you intend to move up to varsity ball, you have to let this go.

Jeff said "run down the court." I was only referring to the slap.

1) Say what? Even if your patient whistle tells you that no advantage was gained by the slap in the face and the dribbler's RSBQ wasn't disrupted?

2) Bingo! Most but not all of the time it may not be a foul. But there are times when you still have to go and get it. There are situations where that slap on the wrist is no different than a slap in the face for all intents and purposes.


'Tis a funny game to have to call sometimes. It's awful tough to place absolutes on any particular genre of foul.

Good points imo, Snaqs, and I certainly agree with you.

Yep, see below.... :D

I will not ever call a foul based on what I hear. I only call fouls on what I see. If the slap caused a disadvantage, then it should be called, not just because you hear skin coming together. And I do not agree about sending a message. I only call what I fell is illegal, not what I think is illegal because I "think" I hear something. What if the slap was while the ball was on the hand? That is not a foul according to the rules. :)

Peace

Amen to this. I think most of us have assumed (maybe incorrectly) that the whack occurred and was seen & heard by the whole gym. I agree though, we can't guess and have to see the foul versus make an assumption based on what we hear.

I think the point of the OP is that you see the slap, it doesn't really affect anything, but everyone in the gym can hear it. It's so loud it makes Jonny stop playing with his diaper and look at the ref waiting for a call.

Higher levels of basketball expect this to get let go. Lower levels, it may be different.

Why is this?

Rut, in the OP I might have left out the fact that I saw the contact, and it definitely was NOT on the hand, which both of A1's hands were on the ball.

Simple, lower level ball is played, coached, and administered (usually) by people with less experience. The higher you get, the more the players and coaches realize the ramifciations of "not all contact is a foul." It's at the same level coaches start to realize why it's not a foul when their point guard gets his leg slapped as he blows by the defender.

It's at the same level I had a coach get mad because I called a foul on the other team, taking a layup away from his team.

So then what's wrong with applying the advantage/disadvantage principle earlier, so that more people learn sooner?